Rome Starbess Strong Ale

Brewed by Rome Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Roma, Italy

An unclear amber beer with a fine lazing white head. The aroma is great: sweet with lots of hops - reminds me a little of an Imperial IPA. The flavor is strong, sweet and with lots of hops.

Sampled at the breweries sampling cafe and many times afterward later in the week. Dark Brown. I never really received much from the aroma. It was always subtle and somewhat fruity. But what a taste. Each and every time. Medicinal up front. Lovely malt notes in the mid-palate; dried red apple, watermelon seed and plums. The lingering and outrageous finish was full of a coating malty sweetness and a faint hint of hop resins. I enjoyed this one a lot.

[Draught at the brewpub] Clear nut brown, small creamy head. Aroma of rye bread. Sweet, fruity and estery with notes of bubblegum, Full bodied with burnt malt, nuts and syrup, but surprisingly low bitterness. An unusual but complex and tasty beer.

A bit sour aroma. Reddish brown to dark amber colour. Strong mouthfeel, not alcoholic at all. Good hoppiness. Malty feeling with hints of caramel. Good beer.

Bottle, GBBF 2004. Amber, moderate white head and moderate condition. Sweet malt and caramel with some low roastiness in the nose. Sweet low barley wine like in the mouth and relatively subdued in the finish with a gentle syrupy maltiness dominating.

Dark amber color, medium malty aroma and medium sweet sour taste, medium body, light sour dry finish.

Brown color with a white head. Sweet and sour base with some hoppy notes. Light spices.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 3   Light Brown(1)->Dark(5) : 4   Ruby : 2   Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 2
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 2   White(1)->Tan(5) : 2   Lasting: 1   Lacing : 2
Aroma:
Intensity : 3  
Yeast : 1   Bread : 1   Apple : XX   Esters : XX   Banana : XX   Phenols : XX   Leather : 2   Perfume : XX   DMS : XX   Diacetyl : XX
Malt : 3   Biscuity : 3   Toast : 3   Caramel : 2   Toffee : XX   Maple : XX   Molasses : XX   Nuts : XX   Candy : XX   Pumpernickel : XX   Cereals : XX   Fruits : 2   Chocolate : 3   Coffee : XX   Vanilla : XX   Grapes : XX   Blackberries : XX   Dates : XX   Cherries : XX   Plums : 2   Figs : XX
Hops : 2   Noble(1)->American(5) : 4   Leafy : XX   Floral : 2   Orange : 2   Herbal : XX   Spicy : XX   Pine/Spruce/Resin : XX
Notes :   Earth : 2   Wood : XX   Cloves : XX   Smoke : 2   Pepper : XX   Ginger : XX   Peach/Pear/Apricot : 1   Candi Sugar : XX   Anise : XX   Vinous : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 3   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 3   Sourness : XX   Bitterness : 2   Complex : 2   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 3   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 2   Clean : XX   Sharp : XX   Watery : XX   Oily : XX   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : 1   Mineral : XX   Oxidation : XX   Metallic : XX

Comments: I just learnt that this beer surpasses 10%ABV and am astonished. It is a clean, soft, well-made, very fruity, sweetish, toasty-biscuity ale of softness more than punch – but perhaps not very spectacular. Still very impressive task with the alcohol.