t Smisje Calva Reserva

Brewed by Brouwerij De Regenboog
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Assebroek-Brugge, Belgium

3/16/05 330ml, Chevy Chase liquors. Mahogany with non existent head. Sweet port aroma. Dry, with cookie taste. Dry astringent red wine taste. Too much wine form me.

Another amazing t’Smisje. Had the honor of sampling with Johann from the brewery at the Brugge Beertje. Packed with power, this beer bursts out of the glass. Balanced and well-crafted too, so the alcohol does not overpower the entertaining nuances of flavor. A special beer for sure.

Poured a dark plum purple with absolutely no carbonation. Wet smoked plum, oak, port wine, sour, soggy cherries and light char in the nose. Similar flavor, with smoked, charred plums, rum-soaked berries and smoky and spicy wood. Seemed to be extremely oxidized.

Date: 06/17/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Green’s, Atlanta

Appearance: muddy rusty brown, thin beige head,
Aroma: sweet sugary brown sugar aroma with ripe fig and raison,
Body: big creamy body,
Flavor: very rich ripe fruit flavor, lots of fig, nice brown sugar sweetness, just a hint of the 12% alcohol,
-------- /> Date: 05/07/2008
Mode: bottle
Score: 3.7
Words: brusisin ales

picking up some additional bitterness to balance out the sweetness and tone down the brown sugar character,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

Rated 8/1/07. Murky, cloudy, chestnut colored body with amber edges. There is some noticeable floating particulate, as well as a lily-pad-esque white head and a bubbly buildup around the edge of the glass. The appearance is very swamp-like. Its almost as if you expect to get a glimpse of Nessy’s arched back cutting through the caliginous liquid. Virtually no lacing noted. The aroma is very appealing. Candy sugar, figs, walnuts, and dark cherries dance their way masterfully through the nasal passage. I could inhale this intoxicating aroma for hours were it not for the desire to taste the nectar from which it emanates. The flavor is exceptional. Brown sugar, caramel, figs, cream soda, and a bit of alcohol all reveal themselves as they roll down the tongue. Smooth, creamy body that goes down like silk. So good. This makes for an awesome desert beer.

33 cl bottle, shared with Lubiere (merci), served cool in a goblet. JL16/07.

App.: Reddish-brown, cloudy, minimal tan head. Aroma: Cherries, apricots, raisins, figs, cinnamon and warm spices, molasses, rootbeer herbals, slight brightness, rye bread crust. Lovely. Palate: Medium-full body, soft carbonation. Flav.: Lots of orange peel, some raisins and dried fruits, wamr spices; some alcohol, rootbeer/cola herbals, tingling alcohol; ends with pronounced alcohol and light bitterness.

Too alcoholic, but still quite tasty.

Bottle. A medium brown color with a laced tan head. Strong malty aroma, sweet sugars, and raisins. Noticeable alcohol burn in the aroma but relatively well hidden in the flavor. Wood, earthy, and malty flavors with a sweet malt and apple finish.

330 mL bottle. Hazy brown with no head. Aroma of slightly sour fruit and sugar. Silky palate. Taste of candy sugar, over ripe fruit, slight oak taste, and a sweet/sour finish.