Mad Abbot Abbey Ale

Brewed by The Little Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia

Bottle - Poured a dark reddy brown with a large dense off white head. Pretty decent aroma, Some spice, predominantly cinnamon, pineapple, nuts and also a hint of bubblegum. Starts off with a light malt flavour followed by a definate peppery flavour. Have to agree with what others are saying it is just a bit thin. I think its quite nice but is just lacking the big flavours you get with a belgian strong. Looking at the bottle I wonder how much yeast is there for a bottle fermentation, what I saw at the bottom of mine was a thin strip across the bottom.

Pretty piss poor. This is what expensive rubbing alcohol may taste like. Ok maybe a bit harsh, but this was rough, unrefined and had little in resemblence to a good belgian other than the high ABV. Don’t bother

Bottle 330ml. Poured dark, burnt, hazy bronze with a large, frothy, off-white head which lasted well. Aroma was of allspice with cinnamon, pepper, wood, dried apricots, sweet caramelized figs, toffee and light notes of yeast. Flavor was extremely light despite alcohol content with an almost non-existent bitterness, hints of spices, toffee, light notes of caramelized dates, light notes of blueberries, light notes of almond flakes, some woody notes and black pepper in the finish. Amazingly well hidden alcohol content seemed closer to 5.5%-6%. Light to medium bodied with light carbonation, a thin texture and an average length finish. I was extremely disappointed with this one, just seemed far to thin IMO – the Wicked Elf Pale ale even has more body than this! Also seems really pointless to cellar as I would imagine the flavor would die out more rather than develop – that being said its drinkable all the same, just wouldn’t re-visit it anytime soon.

330ml bottle. Deep amber to copper colour with a cloudy tan head and aromas of spiced fruit and christmas cake. Strong alcohol flavours that make for a lively mouthfeel.

More reddy than tawny brown body with a short but mainly lasting head. Banana in the aroma also pepper, caramel and raisins. Taste is a little thin, same characters as in the aroma, probably a tad too much candi sugar. A good take on the style and would probably agree with most punters but just lacks complexity for me.

OK beer, but a bit thin. Armoa is a mix of banana apice and and dried fruit. Appearence is ruby brown white with beige head. Flavour is surprisingly thin, the initial flavour is brown sugar followed by alcohol heat followed by acrid brown sugar. To be honest, I don’t know how the others have rated this as high. Mediocre at best.

Pours copper/ruby, with a large head that shows good persistence. Aroma is a mix of caramelised bananas, sultanas, candi sugar and sweet malt. Very impressive although I think too much simple sugar was added, it’s got a hint of a cidery character to it. Taste is a let down, lacking in complexity. Cidery with some sweet malt and spicy phenols. Creamy carbonation but the body is too weak.

Tiny amounts of this beer is available to the trade. Being so limited, is it a really good beer you ask? Not bad would be my answer. It pours a dark reddish brown colour with a quickly dissipating head. Dark, dried fruits, forest floor and five spice aromas which translate to the palate. This is a beer that nearly gets there. The flavours appear initially rich with sweetness, raisin and dried plum, nutmeg and cinnamon. It promises much initially but the finish is thin and short. It doesn’t follow through enough or have the depth to be a really good example of the style. It is worth seeking out for it’s rarity at least and it is a nice beer all the same.