3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Thanks to Blake for opening the 750mL! Poured medium copper with a tall, creamy cap of white head.. sticky lacing as it descended. The aroma picked up sweet honey, red grapes, and vanilla over a caramel and pale malt base.. a touch spicy with oak and some warmth.. quite syrupy and sweet on the back. The flavor found honey and redder grape sweetness at the core with more vanilla, alcohol warmth, and peppery character on the edges.. finished quite sweet and warm. Medium-bodied and well-carbonated on the palate.. again a bit too sweet, but overall a very good brew.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
2009 vintage. Fuller bodied than the Victoria, but without the finesse and complexity.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Pours orange-green with no head. Aroma is wheat, grass, earthy, Belgian yeast. Taste is sweet and spicy, Belgian yeast and a bitter hoppy finish. Clean but oily mouthfeel. From someone who doesn’t care for Belgian ales, this was excellent.
3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
2011 version. Big Belgian nose. Lighter than expected. Maybe the grapes have made this more sprightly. Getting a little fruit and some vanilla notes as well.
3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottle from craft beer outlet. Pours an orange color with little head. Has a musty aroma, and a sweet honey taste. I can pick up the red grapes at the end. Good.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
Draft at Iron Abbey with Ann, Linh, and James. Pours a slight orange color with a little head. Aroma is slightly musty, mixing well with the Belgian yeast spiciness. Flavor is soft and sweet. Not incredibly complex until the end of the flavor. You definitely get a taste of the red grapes giving it a more drawn out, wine like finish.
3.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
Draft at Milltown. Pours straw gold with a generous sticky off white head. Nose is musty and slightly acidic with yeasty notes and a slight vinous quality. Flavor is a bit acidic, rusty, some toasted and aromatic grains. LIght bodied and a dry acidic finish. Light vinous sweetness.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Draft. Pours orange copper with an off white head. Sweet and dark malty aroma with some spicy yeasty notes. The flavor has sweet candy malts, raisins, and light spices. Decent.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
UPDATED: OCT 21, 2011 Poured from a draft into a tulip glass at Downtown Johnny Brown’s in San Diego, Calif. Color was dark caramel amber. Maybe an inch of head. Lacing was consistent throughout on the top, as was the film on the sides.
Smell was fruity aromas, most notably peach and plum. Grapes came in strong after. Also some cloves in there.
Taste seemed to be similar to a Saison. Fruity deep flavors with dark fruits (grapes) and cloves leading the way.
Medium body. Lively carbonation. Crisp and clean.
A pretty good beer overall. It doesn’t taste as strong as the 9.0 percent, so watch out.
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