3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20 bleeng (1085) - Huntsville nowhere near Beersel, Alabama, USA - MAY 16, 2009
750 thanks to Mike over on BA. Dark brown, small thick head. Nose is spicy, chocolately, malty, and alcoholic. Taste at first is chocolate and mellow malts, then spiciness rounding out in to a very warm alcoholic finish. Body is thick and smooth. Overall a very nice beer.
4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 porterhouse (1481) - Alna, Maine, USA - MAY 16, 2009
(750 ml bottle from Julio’s Liquors, cellared for 1 yr. after purchase) Pours dark slightly rubyish amber, a little hazy. Two fingers of light tan head. Aroma has some Band-Aid, at least initially, along with an almost lemony tang and some candy sweetness. Mouthfeel is initially a bit fizzy, then this dissipates to an almost velvety smoothness. Light weepy rings of lacing melt away quickly. Flavor features an almost sweet and sour quality with candy-like sweetness, light fruits and hints of citrus. There is a bit of chocolate lurking underneath. Didn’t really improve much in complexity or richness as it got warmer and I got deeper into the bottle (as big Belgian-styles sometimes do). A good beer but I was hoping for a bit more of a knockout from this fine brewery.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20 thewolf (8245) - Kolding, DENMARK - MAY 14, 2009
Bottle. [vintage 2007] Pours deep red-orange. Large, frothy, off-white head. Settles as a fine, film head. Aroma is sweet and fruity, some marzipan, caramel, alcohol, some cherries. Highish carbonation, fine, creamy mouthfeel. Flavour is very nice, there are cherries, red apples. A very fresh take on the Quad style. Very drinkable, not much sign of the 10 %.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20 HonkeyBra (2217) - Lemont, Illinois, USA - MAY 13, 2009
750ml bottle, batch #18. Cloudy brown pour with a light off white head. Yeasty, fruity aroma with some brown sugar, caramel malt. Flavor is dark, dried fruits, brown sugars, oak and cherries with a bit of chocolate and bit a booze in the finish. Mouthfeel is a bit thinner than i expected, but otherwise this is a great beer. Easily one of the best American attempts at the style I’ve ever had.
3.9 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20 f351c4v (411) - Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA - MAY 9, 2009
On tap @ Shady Mcgrady"s. Pours a deep, cloudy brown with no head to speak of. Anise, licorice, raisins, grapes, a hint of booze... Lots going on in the aroma. Silky smooth body reveals dark fruits, brown sugars, lots of malts. A great attempt at a tough style to replicate.
3.7 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20 illkarate (113) - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA - MAY 9, 2009
2007, 750ml bottle. Pours a murky brown with almost no head. Caramel, butterscotch, plum, brown sugar, spices, rum, bark and a hint of black tea. I’m usually really skeptical about American breweries trying to mimic Belgian style ales, but Allagash did a good job with this one. It’s a very nice beer.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20 nqualls (1452) - Nashville, Tennessee, USA - MAY 4, 2009
Source: 750 mL bottle from a tasting. Glass: Poured into a snifter. Appearance: Poured a dark amber color with a one finger tan head. Aroma: Caramel malt, dark ripe fruits and some brown sugar. Flavor: Caramel malt base with spices and dark fruits. Warming alcohol on the end. Sweet finish. Palate: Full body with soft carbonation and a chewy, heavy mouthfeel. Overall: Really liked this. Flavor was similar to most Abts, but appearance was lighter. Very nice.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20 LtDan (1415) - Los Angeles County, California, USA - MAY 3, 2009
Appearance: Pours a dark auburn with a pin stripe of white froth.
Aroma: Perfume, mint chocolate, clove, some bread notes, as well as dark fruit notes.
Taste: Booze, bready malt, cherry, wood, dark rum. There is a stream of bitter hops in the background of all mentioned.
Mouthfeel: Puckering and warm like a bold red wine.
Overall: An amazing, complex beer, that should age terrifically.
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