Rock Art Infusco

Brewed by Rock Art Brewery
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Morrisville, Vermont USA

Wow, just when I was about to give up on this brewery forever, they go and make this - dark burgundy pour, with a small ring of white lace - lightly smokey aroma, with notes of berries, leather, and some spicy character - crisp and somewhat tart, with notes of raspberry and other fruit skins - hints of cocoa, cloves, anise - a gentle, woody smoke flavor mingles intself in throughout - notes of cinnamon and dried flowers - alcohol warmth compliments the wood and smoke flavors - this is a really great beer, and is most certainly the best Rock Art I’ve ever had - if only more of their beers were this good.

Pours with a light tan, three-finger head that goes slowly and leaves some lace. Medium carbonation and heavy bodied. Black color. Nose is sweet grapes. Flavor is grapes and medicinal but not cloying, with only 25 IBUs the hops are nearly hidden and the higher ABV is not noticeable. $4.45 for a 22oz bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, MA.

Vermont Brewers Fest ’07. Deep brown with a creamy tan head. Aroma is quite smokey and sweet with lots of earthy malts. Fresh beechwood smoky aroma over a candyish caramel malt base. Yeasty and spicy through the middle. Belgian yeast shows lots of character with heavy fruit, apple, peach and raspberries that intensifies through the middle. A soft smokiness on the back. Finishes spicy and quite dry considering all the sweetish aspects of the brew. Comes across as very refreshing and a nice surprise. Completely unlike anything I’ve ever had.

The appearance is deep red-black. Tall rocky head. In the light it takes on a deep purple. Opaque. The smell is a very smoky initial aroma wafting. Dark grainy sour(-ish) malt. Dark grapes. Dark and rich and comiplex all around. The taste is grainy dark toasted barley, topped with heavy smoky BBQ. Ends like a dark, dark ale; like a dark Belgian ale with a sour(-ish) barleywine flavor. Raisins, plums. The feel is thick but very dry on the tongue. Terrific dry red wine feel. I like this beer despite that it’s sooo dark and wine-like. Pretty good.

Bottle shared by JoeMcPhee. A strong licorice, peppermint, strong herbal aroma. Very nice. More mint in the flavor, lots of tobacco. I found this to be extremely unique and delicious, with the strong cigar and pipe flavors comin out big time.

Bottle. Mild, somewhat sweet aroma. Dark brown body, fluffy light tan head. Flavor is intense. Wood, smokiness, spruce, spicy, a bit of sweetness. Sweetness emerges a little more in the finish, along with a touch of bitterness. An interesting creation. Well done.

22 ounce bottle from Richmond Beverage in Richmond, VT (January 2007) consumed from a Chouffe tulip a bit below cellar temperature. Translucent, dirty dark brown body with a thick lasting off-white meringue of cream and a solid dollop of nice swirly-patterned lacing....nose is rather low-powered and difficult to get a hold on, but once you do you find a delightful mix of molasses and licorice, a bit of brown sugar, light coffee....body is quite sweet, dark licorice in a bath of caramel and sweet cherries, hints of vanilla and tarragon along the way as it slowly dries out and gains a touch of tartness; light sour grapiness evident also towards the finish....faint yeastiness throughout, a touch of sour wildness perhaps, certainly as it warms there’s more complexity and even a hint of funk, though sugars dominate overall, bittersweet chocolate making an appearance eventually as well.....smooth, silky body with soft carbonation, no alcohol apparency whatsoever....this is a lovely dubbel-like creation with a modicum of Flemish sour character which could be truly awesome if it were more expressive aromatically: could well end up being this brewery’s best beer; certainly I will be trying it again. Well done!

Cocoa and molasses in the aroma., with some licorice too. Complex and interesting. The licorice really comes out in the flavor too. Interesting.