 vyvvy (1582), Hazelwood, Missouri, USA
May 13, 2008
Pours dark reddish brown with a quickly diminishing tan head. The aroma has thick sweet malt, lots of fusal alcohol, some brown sugar and dark fruits. The abv gets in the way from this being great, age may help. Medium / thick body that still has a crisp feel due to the high amount of carbonation. This starts off very boozy when it is remotely cool. As it gets warmer the goodness starts to show with thick caramel and toffee malt tastes, lots of earthy Belgium yeastiness, earthy hops, figs and dates. This is much drier than the aroma let on ~ there is only a hint of sweetness. The finish is short and dry with some lightly chalky dark caramel. This is good, but I’m really looking forward to rerate a bottle with some age on it.
MrBunn (802), Western, Pennsylvania, USA
Jul 15, 2008 750 ml bottle. Pours a fizzy, dark amber with a pretty big head and aromas of toffee/caramel malt, dark fruit and allspice. Flavor is sweet malt (caramel, toffee and candi sugar), fruit (figs and dates), spices (cloves, allspice and nutmeg?). A bit of alcohol is detectable as it warms on the way down. Another great offering from the Smokestack series.
Darkover (1189), Columbus, Ohio, USA
Jul 13, 2008 Dark amber color with a long lasting tan head. Aroma of spices/pepper, caramel and molasses. Flavor is very spicey and peppery with caramel malts, toffee dark fruits and some alcohol.
logan_townsend (6), bonner springs, Kansas, USA
does not count  Jul 9, 2008 I gave this beer the privilege of my first rating. An amber colored pour with nice lacy tan head. Smells of fruits and nuts with a slight spice undertone. Delicious balance in flavor with the aromas coming into the flavor and masking the rather strong alcohol content well. Slightly carbonated yet still smooth and thick, finishes well and leaves a slight burn of alcohol. An extremely good beer that has kept me coming back. My local boulevard favorite!
HogTownHarry (3141), Toronto (Harbourfront), Ontario, Canada
Jul 8, 2008 Bottle (750ml). Shared with blankboy, GregClow, jerc and tupalev, my bottle via trade with mreusch. Hazy ruby-amber pour with a frothy beige head. Dry, spicy aroma, quite peppery, with lush caramel malt and light perfume hop bittering; moderate alcohol in the nose, with apple and raisin sweetness coming in as it warms up. The taste character follows right along - perfumey bitterness, lush caramel malt, raisin and fruit sweetness, more alcohol on the tongue --- thick, only mildly carbonated mouthfeel, quite a bit of alcohol and dry bitterness in the long malty finish. Well done - maybe a tad boozy.
JMerritt (1100), Macomb, Illinois, USA
Jul 8, 2008 Murky brown with a nice light-brown head with excellent retention. Aroma is musty, full of dried, candied fruit notes such as plum, apricot and dates, caramelly malts and molasses. Alcohol aroma is prevalent, but not overwhelming. Moderately sweet, lightly astringent flavor, loads of cobwebby, dusty fruits, gingerbread, dried plum, and spices (nutmeg, a little cinnamon, allspice). Liquid fruitcake is a pretty good summation. Tingly, moderate-to-high carbonation, which I find perfect for the style. A fantastic beer, easily the best I’ve had in recent memory.
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