2.7 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 12/20
It pours opaque dark-brown (almost black) with faint mahogany highlights; the head essentially self destructed, but when it was present it was mocha coloured. The aroma has notes of: sweet berry (I assume elderberry), herbal grassy notes, sweet cacao, and dark honey. The taste is medium-light sweetness that finishes dry; there are notes of: unripe bananas, coffee, and faint floral notes. The palate is light bodied, aqueous, thin; it has fizzy carbonation (tiny bubbles). Overall, not all that different from porter (this is not a compliment), it lacks serious flavour and body.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
UPDATED: DEC 22, 2005 I poured this rather abruptly, so head was shortlived and rocky. But it had a nice kind of shading in the head with a reddish brown on the bottom fading into a lighter tan on top. Body is a dark plum/ black. Nose of roasted coffee and chocolate. Flavor is sweet upfront and mildly dry in the finish. A very lovely chocolate flavor, with coffee, and maybe some dark fruit (grapes), nothing overpowering and very drinkable. Awesome.
3 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Served in a flying dog pint glass
A:Dark brown cola like with a cream color head that leaves a persistent lace.
S:At first a dough like smell hit me (I think it’s from the fermented yeast), then some hints of coffee, malt and dark chocolate.
T: It was kind of thin bodied for my taste, no alcohol flavor, some of the coffee and I was kind of thrown off with the dough flavor.
Overall: I dont like this beer but it’s a personal matter (my wife liked it), it was kind of flat and watery. I would have it again just to check if it’s something wrong with the one I had.
3.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Aroma is blueberry, sweet malt, a hint of coffee and earth. Dark and opaque with a creamy, dissipating head. lots of berry taste - darker, sweeter berry. I’ve never had elderberries. Some dark chocolate and a bit of cinnamon as well. Doesn’t linger on the palate. Very subtle carbonation. Food pairing suggestions: roast pork, berry chutneys, dal.
4.1 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Excellent beer. Pours black with thin tan head. Aroma is complex and rich with some dark fruits, coffee, apple, dark berries. Taste include fruity flavors and mild sweetness with delicious roasted malt character. Mild carbonation and easy palate, slick texture and nice finish.
4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
I went into this beer with the attitude that I was going to like it... I loved it. Had a tiny tan head, was nearly opaque, and flowed much smoother than expected. Very slightly smokey with many berries and sweet flavors. Sure this wasn’t a wine?
3.2 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Another very good offering from Heather Ales. I was a bit nervous about trying a beer made from elderberries (I don’t like fruity beers), but this turned out to be very good. No heavy fruit flavors. Just a nice pleasant full flavored ale.
4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
User "dhurtubise" hit the nail on the head when he said "A bit of a cross between an english porter and a scotch ale. Quite roasty and reasonably complex with a relatively thin body, with roasted malts and a little bit of smoked peat smoothing out the profile. Some berry character can be detected, mostly in the aroma. Rich roasted malt finish with guiness like bitter finish." I will add that the Elderberry is very subtle and there is very little head accompanied by a decent amount of carbonation.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
UPDATED: DEC 23, 2003 Deep mahogany hue with beautiful and thick cream head. Strong aroma of burnt wood and fruit. Smooth woody fruit taste with a sweet finish.
3.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Pours a deep plum/black with a smooth, soft fruity aroma. From the label, I was expecting something thin, and sweet. While it’s definitely sweet, it is well balanced and not that sicky sweet feel. Nice full body, slight warming sensation from the alcohol. The taste is unique. Spices definitely stand out, with some vanilla as well. And there is a noticeable taste like red wine at the beginning of each sip, which fades into the spicyness, and then returns in the finish. Almost no carbonation. Really a nice beer. Glad I took a chance on it.
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