Kuhnhenn Aldebaran

Brewed by Kuhnhenn Brewing
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Warren, Michigan USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Bottled. Pours a lightly hazy ruby red-garnet color. A foamy, beige colored head shows good retention and leaves sticky ribbon and jagged lines of lacing behind. Aromas are big but well balanced. Grapefruit and orange hops are countered with sweet, caramelized biscuit and toasted rye bread. The Belgian yeast funk is supremely integrated, helped along by a touch of lactic creaminess in the nose. Flavors exhibit the same well-balanced profile. Caramel sweetness is accompanied by darkly toasted biscuit, followed soon after by a rush of bitter orange and grapefruit. The creaminess is there again, with the yeast imparting a soft spiciness on the finish. The body is quite substantial, with moderate carbonation levels lending to the creamy palate. Overall, this is a very nice and unique brew. Definitely must be consumed fresh, as this one will taper off quickly. Great beer.

A- Pours a nice auburn hue with a pillowy 2 finger head. Lots of visible carbonation. S- Smell is absolutely excellent. Hops hit the nose first, followed by sweet caramely malt, followed by just a hint of belgian funk. T- Wow, this is where it’s at. Very sweet, waves of slight fruitiness and deep caramel wash across the tongue with a bit of hop biterness lingering at the end that fades into malty goodness. Phenomenal. It’s hard to put a finger on what style this is but whatever it is, I like it. M- Thick with quite a bit of carbonation. D- I can honestly say that if I had access to this often, I would drink it at least once a week. One of the best Kuhnhenn brews I have tasted to date. I love this brewery!

12oz hand bottle from a growler. Clear darkish orange with reddish highlights and a small beige head, fair retention. Tangerine, pineapple, spicy rye (I’d forgotten it had rye in it until I smelled it), caramel malts, Belgian yeast with a tinge of banana round out the aroma. Very nice so far. Flavor was every bit as fruity with plenty of rye and bittersweet caramel to go around. A slight amount of raw alcohol, but with all the flavors going around it doesn’t detract. Dry finish with some green leafy hops and bitterness peaking at a 6 or so. Light carbonation with a full body. The hops came across in this every bit as bright as in a fresh Dreadnaught, and throwing in rye and Belgian yeast made a great complex and flavorful brew. Totally rocked. I also added a point in the overall that should actually have been in the appearance, but since it’s a hand bottle I adjusted accordingly.

MBG Winter Fest 2008. Poured hazy brown color with an average fizzy off-white head that was mostly lasting with good lacing. Moderate yeasty toasted rye aroma. Medium body. Medium toasted bittersweet flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet finish of moderate duration. My expectations where met.

UPDATED: MAR 1, 2008 Draft. Notes of pepper and catnip on the nose. Caramel brown hue with a tan head that mostly diminished. Palate is smooth with a bitter finish. Flavor of medicine and fruit. I don’t know could grow on me but its so different I’m put off.

2008 MBG Winter Beer Fest. This was a very leafy, hoppy beer backed by caramely, bready malt. Tannic, citrusy, and a touch medicinal, but the leafy characteristics are what left a lingering impression. This cut my palate after a few dark beers.

sample at MBGWF....poured a caramel brown with a moderate thin tan head....fruity tropical and floral hops made up the nose with a nice caramel malt component provided a nice balance.... flavores mostly of citrus hops with a nice balance of sweetness coming from the malt. pretty smooth and drinkable overall.

2008 MBG Winter Fest: Coppery hue with a small foamy head and spotty lace. The aroma is fruity, caramel, toasty, a bit catty, grassy, minerally and fusel alcohol. WOW, the taste is high alpha hops indeed! Along with the twangy rye the bitterness really shines on the palate backed by a light-handed sweet chewy malt and some herbal spice notes. Almost a tad unbalanced. The mouth feel is lively, sharp and refreshing. Different and yet enjoyable.

On tap. Pours a dark copper color with a medium tan colored head. Arom a is big citrus, floral hops, fruity esters, light caramel. Flavor is again huge blast of floral hops, citrus, caramel, light fruits. Palate is medium bodied, medium carbonation, finished bitter. Very Nice. Right between IPA and Belgian Strong.

Opaque brown pour with a one finger frothy off-white head. Smells of fresh prunes, hearty pine, and a note of basil. Very unique flavor. Lots of pine, fussel alcohol, and more basil/spice with a touch of roastiness. Creamy medium body with a fair bit of carbonation. Such an odd and complex blend of flavors but I’m not sure they work together.