Heavy Seas Holy Sheet

Brewed by Clipper City Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Baltimore, Maryland USA

Serve in Trappist glass

Clipper city brewing, heavy seas, Holy Sheet uber abbey ale. Yep, that’s a mouthful, and so is this beer. Coming from just outside of Baltimore, Clipper City has made some serious headway in the world of craft beer. Their Loose Cannon has become one of the most popular craft beers in our store, and their seasonal are always worth grabbing. This brew tonight is their limited Holy Sheet "uber abbey ale". At about 9% abv, its definitely going to be uber something. It pours out a dark amber color, with medium head. The foam is unusually tiny bubbles, but fades quickly. At nine percent alcohol, I’m not surprised by how quickly the foam disappears. The Holy Sheet smells like a malt bomb, and I’m getting excited! My first sip reveals tons of complexity, malty goodness, and a little bit of booziness. I’m getting flavors of toffee and caramel, with plenty of sweet malty flavors like vanilla and honey. The Holy Sheet reminds me of a blend of two of my favorite beers, the Chimay Grande Reserve and Delirium Nocturnum. Medium to full bodied, a bit on the boozy side, with just the right amount of malty sweetness. I’m a big fan of the Holy Sheet, I recommend it highly.

12 oz. bottle from Julio’s Liquors. 2010 Vintage for $3.99. Wild 6 discount gives 15% off. Ok, I used a snifter. Hazy mahogany pour with excellent head retention plus it left tons of lace. Looks good. Nose of candied sugar and brown sugar and raisin. Smells nice. Flavors follow the nose. Medium to full in body with average carbonation and mild warmth on the way down. Finishes with lots of sweet malt. No doubt the age helped this. No ABV what so ever. Under rated if you ask me. One of the better Dubbel’s I’ve sampled.

Bottle pours fairly clear brown with thin brief off-white head. Aroma dark fruits and yeast. Taste figs, plums, citrus and melon with malts and spices. Finish dark fruits with a dull prolonged bitterness. Alcohol apparent. Palate thick and full.

The flavor is unique and I guess it will be a love/hate thing. I liked it but would not seek it out.

Bottle. A litte disappointing. It is trying to be a belgian strong, but lacks the overall flavor/aroma. Not as complex as I expected it to be. I really think the yeast strain is what made this one less than what it could be.

11/2011 SBF 2009: Did not cellar well. Astringent, bubbly, copper brown color, not very good.

This beer is very thick and warming, great for a cold night def. can taste/feel the alcohol as it goes down, sugary and sweet.

Very nice seasonal from Holy Seas. Great dark brown color with a sweet candied head. Taste is of high alcohol and sugars with a mid malt to balance. A little syrupy.

Purchased from "Jungle Jim’s International Market" in Fairfield, Ohio - This is a fine, full bodied abbey ale with malty sweetness and fruitiness. I like it!