 Sledge Jr (2720), Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Jan 28, 2006
On tap at the brewpub. Served in a brandy snifter. Unfortunately, this is served ice-cold like all the other beers here. The cruel temperature is the only thing that I have bad to say about this winner from brewer Dean Dobmeier. The ale pours an opaque caramel color with a faint white head- similar to a liquid Goetze caramel candy in a glass. Looks like a glass of the Muddy Mississippi River. The aroma and taste is very Belgian. I’d like to see a little better head retention, but it it is incredibly cold and at least this way you get better measure in the tiny brandy glass. The yeasty aroma is heavy...real heavy. But then again, this is a liquid yeast bomb of a beer to drink. Has a slight burnt aroma as well. Maybe a little bit of a canned meat aroma. No, wait a minute- definitely the familiar aroma of Mop-n-Glow floor wax. My point is, this is a complex smelling beer. Fun stuff. Notably, I don’t get raisins or plums out of this. The mouthfeel is a little buttery and the ketones are slightly present, but not obnoxious. The mouth is coated with the complex esters of the yeast. If you have an hour to kill at Jobbers, order a glass of this and wait for the aromas and flavors to emerge. Otherwise, I’m afraid you will miss this amalgam of sensations due to the icebox serving temp.
iowaherkeye (1413), relocated to Santa Rosa f/Iowa, California, USA
Apr 7, 2007 Had this today on tap at the brewpub. The bartender and some signs in there said this was 7.6% ABV. Poured a cloudy reddish brown with no head--the 9 oz. snifter was filled to the rim. Aroma of Belgian yeast, roasted malts, the house yeast of most New Belgium brews (not bad in this case), light cinnamon, caramel, even some very light bubblegum (though not in a bad way, either). Flavor was fairly yeasty with some roasted malts, light ETOH warmth, green apples, light bubblegum again with a bit of grain, and a chocolatey light roasty finish. Moderate to high carbonation with a medium body. Overall pretty good. There were some yeasty streaks in the bottom of the glass once I finished it off, if anybody cares.
Braudog (3463), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Jan 31, 2006 1/30/06 on draft at the brewpub: Served in a tulip glass, a bit cold. Rusty orange with no head. Sugar-raisin aroma. Mellow sugar-malt flavors with a middle of the road bitterness. Hint of butterscotch.
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