3.6 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
Drank on tap (14 oz) at Cheval Blanc’s New Years Eve party 2011. Misty dark mahogany, small head. Cereal malt aroma very sweet, some touch of spice. Good taste of sweet malt, slightly raw with hints of spice, a little malty bitterness. Good end to 2011!
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
In short: A caramelized ruby ale with complex fruitiness. Good beer.
How: Tap at brewpub (this version was listed as “aged 8 months, 6.7%)
The look: Almost clear dark ruby body topped by a medium beige head with good retention
In long: Nose is forest floor and a mix-bag of dark fruits. Taste has grainy toasted malts, lots of caramel, lots of red and darker fruits, tree bark and subtle well integrated spiciness. The red fruit flavors also included tarter fruits, even light notes of raspberries. Bitterness level was medium. My taste buds were quite busy with that mix of caramel, refreshing tart fruits and bitterness. This beer throws many things at you but it works. Body was full and a bit on the rough side (very grainy, far from creamy) and the medium carbonation was well levelled. I liked that beer, I thought it was a fun beer, But my wife didn’t like, oh well, you know what they say, Men Are from Mars and women are always complaining.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
From tap at the brewpub. Pours deep golden amber with a small white head. Aroma is roasted malty and caramelish. Smooth malty, caramelish and sweet flavoured. Subdued bitterness. Toffee caramelish. Light bitter and lingering malty into the finish.
3.3 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Dark slightly cloudy amber with a lasting creamy beige head. Gentle nose where plum, black cherries and raisins notes dominates, completed by a shy white chocolate impression. Not as estery as you would expect for the style, but getting more complex as it warms up. Medium body, a bit odd attack in the mouth, slightly hard water feeling at first (minerality) that develops into rounder chocolate mouth. Finish is medium and leaves some earthy notes. This is a strange beer on the palate that leaves you with mixed feelings. Maybe some ageing will round off the corners of this one. Still not a bad beer...
2.9 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 12/20
On tap at Soirée des Brasseurs. Dark brown, persistant off white head. Aroma of pepper, brown malt, vanilla, very little belgian character if any at all. Mild flavor, lots of chocolate, slightly sweet, still no trace of belgian abbey yeast or others. Palate is medium bodied, a bit thin and watery, lacks structure. OK beer, out of style and overall kind of strange.
|
