4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20The Phoenix has risen from a pyre than need not have been created in the first place. By this I mean the impetus to produce such a fine and unique beer should not have arisen from the devastation of the Victorian fires. So from adversity comes.............................
A fine beer of character that is really hard to describe. An Imperial Red? No, a beer with obviously high ABV that is balanced so welll with the hallmarks of a beer that simply makes you sigh with enjoyment. Over the years I have desisted more from thinking about the technical aspects of a beer to defer to my enjoyment of a special beer. This one smacks you early with the hop aroma and flavour, but leaves you with the longinh that a well crafted beer of this nature wants to deliver. Sippin and Smilin.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
2012 bottle. Bronze with no head. Not far off still - wonder whether it’s properly carbonated despite the mountain of wax. Powerful aroma of dried fruit (raisins, plums, figs) , pine and spices. Some coffee and alcohol. Dried fruit, burnt sugars, strong pine and herbal bitter notes. Booze sticks out a bit - I would have guessed 12%+. Complex and quite intense flavours and really quite bitter. Getting towards taxing, but plenty going on and coherent enough to actually drink.
3.6 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Over all this was a big thick syrupy beer. Enjoyable drink to savour on a coldish day with some nice alcoholish warmth that creeps up toward the end of the glass.
3.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
East of Everwhere (on tap-8-Jan-13) Sweet malt bubblegum candy stone fruit, floral pine hop and slight sour aroma. Brown red colour, nice head and sheet lacing. Big sweet toasted wiod malt and pineapple flavour. Bitter pine hop finish and spiritous pine spice aftertaste.
3.7 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Travelling really well but I wonder whether cellaring has done much? Palate strength is good, if not of the mind blowing intense kind, but very good balance and hits all corners of the mouth. Some fruit cake (subdued), licorice, bitter coffee, a fair bit happening really. Can keep for a couple more but I’m not sure if it’s worth it.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Pours copper with a small head.
Nose shows loads of rich sweet malt with caramel, golden syrup and bready melanoidin notes.
Equally rich flavours. Golden syrup, bready malt, booze, toasty notes. The booze is a little harsh/full-on.
Thick body suits the beers well.
3.9 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
Bottle, Pours a deep mahongany with tan coloured head. Lots happening on the nose. Plenty of floral citrusy hops, dark stone fruits, light caramel and perhaps a hint of mil chocolate. Really nice stuff. Flavours are very sweet and bitter at the same time. Floral nature of the hops on the nose replaced by resiny grassiness. Medium mouthfeel. Have been looking forward to this one for a while now and it certainly didnt disappoint.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Medium sized head creamy colour a dark ruby pour aroma earthy toffee mild fruit rich caramel honey woody flavour toffee good strength bitter brandy earthyness caramel fruity taste woody note muscat and cherry sweet hops of the vine a truly good red ale finish rich fruity earthy woody bitter sweet hop and malt lasting good flavours so good to drink
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle. Dark hazy brownish mahogany coloured pour with a foamy tan head that doesn’t last long. Aroma is sweet, hoppy, boozy, chocolatey and spicy. Flavour, like the aroma, has strong notes of chocolate, toffee and more than a hint of alcohol, but the hop notes, while still present are less fruity and more grassy and spicy. Light, slightly oily mouthfeel with moderate carbonation and a long bitter, warm finish. This is a nice, fairly impressive strong ale from a brewery that is getting better all the time, although this is still a little unbalanced and the alcohol is a bit too prominent. Highly worthwhile all the same.
4.7 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
UPDATED: DEC 31, 2012 On tap at the Local Taphouse, 2012 version. Great beer, very complex nose. Aromas of dark fruit, caramel, oak, chocolate, cherry, anisette. Taste is sweet, with bitter notes, and very long length. Palate is syrupy, and full bodied. Red, with a frothy white head.
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