Upstream Grand Cru

Brewed by Upstream Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Omaha, Nebraska USA

Brewed July 2005 Bottled August 2006 Bought November 29th at the upstream brewery west omaha location. Bottle#534 out of 632. Opened January 9th 3:00pm. I cellared this beer and promised I would not open it until I found out I was going to have my Second Child!!!!!!!� So this was my celebratory brew in Honor of my Beautiful Wife Chef Tana being pregnant!!! I must say this was truly an amazing experience this is the longest I have ever cellared a beer. Aroma is bright with Orange and Grapefruit notes with lovely candy sugar. Pours a gorgeous Sunshine Orange color with some white head that lasted! I was expecting a fuller mouth feel but no worries it was still great. Flavor was intense with Citrus, Oak, Earth and Honey.

Bottle sampled on 5/22/08: Pours a slightly hazy orange amber with a spotty-lacing white head. Aroma of lightly sweet caramel malts and fresh oaky woody balance and complexity. Body starts with a semi-sweet doughy Belgian maltiness and light cherry fruitiness before a smooth finish that masks the alcohol well. Well balanced and enjoyable Belgian strong ale.

Very little carbonation. Pours like juice. Taste of apple and tart. Sour. Once again, I encounter an unexpected sour. While I expected a much fuller beer, this is very nice with a touch of cherry as well. Bottle 983 of 1126.

Tasting @ argo0’s place. 750ml bottle, #461 of 912 courtesy of GeneralGao. Lightly hazed gold with a thin white head. Sweet cherry nose, a touch medicinal and boozy. Tart cherry flavors, rather woody, sour bite. Decent stuff.

At brewery, from bottle. light brown, no head. Nose is very tart and tangy, like a Berliner Weisse. Taste is very tart and tangy, a bit spicy with a hint of sweetness. Light body and easy to drink. Complicated or chaotic? Pick one but this is one good beer. Glad I got one to try later on in life.

<i>Tasting at Papsoe</i>
Hazy amber color; small head. Very nice aroma, woody with some vanilla and light fruity sourness, dynamic, interesting. Medium body, some malt flavor, medium sweetness, light grape fruitness and delicate vanilla. Correct bitterness. A bit chalky at the end. Chaotic but also interesting.

(Bottle 75 cl) Courtesy of pepsican. Hazy amber golden with a small off-white head. Very delicious bourbon aroma. Medium-bodied with very dry caramel accents and some fruit. Distinct woody accents and a very dry finish. Yummy. 311008

75 cL bottle, courtesy of Papsoe. Pours hazy deep orange with a fully gone head. Dense spiced and wineous aroma. Light acidic and woody note in addition. Smooth wooden and mild fruity initially flavoured. Followed by a wineous and fruity flavour with a mild spice note beneath. Smooth and slight spiecd note showing through. Mellow finish.