2.9 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 11/20
Bottle from Bruisin’ Ales in Asheville. Deep dark brown pour with slightly disappointing head. Malt, tons of spice (coriander?), cola, chicory, and hops on the nose. Very reminiscent of a spiced winter brew to me. A bit over the top. Similar on the palate. Too much malt sweetness and cloying spice. Palate feels nice, and the hops are tasty, though. A strange and not entirely pleasant beer.
2.8 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 10/20
Dark, dark brown with a light brown head on it in a trappist glass. Smell is of some hops, licorice like maltiness, and almost belgian like yeast. Very unique smell. Very unique taste as well, with a rich, thick, malty, definite licorice like sweetness, a bit of alcohol is present, but not bad for 9.5%, and perhaps again, a belgian like almost very light spiced quality to it. Different than any other American Strong Ale I’ve had, and much more drinkable. Reminds me a touch of New Belgium’s Abbey. Although not quite my speed, I can see some people really enjoying this beer.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Dark molasses, dark chocolate, piney, citrusy, caramel and milk chocolate jump from the nose. Full hoppy mouth, molasses, grapefruit, dark chocolate. Citrusy finish. Generally I like IBAs and this is no exception.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
This is one huge, delicious beer. Huge nose, huge flavor. Huge. Every single drop of this beer screamed at me. What was it screaming you might ask? GET MORE. Unfortunately, this is it. My one and only bottle. Damn.
The beer pours out this intriguing brownish/eggplant purpleish color witha huge off-white 3 finger thick head. My first impressions on the aroma was cchocolate covered raisins with an intriguing woody hop aroma. Lots of plums, some vanilla and molasses too. The first time it hits your tongue it’s like getting whacked on the head and you are sort of dazed a bit. Not sure what the hell’s going on. There’s some figs/plums, molasses, dark chocolate, smoke, vanilla with interesting underlying spicyness that damned near perfect. Reminded me in some ways of Firestone’s 10. Lots of sstuff going on here and it’s all good.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
22 oz bottle shared with padrefan. What a crazy beer. We were sitting there trying to figure out what flavors were NOT in this beer. Chocolate for sure. Anise, molassas, caramel, clove. Strange, but actually pretty good.
3.3 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
i’ve had this just about every way. tap and cask, supposedly. now a bottle. dark brown black body with a thick foamy yellowish head. aroma is spicy yeast with a strong maple syrup note. syrupy tangy sweetness that has an herbal balance. bread like flavors in this too. light banana tang lingers in the finish. a bit of cocoa here somewhere. the herbal hop flavor comes through more later in this. a bit hot, this should be a different beer in a few months.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
1 pint bottle, at Ynqwie´s xmastasting. Dark brown/reddish color. Big, beige head. Sweet malt, fruit, hops, alcohol and nice bitterness.
3.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Black pour, light tan head, moderate head with good lacing and retention. Aroma has an initially pronounced hoppy nose very similar to Alpha King, but also has lots of the usual dark malt notes: coffee, roast, chocolate, caramel, hint of darker fruit. Medium to light bodied, watery texture. Alcohol is in the flavor and finish, takes away from the flavor. Too hot and too light for everything it’s trying to display. Still enjoyable.
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