Full Sail Vesuvius

Brewed by Full Sail Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Hood River, Oregon USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

bottle, clear gold with nice foam, basic golden ale with little grainyness, very smooth and clean. alcohol is far in the background

Head is initially small, fizzy, off-white, fully diminishing. Body is clear dark yellow to light amber. Aroma is lightly malty (toasted grain), lightly hoppy (flowers, herbs), trace yeast (mold), with notes of banana, clove, and alcohol. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic. A boring, watery, filtered, simple attempt at a Belgian (homebrew Duvel clone recipe?). Full Sail should probably stick to hop-bombs.

Clear caramel color, light head, mellow lacing. Nose of musky hops and sour malts. The flavor is balanced, bland and musky. The finish is akin to horribly dirty laundry. Don’t know why this didn’t work for me but it just didn’t. The saving grace was the absence of alcohol taste.

Tap at Brouwers. Gold with a thin head and big bubbly carbonation. Clove and banana in the aroma. It really reminded me of a Bavarian wheat. Very yeasty. Light and fruity flavor. Very smooth. Very carbonated. I enjoyed this one more than most apparently.

Bomber. Pours hazy amber with a thin white head that falls to film as quickly as it possibly can. Slight nutty aroma to go with a fair effort at a wild Belgian yeast nose. Some pears and nuts in the palate. Medium body, almost-fizzy carb. This is fairly drinkable and pleased many co-workers this afternoon at an impromptu tasting they asked me to arrange. I’ll buy it again someday. Hoping to see it on draft.

This Belgian Golden Ale pours a medium orange gold color from a 22oz bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is apples, bananas, alcohol and sugar. A medium bodied Belgian Ale. Malts are fruity and sweet. Lots of banana and apple flavors as well as some unrefined sugar. Kind of overly sweet and a little bland. Strangely it reminds me a little bit of a malt liquor, I mean it in no way tastes like one, but it has that high gravity kind of feel to it. Perhaps a bit of aging will mellow this one, as it’s a little harsh and one sided right now. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is smooth. Aftertaste is sweet.

Sampled via 22-oz bomber and shared by Akevitt. Pours a semi-clear golden pale brew with a fast dissolving white head that leaves behind a thin white ring. Aroma of light roasted malt, earthy spice and plenty of floral hops. Taste is medium bodied, lightly carbonated, with a a spicey yeast and light roasted malt flavor. Finish is smooth and then slightlly tart with a hint of yeast in the aftertaste.

Bottle: Clear golden, moderate white foamy head, spotty lacing, very light carbonation.   Yeasty/bready nose, very light or pale, soft citrus based spices, even softer pepper.   Lemony based flavor, yeasty, with an odd tapioca pudding like finish.   Never thought I would get that, but it appears to be there.   Touch of almond and vanilla in the finish.   This is a real odd duck.   Body and mouthfeel are fairly moderate.   ABV is well hidden.   Definitely doesn’t taste like 8.5%, but it sure feels like it.   Somewhat dry after the finish.   Not bad, but very different.

UPDATED: FEB 22, 2008 Bomber from the state wine store. Pours a light gold with a small white head. The aroma is mostly banana and some citrus. The taste is mostly a sweet citrus and banana, yeast, and spices. Overall, quite drinkable but doesn’t stand out.

Poured a clear light golden amber color with a thin off-white head. The aroma was yeasty with light clove and spice. Notes of bubble gum, flowers, oranges and a yeasty leather funk that was noticeable as the beer warmed. the flavor was malty and fruity with light tart lemony notes. Sweet and yeasty. Acidic finish with a lively mouthfeel.