t Smisje Kerst (Calvados)

From a J.W. Lees Vintage Harvest Ale Wooden Firkin at Capital Ale House - Innsbrook on 08/27/2008. Dark murky orange-brown body with a small white head. Slightly sour caramel aroma with some wood, fruit (apples), and spice. Sweet spice flavor, some oak, caramel, and fruitiness (apples) and yeast. Medium full body with moderately low carbonation.

From J.W. Lee Calvados wooden firkin Capital Ale House Innsbrook 08/27/2008. 12% ABV. Woody spicy apple/sherry aroma. Murky dark brown with no head. Spicy peppery with some hot alcohol and dark fruits. Light mouthfeel with very dry finish. Finish yields woody spicy alcohol.

Murky brown body with no head. Sweet Belgian aroma, with a light sourness, some mollasses and plums. Taste is interesting, lots of fruit with a somewhat harsh tartness. Ending is somewhat harsh with a nice hotness tailing off.

Name: t Smisje Kerst (Calvados)
Date: June 22, 2008
Mode: Firkin
Source: Brick Store Pub
Words: aged in an old J.W. Lee’s Calvados wooden pin
Appearance: muddy brown like a mocca latte
Aroma: sweet sugary brown sugar aroma with a deep dark fruity plum and fig character, light alcohol
Body: still yet a big body
Flavor: sweet chocolate flavor, lots of dark fruits plus a bit of apple, earthy oak adds a touch of bitterness, touch of tartness (apple?) follows the oak and melds with the fruit to create a woody plum pit character, applesauce, finishes with dark fruit and oak

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.8/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

Name: t Smisje Kerst (JW Lee’s ?)
Date: June 20, 2009
Mode: Firkin
Source: Brick Store Pub
Appearance: hazy dark amber, short lived frothy head
Aroma: sweet and spicy aroma, lots of complexity, winey, fruity tartness
Flavor: rich complex flavor, lots of wood combines with plenty of spicyness to define the beer, caramel sweetness comes through to balance the spices and wood, touch of peppery alcohol, fruity tartness shows up at the end

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4