Heather Ales Ebulum

From a 12oz Bottle. Dark black, opaque colored pour with a thin layer of creamy beige froth resting on top. Aromas of creamy chocolate, anise, black currants, and dried prunes create a malty bouquet with a dash of fruitiness. Thin, light bodied, crisply carbonated mouthfeel. Pleasant flavors of toasted malts reveal hints of chocolate, crispy toast, biscuit, and some more prune. Some black licorice lingers on in the final smack. The amount of flavor depth seems to be a bit rich for the light body, but at the same time, fails to be overly complex. Tasty and well balanced overall, but nothing mind blowing here.

Bottle from Holiday Wine Cellar: Black with burgandy highlights held up to a flash light. Aroma is dark chocolate with berries and black cherry. Flavor starts light coffee and cocoa with a hint of berries and a lighty acidic finish. Medium bodied and watery with moderate to lively carbonation.

This is quite reminiscent of a merlot. A liver cleanser, for sure.... (got that from the distributor....hehehehe... take it for what it’s worth). Pours black mocha into the glass, with a thinly suds head and lacing. The nose is of semi-sweet dark choco malts, alongside cherry fruit. The flavors are of mixed chocolates, dark fruity citrus, and vinous notes (in the form of tannins). The merlot (vinous) mouthfeel really kicks in on the finish, as the tannins show forth big time. Nicely dry back-palate, really accenting the entire brew. Good offering here. Not my session pick, but definitely a unique choice on occasion. (Probably would be better suited as a different classification... something other than "Traditional Ale".... not entirely a proper classification). Anyhoo, Kudos!

Bottle: pours a dark and murky brown with a tanned head. Taste was fruity, malty, and earthy. Some bittersweetness in the finish, but very smooth and easy to drink. I couldn’t distinguish elderberries from the basic fruity tones, but overall it was well balanced and quite pleasant.

Bottle. Poured dark reddish brown with an average frothy brown head that was mostly lasting with good lacing. Moderate roasted malt, tart citrus and earthy aroma. Medium body with a sticky texture. Medium tart earthy sweet flavor with a medium sour finish of long duration. This is a very complex and one of a kind beer.

BB dec 2005, thanks Oakes. Close to black, very dark, opaque, bottle-conditioned and wearing an initially large collar which recedes to a beige ring. Indeed a most interesting product with plenty of idiosyncratic character. Rather gentle, cohesive nose comprising dark cereals, soft alcohol sweetness, ink, prunes and blackberries flavors. Good malty body, firm and adequately irrigated by firm natural carbonation. May have thinned out a bit, but it still displays an interesting roundness. Tobacco suggestions emanate as the finish approaches. Surprising citric bite to the tannic fruits. Gentle roastiness never approaches the extremes, just pushing the fruitiness to further levels, with charcoal grains and ashey undertones.

Bottle, at Haket, Göteborg. Black colour, moderate but lasting creamy head. Strong aroma of roast malts, chocolate and elderberries. Flavour is mellow and rounded with chocolate and elderberries, surprisingly well balanced.

Bottled. Dark brown, with a think malty and chocolatey nose. Bitter, think and malty in the mouth with some yeast on the finish. An interesting flavor, just a bit expensive for what it is.