Troll Shangrila

Brewed by Birrificio Troll
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Vernante, Italy

Tap at Ginger Man. Clear amber beer. Aroma is a little bit spicy. Toasted nuts and a nice warming spiciness. Lightly toasted Belgian pale malt, perhaps a bit of Munich sweetness as well as a lightly estery yeastiness. There is a sweet crackery/caramelly maltiness with perhaps a little bit of kettle caramelization. There is a light cologne-like character that gives the beer a bit of smoky richness. A kiss of sweet fruit and spice as well. It’s a pretty nice Belgian-style ale.

An amber ale with a thin off white head. An aroma of caramel malt, and frankincense, with a bit of pears. In mouth, a warming sweet candy sugar, with the alcohol warmth well blended with the curacao. A bit lighter than expected, but quite good. On tap at Max’s on Broadway, Dec. 29 2008.

Stemware sampler at local beer seminar. Poured a cloudy,deep, orange/amber, with a small-ring head, and some lacing. The aroma and the flavor both had spice notes that comingled well and made it hard to separate. The anise seemed to come out in the aroma, and the coriander in the flavor. Interesting brew.

Tasted 1/28/09. 750ml bottle. Hazy with a brown hue. Webbed ring of head. Spicy aromas with hints of cinnamon and mild woody notes. Full bodied yet soft and sweet malts. Touch oxidized. Tart undertone of dark berries. Coating and fruity. Good style and great mix of spices.

Draught. Vinous aroma, seems lagered. Cloudy dark grey orange colour. Very small white head. The flavour is also quite vinous, has some fat Belgian style yeast. OK alcohol level.

Bottled. An unclear orange-brown beer with a thin off-white head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of caramel. The flavor is sweet malty with notes of spices and caramel as well as a light touch of vegetables, leading to a dry and slightly bitter finish.

Tap @ Waterfront Alehouse in an Arcadia goblet. I should have been forewarned because I seem to usually dislike anything that has anything to do with Arcadia beers. It wasn’t cheap either but so is the bottle. It comes to the table with no head or lacing, looks completely flat. Color is ruby brown, and murky with little clarity. Aroma is overripe fruits and overly moldy and musty. Spices not really coming through. Taste is spoiled tropical fruits and spoiled apples. Its also undercarbonated. Not feeling it, the keg may be bad because I have had in the bottles and I remember it being better. The spices don’t really come through but how does one mishandle a keg. Will need to retry if it ever comes around in bottles, too expensive just to go out and buy for myself.

Moderate malty aroma with mixed flowers. Huge creamy, off-white head. Clear, dark orange body. Heavy sweet flavor. Tast of flowers and mixed spicies. Medium to full palate.