Full Sail Vesuvius

Draft. A golden beer with a white head. The aroma is has notes of yeast, malt, and spices - very Belgian. The flavor is sweet and very malty with notes of yeast, dusty hops, and some spice, leading to a yeasty finish.

I was never a big fan of this beer when it was released and have not been impressed with subsequent releases. Kind of a weak nose, slightly sugary sweet with a hint of lighter fruits here and there. Lots of citrus notes on the palate, a hint of yeasty banana, but rather thin and watery, with an overabundant amount of carbonation, leading to an uncomfortable mouthfeel.

22oz bottle, Brewmaster Reserve 2007. Clear golden with a one finger fading white head, fair retention. Bananas, candi sugar, and alcohol up front. There’s also some dusty spice and grain in the background. Flavor is pretty alcoholic with the yeasty bananas and sweet candi sugar again being dominant. The alcohol and whatever hops they used did dry the finish out a little bit, though not much bitterness was noted. Moderate prickly carbonation with a medium body. Sort of like a crappy go at a tripel, as far as I’m concerned (I do realize what it’s listed as).

Full Sail Vesuvius, Belgian Golden Ale 22 oz., Brewmaster Reserve 2007, 8.5% Lightly hazed, golden color, soon-gone head...eh... Was it called "Vesuvius" due to some volcanic explosion of flavor? An enormous, overflowing head? So far, one strike against it, let’s hope for the best... Spicy nose, minor fruity notes, sweet and sugary. Big, fizzy carbonation...large lemon flavor, sugar sweet, then slightly sour...I’m not liking it, not by much. Resembles the style some, but lacks a lot. Like a pleasing flavor. More I drink, the more I hate it. Feels like a sugary, fizzy malt liquor. Yuck! End of discussion. Sorry, can’t say anything else. Also sorry I spent $5 on this. Win some, lose some.