Daves BrewFarm Svengali

Brewed by Daves BrewFarm
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Wilson, Wisconsin USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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"Svengali. 10% a.b.v. Like it’s namesake, "Svengali" has the hypnotizing effect of a Belgian yeast. Pale malt, brown sugar, and Citra, Summit, and Warrior hops. Spiced with lemon grass, cinnamon, and turmeric. Caution is advised--this brew will put you in a trance." Dense, thick, and hazy deep crimson hue, fine off-white head, dotted, lasting. Aroma: gorgeous. Sweet, floral, and hoppy. It seems like an improbable combination of spices, cinnamon, lemongrass, and turmeric, but it makes an intriguing combo. Wow. Sublime. Tasting it: Juicy malt, tidy, tasty bitter hop feel, and a bewitching panoply of spices. It’s a wonderful ride, there’s a bit of bitter, plenty of tasty, light, juicy, fruity malt, and that tidy trickle of unique flavorings. Mmmm, mmm. Alcohol strength stays meek and harmless at first, but roars in and becomes fierce, at last. Watch out! Farmer Dave says people ask him all the time why doesn’t do an IPA, and he replies, "why should I do what everyone else is doing?" Why should he chase trends, when he could be creating them? I enjoyed his single hop series of lagers (soon to appear in cans) more than many IPAs I’ve had lately. This Svengali feels the closest he’s yet done to an IPA, and if that’s true, then he’s doing fantastic. Another great beer that proves what Dave promised me years ago, that he’d make great beer that conforms to no category. Although, if you pinned my arms behind my back, and made me cry "style", I’d probably have to call it a Belgian IPA, because the yeast flavor and the spicing, plus the hopping makes such a profound impact on the character. Belgian yeast seem to overtake everything.

On tap at the GTMW 2011. Amber with a thin white head. Aroma of toasted malt, candi sugar, cinnamon and mild amounts of citrus, fruit and herbs. Taste is fruity and yeasty with bready malt, herbs, sugar and spices, toasted malt and finishes up dry.

ABR 2010. The high ABV is well hidden Very sweet, with lots of malt, but also the pleasant surprised of light smoke. Some yeast, and light spice, but unfortunately not a lot of the spice comes through.