4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Quite a solid beer by Dark Horse. The cherry to me is very natural; could be juice and/or real, but one thing it is not is medicinal. The beer needs to warm up to get the spicy belgian yeast phenols of the base triple, and this one has some earthiness (slight mushroom) - I like the aroma, with the tart cherry wafting in. The flavor is tart, sour and sweet. As the beer warms you notice the fruit less and the triple sweetness with pepper combination more. Had a large glass at Dark Horse and shared a growler among four people NYE. I like the fruit beers at DH (since 2001).
3.3 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
UPDATED: DEC 30, 2011 Draft at Dark Horse Winter Warmer release party and then again at the brewpub on 12/29. Pours a light reddish amber. Small white head. Understated aroma of cherries. Flavor of the same with some spice. I’m a big fan of Dark Horse Sapient Trip Ale and while I liked this version I wouldn’t have guessed what it was the first time I had it. Just didn’t seem that similar. On the 2nd tasting I let it warm up more and the underlying belgian feel The alcohol was very well hidden here. On my second tasting I picked up the cloves and other spices that are very apparent in the regular Sapient Trip, but they are muted by the cherries. Overall a decent beer and easy drinking for 8.5%. Always fun to try unique beers, but wouldn’t necessarily seek this version out again except to refine my rating.
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
On tap at The Shark Club. Thanks for pointing this one out...I completely overlooked it! Poured a hazy golden color with a small sized head. Fruity, cherries present but not overpowering, spices, and a trace of yeastiness. alcohol content very well hidden and way too easy to drink. Was told this was a one off by Dark Horse, if it is not, I would seek it out again!
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
On tap at Crunchy’s, East Lansing. Medium hazy orange-brown body, medium tight cream head. Light nose with spice and flower petals. Body surprisingly light and wispy, herbal and spicy with cherry pit and tannic flower petals in addition to residual sugars. Not quite what I expected.
3.2 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
tap at kzoo beer exchange. reddish amber with minimal head. aroma of sweet cherry, light spice...flavor is of cherry, banana, clove, and is slightly medicinal in the back end. has a peppery component to it.
3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
growler thanks to Jale... pours a muddy dark pink, good carbonation... nose of light cherries with yeast... the taste gets rid of the yeast that dominates the sapient trip ale, nice cherry, easy to drink
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