 jstraw (410), Oak Park, Illinois, USA
May 4, 2008
In bottle at Jerry’s. Dark red-amber with good, foamy tan head / Sweet, malt & berry nose / Full-bodied, sweet, syrupy malts, good carbonation and finish, with alcohol well masked / Bourbon-like flavors of smoke (peat), oak, burnt sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla, with only undertones of juniper berries / Fruit buried beneath the malt and smoke layers, but very good as such. Very bourbon/scotch like.
zappafan99 (182), Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA
Jul 6, 2008 7/8 tasting.08 bottle Looks:Nice red/copper body, thin,strong head. Aroma: Mild alcohol, nut, whiskey barrel (oak?), and hint of the vaniila. Taste: Medium bodied nutmeg, prune, spice along with casking and sweet malt. Goes well with scotch and bourbon.
mfbeer (6), USA
does not count  Jul 6, 2008 A whopping alcohol content with a complex palate of oak, vanilla, and a deep smokey quality. I loved it.
WallyWalrus (158), Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Jul 5, 2008 12oz bottle. Pours a beautiful ruby-tinged brown with a firm off-white head. Aroma is rich, with strong notes of smoke, wood, dark fruit, roasted malt, and a bit of syrupy hops. Body is full and malty, with a very mellow initial flavor of dark fruit and syrupy hops giving way to a long, scotch-like finish of wood, smoke, vanilla, and a mellow and sweet alcoholic kick. A true work of art -- marvelous depth, skillful balance, and simply delicious.
Elizavyeta (95), Minnesota, USA
Jul 5, 2008 Caramel and butterscotch notes with strong hints of toasted malt - almost a syrupy-sweetness dominate the aroma. Appearance is stunning with a thick, off-white head that dissipates quickly, revealing a mahogany body.
Flavor is perfectly complex, yet controlled. The initial sweetness quickly gives way to a mellower, nutty finish leaving notes of cinnamon, yeast and vanilla - a veritable cinnamon bun in a glass.
Utterly fantastic, I’d like to see this against a washed rind cheese, in particular Winnemere (raw cow’s milk washed in lambic) or perhaps Grayson.
lemasney (221), Trenton, New Jersey, USA
Jul 4, 2008 Glass: snifter
Purchased at: OakTree Buy Rite, South Plainfield, NJ (Thanks, Jay and Matt)
Price: $4.99
Size: 12 fl oz
ABV: 11%
IBU: n/a
Estimated Calories: 200 C
RateBeer Rating: 97
Aural: quiet opening, very little carbonation, easy pour
Aroma 9 out of 10
Intensity: strong
Balance: sharp
Impression: nice
Malt Aroma: grain alcohol
Hops Aroma: dust, rind, bitters
Other Aroma: lemon
Notes: aroma is deceiving - It’s strong, different than most any other scent, but hard to place.
Appearance 5 out of 5
Color: dark
Clarity: brilliant
Head Retention: persistent
Lace: intricate
Notes: A very nice looking ale, and one of the few I’ve seen at this alcohol content with good lacing.
Flavor 10 out of 10
Intensity: strong
Balance: bitter
Impression: nice
Malt Flavor: wheat, barley, oats, brown sugar, hazelnut, syrup
Hops Flavor: marigold, coriander, parsley, lemon
Other:oak
Notes: A brilliant flash of inspiration with the flavor rush. It takes a moment to hit, in an amazing control over the 11% abv. So very well balanced, and so much more so than the 120 minute IPA. It’s phenomenal.
Palate 5 out of 5
Mouthfeel
Sensation: creamy warming
Body: full
Carbonation: average
Finish
Length: long
Intensity: strong
Balance: bitter
Notes: A wonderfully deep finish.
General Impression: 19 out of 20
Craftmanship: excellent
Freshness: fresh
Personal Taste: loved
Notes: One of the finest controls over alcohol content I’ve ever experienced. You expect to be thrown down and ravaged, and instead, you’re invited out for dinner and a movie. Spectacular.
|
