Valley Brew Decadence 12 Cuvee Speciale

Bottle shared by FrumptyDumpty at Glimmerglass pre BCTC ’08. Poured an amber brown in color (best I could tell by campfire). Small white head present. Aroma of caramel, toffee, with some dark fruits and some alcohol. Tastes of dates, figs, dark fruits, vanilla, oak, with some toffee sweetness. Pretty complex brew. Finished with a little warming.

RBSG ’08: Growler pour. Poured a hazy amber color with little head. The malty aroma was of sweet toffee with some notes of apples and other fruits. Light notes of vanilla. The flavor also had sweet apples along with a fair amount of brown sugar. Very warming. Medium-full bodied.

12oz. handbottle sent my way by the ever awesome AgentSteve, you rock! Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a fizzy tan head quickly drifts down to a thin spotty covering, minimal lacing. Aroma is quite enjoyable, with candied and dried dark fruits, brandy, vanilla, and light oak. Flavor is more of the same, and wow, does it work nicely together - sweet candied and dried dark fruits and vanilla, with more brandy and oak coming along in equal parts. This is without a doubt the most impressed I have ever been with a beer this sweet, but there is a lot going on here that works very well together. Great stuff, thanks again Steve for the major hookup!

Bottle sample from wetherel at Real Ale Festival (and subsequently from aspidites at RBSG). Dark orange hue, minimal head and lacing. Smell is sugary sweet, dark fruits (raisins, figs), molasses, caramel and toffee malts, hints of brandy and oak. Taste is initially dark fruits and oaky presence, followed by butterscotch and caramel malts, tones of honey, belgian sugars, flowery hops, toffee, and vanilla, finishes sweet. Palate is medium/full-bodied, thick and creamy texture, moderate carbonation. Overall, amazing flavors combinations and a ultra rare beer, the butterscotch and caramel have a unique interplay that works very well here.

From 64 oz gorwler. Thanks to aspeditis. Pours clear and golden deep orange with a lacing white head. Woody and dense malty aroma. Flavour is sweet and fruity, wooden too. Dense malty and slight yeasty with a mild spice note. Dry and lingering malt finish. Slight fruity and sweet finish.