Piece Festivus

Brewed by Piece Brewery & Pizzeria
Style: Belgian Ale
Chicago, Illinois USA

Too strong of a beer to take a growler home! Aside from that disappointment, I did enjoy a sample of this brew. Winter ale type flavor, a little cinnamon.

An interesting brew from Piece. A very dark brown beer, interesting for a Belgian. Hints of cloves and not overpowering at all. I enjoyed it. Festivus for the rest of us.

Released today on tap. Some of the subtle characteristics I’m sure will in time become more pronounced. Aroma of clove and the usual Belgian suspects, a malty chocolate following, and a truly faint citrusy hop; some alcohol as it warms up. Appears garnet with light, but a dark chocolate to black in the dimmer lighting. So many things going on in the mouth (ifyaknowhatimean), fruity esters, woody textures, chocolate malt, dates with prunes and such. Nice dry finish after the flavor assault, which still coats the entire mouth, and it lacks zero body. All in all I just liked it alot for what it was and would like to see what more it becomes!

#996, On tap at the brewery at the Jan 2007 Chicago Area Gathering. Hazy brown with thin brown head. Easily agrivated. Carbonated well. Nose is strong malt profile. Taste is sweet with lots of yeast and malts and some prunes with some roasted wood. Just a bit of cream.

Draught at brewery. With the 10th rating, I get to put this brew on the map. Firstly, I’d like to say that it is underrated. I didn’t know what style this was when I rated it, but detected some Belgian yeast. I also noticed some wheat/banana notes in the nose, otherwise, the aroma was fairly faint. Piece apparently specializes in heavily hopped ales and in wheat beers. As such, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise to have a Belgian ale with some wheat character. Fully opaque body with a thin, light tan head. Initial mouthfeel is a little unfocused and alcoholic. This is a nice brew; warming. I chose well.

On tap at Piece Pizza on Festivus morning (that’s December 23 for you heathens). Dark chocolate brown in color with a big, tan head. Ripened fruit aroma: plums & dates along with cinnamon, piney/herbally hops, and alcohol. Chewey flavor, chocolate malts, toffee, and caramel. Slightly doughy, sour finish. Lively carbonated, slightly distracting, but not overly so. A fine Christmas (I mean Festivus!) beer.

Sampled at a 2005 Christmas and Winter beer tasting at Delilah’s, Chicago, IL. 2005 vintage served from a brown growler. Hazy amber hued ale having a small diminishing tan head with spare lacing. No discernable carbonation. Sweet malt aroma. Medium bodied that starts with light sweet malt, toffee, and fruity (green apple and pineapple?) flavors. Finishes with light malt aftertaste. This is a decent drinkable winter brew.

On tap. Served in a tulip glass. Mild aromas of prunes, ginger and cocoa. The taste follows with with dark fruits and hints of spicy smoke. Pretty good.