3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Deep dark mahogany color, with almost no head, strong alcoholic nose with a 12,5% alc/vol, some winey notes are emerging, even some brandy or port accents are joining the party too, with dark fruits, toffee and sweet malty aromas follow through a rich, full-bodied palate with some super malty flavors, notes of whisky and port, a fruity character of dried fruits, dark candy sugar, toffeeish accent, leading towards a sweet caramelized malt and an alcoholic warmth portlike finish. Quite a powerful and warming beer, great for the winter holidays!
3.8 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
[Bottle 341ml, very fresh, 18C]
This is a very intriguing beer that doesn’t fit in any traditional categories, so there are no basis for comparation.
This beer has a rich mahogany color. Head and initial carbonation look and feel like a soft drink, no retention at all but leave lacing. Aroma is hesitant yet complex and doesn’t show that much evidence of the 12.5% alcohol level however presents vinous dark fruits expression leaning toward dates with some smooth woody tones. No hop at all. Alcohol unleashes a full palate on the attack, and then settle down to leave more space to the sweet yet rich semi roasted malt. The body is full and the texture is medium. Aftertaste is dominated by the warning effect of the alcohol. I think this beer would age advantageously (i’m going to do this). Overall, this is a very good winter beer but still a little young to my opinion.
4.1 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
The Lure:
Joyful grape juice emanates from the scintillating burgundy/mauve garment. Scant lacing decorates the wine glass, as peaking alcohol announces its future warming. A little too shy of an aroma to really be alluring, but intrigue is settling in nicely.
The Festivities:
The serenely confident fruitiness of black grapes and various berries embraces the full but smooth body. Port wine characters meet beer half-way, and they both exchange some of their fine attributes. A lovely idea. Alcohol tickles the meticulous malt roastiness in the back, and warms the throat gently, as drops of milk are hallucinated within. Aftertaste is rather short, but still exhibits some of the delicate sweetness previously presented. Neither barley wine, nor old ale, neither port wine, nor quadrupel, a stunning creation which will amazingly be accessible to most palates.
Transcendence:
Naked on velvet drapes.
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