Pisgah Baptista

Brewed by Pisgah Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Black Mountain, North Carolina USA

WHAT A BEER! Hats off to Pisgah brewing company for a beer that is unbelievable. How do they get so much flavor in there? Bananana, Sugarcane/molasses/ warm pear preserves I am a fan! I can’t wait to get more next year. Maybe then pisgah will offer bottles or some way to take it home. On tap at Barleys in Asheville but it won’t last long!

2007 bottle courtesy of kp. Thanks! From my review at cvillebeergeek.blogspot.com.

Appearance: This pours a hazy orange color. A moderate sized head disappears quickly, leaving a thin layer on the surface of the beer. Lacing is moderate. 4.0/5.0.

Aroma: Definitely Belgian. Very sweet, with candi sugar, toffee, raisin and subtle spice and bubblegum. Slightly toasty.... as I agitate the beer somewhat the aromas combine absolutely beautifully. 4.65/5.0.

Taste: Somewhat more bitter than the aroma. Still plenty of nice malty notes. The toffee, raisins and the candi sugar are there, along with the spice and some fruity notes, rye and alcohol. 4.25/5.0.

Mouthfeel: Full. Spicy and slightly sticky. The alcohol is a little hot, but it is 11.5% and so a little heat is understandable. 3.5/5.0

Drinkability: It’s a 750 mL bottle at 11.5% abv. You be the judge. It’s a damn tasty beer, with lots of complex flavors and very nice balance. Perfect for a long evening by the Christmas fire. 3.75/5.0

Overall: Well balanced and very nice flavor profiles are the hallmark of this beer. Not something to take lightly and definitely something to savor over a long period of time. 4.0/5.0.

The aroma was a very nice complexity of dark fruits, raisins and prunes, coupled with a well achieved Belgian yeast spice of pepper and cinnamon. Dark caramel was present as was some light presence of alcohol and a bit of toffee. The beer poured into the chalice crystal clear copper with a barely off-white tall head which retreated to the surface and lasted to lace the glass. The flavor was malty with a nice bit of bittering to back up the caramel. The Belgian yeast spice was well done with pepper, clove and hints of cinnamon. Alcohol was present in the flavor but added to the complexity of the beer. The body was medium full and the carbonation was a bit on the low side but the mouthfeel was still creamy. A well crafted Belgian Strong Dark. 22 ounce bottle with no label purchased at the brewery.

poured into tulip. I have had this beer twice once on tap, and the other from a bomber as a finish to a seasonal tasting. It is a strong beer from the alchohol, definitly makes it presence, but it is good and fruity, a complex beer, definitly a fun one to grab, if you can find it....

Bottle sampled on 1/10/07: Pours a transparent copper with a nicely-lacing white head. Aroma of sweet, bready biscuity caramel malt with good authenticity and complexity. Body starts fairly sweet and full with nice bready notes toward a crisp, bittersweet finish that hides the alcohol well. Nicely balanced and authentic.

Draught. Baptista pours a rich amber/brown with a quaint white head. Oily lacing is left on the walls of the goblet after a swirl or two. The aroma is very pleasing with hints of scotch, berries, cloves. I was expecting something a bit heavier in the mouth, but it still packs a reasonable coating effect. The flavor begins quite juicy with a boquet of fruity notes with that trademark Pisgah-sweet-flavor along with faint banana. This becomes more drying with woody notes, hints of tobacco, and dark spices. The alcohol is remarkably hidden; it just nips at my sinuses from time to time. I enjoyed the balance of Belgian and American flavor profiles. This is another very tasty offering from this brewery.

Pours a murky gold in color with a huge pillowy white head. Smell is coriander, spice and some citrusy fruit. Taste is more of the spice and citrus, but you also get a very nice dose of belgian candy sugar and even better than that, some tartness. This was a very pleasant surprise. Mouthfeel is full and creamy. Surprisingly, didn’t notice the alcohol too much at all. I’ve only had a couple beers from Pisgah, but this one’s easily my favorite.

Pours a hazy yellow sunshine color, with just a hint of bronze. A short lived head of white lace receded to some solid bridal lacing. Plenty of streamers. Initial aroma is sweet, with some mild bubble gum esters and doughy grain. Green apple tartness and some nice spicy yeast notes. A nice complex flavor with a good balance of sweet and spicy. The sweetness is more fruity than Belgian sugary, like an apple or grape juice. A slight vinous flavor contributes to the sweetness and earthiness. The spiciness is like a mild black pepper with a hint of boozy fire. Green apple tartness adds some dryness to the finish. Decadently creamy and smooth, with delicate carbonation. A excellent American take on Belgian style. Nicely balanced. Complex without being overwhelming. The alcohol presence is felt but doesnt dominate. Keep em coming Pisgah, Ill drink em if I can get em.