4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Bottle. As the description says, a dubbel IPA. Malty like an Abbey dubbel and hoppy like an IPA. A nice beer. Pushes the limits of style interpretations.
4.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
22 oz. bomber. Pours an extremely dark brown (almost black) with dark amber highlights and a thick, pillowy, unevenly-bubbled, short-lived, tan foam that leaves thick streaks and spots of lace on the glass. The aroma is very strong and is an interesting mix of alcohol, cocoa powder, vinous malts, and green, grassy hops. The flavor starts malty and sweet with lots of chocolate intertwined beautifully with the smell of sticky, earthy hops. The middle of the tongue picks up lots of dark fruit (prunes, chocolate-covered raisins) and molasses. The finish is full-bodied, is strongly alcoholic, and combines dark roasted, pungent malts with an interesting, fruity hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is seductive: it is full-bodied but lightened by luxurious, creamy bubbles. There is a touch of oiliness around the middle of the tongue. Overall, this beer rocks. It is even better than their past two anniversary beers (which I thought were quite pleasing, too).
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
22 oz bomber-Old rating I didn’t realize I hadn’t entered. Dark pour w/a moderate off white head. Sweet aroma. Flavors of roasted malt, bread dough, molassis, cocca, raisens & dates, as well as dark fruit & banana. Very Sasion like, smooth & easy to drink. Alcohol was well hidden. A real winner.
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
22 oz. bottle. Bottled in 2007. A near-opaque brownish pour with a finger-thick mocha head that leaves rings of lace. A sweet and malty aroma that features lots of brown sugar, ripe apples, pears, some caramel and molasses. Full-bodied. Roasty and quite sweet upfront. Raisins, molasses and red apples are all present. Finishes with some tingly, drying hoppiness. Alcohol is noticeable, but not over the top.
4.4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bottle. Pours a deep reddish brown, with a big, tan fluffy head. Prominent bands of lacing on the glass. Big plum aroma. Caramel, licorice, molasses. Fairly hoppy. Some nice chocolate. Pretty cool. Dried fruit flavors, with a rich brown sugar taste. Licorice, molasses, fig, nutmeg, and a nice spicy mouthfeel. Simply delicious. Bitter finish, and well-balanced. Surprisingly easy drinking. A very unique beer, and was definitely surprised by this one.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
22oz bottle: Deep, dark brown pour with a thick and lasting mocha colored head. The nose offers a fantastic balance of citrusy hops, caramelized malts and sublte oxidation. Thick, chewy body offers an array of aged malt. Notes of burnt caramel, cookie dough, fresh dough, brownie batter and honey. A splash of orange and grapefruit hops balance the sugary malts. The bitterness is subdued, but the balance is there and this drinks really well. Oxidation is starting to become apparent, but it adds to the overall complexity.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Dark brown body, small tan head, chocolate in the nose. Malty, chocolate, spicy, somewhat hoppy, hides the alcohol well.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Clear darker brown pour with ruby redness. Thick tan head. Heavy aroma of malt and molasses, toffee, sugar, hops, and a bit of fruit. Complex taste. Malt and sugar up front, very reminiscent of a tripel. Fruits and bread in the middle, with some cherry and tobacco. It lingers for a bit before the dryness of the hops kick in. Some smoke and metal with the hops, and a semi-dry finish. I’ve never had anything like this before.
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