De Molen Tsarina Esra Reserva

Brewed by Brouwerij de Molen
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Bodegraven, Netherlands

Serve in Snifter

gbbf 2010. I can’t remember the ins and outs of this one, however I do remember a good amount of caramel and coffee notes. An absolute belter of a porter.

25 cl bottle courtesy of daknole. Pours dark brown with a small tan head. The aroma had big roasted malts,chocolate, dark fruits, raisin, hints of spice and some alcohol. The flavor had more big roasted malt and dark chocolate, wood, dark fruits and some alcohol heat. Medium bodied and quite tasty.

250, capped and waxed in red, bottle #313. Thanks, Rene! Pours black and still with a loose, thin rim of dark tan around the edge. Big soy sauce nose, showing overripe dark pitted tree fruits, alcohol, chocolate, and a little bit of leather. Sticky body on the high side of medium, but not overbearingly thick. Not very carbonated. Chocolate, dark fruits, some soy, and a vodka twang on the mid palate. Fairly cohesive finish; could have gone all to soy sauce but actually winds up pleasantly.

Bought at Brouwerij de Molen. Bottle number 641. Recommended by the owner. He does know his products. Caramel, chocolate, black, minimal head, light sweetness, lightly bitter, lightly sour, full body, creamy, thick feel, soft carbonation, long finish,

Bottled. A pitch black beer with a thin dark brown head. The aroma has notes of soy sauce, roasted malt, fruits, and alcohol. The flavor is sweet with notes of vanilla, roasted malt, alcohol, soy sauce, and caramel, leading to a dry, roasted, and alcoholic finish.

Bottle from my 2011 Secret Santa. Thanks! Bottle 881, 2009 vintage. Pours very dark brown with a thin creamy tan head. Decent head retention and lacing. Aroma of rich dark malts, rich chocolate, smoky wood notes and a hoppy finish. The taste is dark roasted malts, wood, cherries, chocolate and a hoppy finish. Medium-full bodied.

Nip bottle @ home, a very generous bonus courtesy of pushkinwow. I fucked up and sent my package to him late and he still bonused out the wazoo. Thanks a bunch mi amigo! Very deep brown/black appearance with a small tan head with big bubbles. Super rich, roasty, chocolate malty, oaky, roasty coffee, burnt malty, lightly smoky, slightly charred aroma. Rich, chocolate malty, quite roasty, dark coffee, rich chocolate icing, woody, even a touch fruity, charred, anise flavor with a warming, a touch boozy, rich chocolate dessert finish. Rich chocolate aftertaste. Cool beer!

180mL nip thanks to Glouglouburp. Very fruity and complex nose. Lots of dark fruits, maple syrup, some woody and red wine notes, vanilla, quite figgy. Not very porter like. Blackish pour with a small tan head and adequate lace. Flavor is quite vinous and lightly tart on the tongue at first, further sipping reveals more dark fruits, some slightly overcooked brownies in the finish amidst light bitterness and some sweeter oxidation-like flavors. The alcohol is pretty well hidden when drinking but I can now feel the heat coming on as a sit and type. An interesting beer and, doesn’t really fit the style in any way, but that’s okay with me.