Piece Festivus

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

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!

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.

Draught [2003 version]: dark red amber, wonderfully creamy off white, tight-bubbled foam. A bright, yeasty effervescence full of green apples, grain and cloves. The strong yeast in the aroma transforms into a large spiciness on the tongue - fresh cracked pepper, more cloves. . . a tasty grainy malt comes into play at the end, adding something special to an interesting brew. . . there are also some interesting fruits in the finish: red apples, some sort of citrus, maybe an apricot, and something bitter - honey? Also had a wonderful tingly mouth-feel and though it was served close to freezing, warmed into a charming brew.

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.

Nicely done. A bit flat- not enough yeast? I don’t know. A little more hops than most Belgians.

on tap at piece, pours reddish brown with white head. nose of cloves and dark fruits. flavor is malty with tobacco and caramel while being nicely spiced of cloves. smooth mouth feel. exactly what an ideal christmas beer is, dark spiced belgian ale, creamy and extremely drinkable. no spices used in this beer? wow, i can’t believe it. perhaps a blend of belgian and weizen yeast. i’d love to drink a few of these and air the grievences for a while. i’ve got a lot of problems with you people and now is the time you hear them!

I drank this beer for the rest of us.. at Piece. Poured a deep, healthy brown with a short-lived cap of beige head. The aroma picked up chocolate, caramel, and dark fruits with more than ample spicage.. dark overall and very seductive.. more chocolate emerged with warmth. The flavor had floral bitterness and peppery spicage over a sweet caramel, molasses, and chocolatey base.. spicy, warm finish.. very good! Thick and spicy on the palate with nice balance and some warmth at the end. Good one!

Draft at Piece. Pours a ruddy, hazy brown with reddish tinges. Nose is muted, though I do get pleasant cloviness and stone fruit, mild roastiness as well. On taste, pretty pleasant with a very dubbel type character, roasted and dark crystal malts at the forefront with a nice soft body. plums are in there as well. Pretty tasty stuff.