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Free State Bison Dark Ale 3.69 6

Free State Bison Dark Ale

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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
63.95/5.03.69/5.0Winter-NAEnglish pint, Snifter
Commercial Description:
This Dark English ale is fashioned after British "Old Ales" and has been a seasonal favorite here for several years. A healthy dose of caramel malts (light and dark) contribute a deep red color that's tempered with just a touch of roasted barley. All of this also combines to make a VERY full bodied beer. To balance all of the malts, we add a healthy dose of hops. We use Simcoe hops for bittering, and Ahtanums for aroma hops and for dry hopping.
O.G. - 17/1068. Hops - 69.5 IBUs
 TAR (2097), Boulder Co., Colorado, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Dec 11, 2003  
Draft: Clear walnut with ruby highlights. Frothy light caramel head. Elegant aroma equally loaded with fruity esters, chocolate, caramel, nuts, and cream. Substantially hoppy with a hint of maple and buttery yeast. Soft and mellow on the tongue. Fruity start is balanced by a healthy fresh hop tingle and a long pale malt, caramel malt composition. Ringwood yeast hints. Persistent caramel malt, dark malt finish with a coarse hint of leather and accompanying hop belches. Exactly what I seek in the style.


 ¾ (5012), Boulder, Colorado, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Dec 1, 2003  
Medium dark brown with and orange hue at the edge of the glass. Frothy tan head... hoppy, rich and creamy, very sweet and rich, like drinking espresso or french roast. The roasted malts are picked up, and the roasty chocolate flavor coats the mouth. A great beer from Free State. Enjoyed this with lilannie, ChimayBabe and TAR passing through on my way to Chicago.


 cb (809), Wheat Ridge, Colorado, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/58/104/517/20
Jan 10, 2003    Updated: Dec 2, 2003
Free State does so many different styles well. This ale is no exception. Caramel-fruit flavor and huge hops balanced by a ton of nutty, dark malts. Some banana-y esters noted. Quickly disappearing head with average lacing. Nutty dark malts with some fruity caramel. Bit of fitting diacetyl.


 grant (792), Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/104/517/20
Jan 10, 2003  
Nice strong ale. Very fruity for such a dark beer; I tasted raisins, and, discordingly, lighter fruits such as peaches and apples. The hop varieties I have honestly never heard of, but finish off the tremendous malt complexity that this beer offers. Looks simply great in the glass.


 MaxPower (961), St. Louis, Missouri, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/103/514/20
Jun 22, 2002  
Dark red in color, roasted carmel, full body, not much head.


 Indra (2041), Prairie Village, Kansas, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/59/105/517/20
Apr 22, 2001  
Great dark, slightly strong ale. Deep, dark red color, slight head and relatively low carbonation, Great marriage of maltiness and hop spiciness. Incredible bittersweet aftertaste. Well done again, Free State.



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