3.8 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20A brand new arrival, and a very limited one at that, this is the 668 "The Neighbor of the Beast" from New England Brewing. Even though they’re located just a short drive from here, we get very limited quantities of the 668, and therefore I’ve never been able to try it before. Tonight I thought it was a necessity, so Gunnar and I cracked a can to split.
The 668 comes in 12oz aluminum cans with no discernible canning date or alcohol level. The cardboard flat that the cans arrived on was dated March 28th, 2012, so this batch is pretty darn fresh. The brew pours a slightly hazy golden straw color, with a nice white foam. The main body of foam dissipates relatively quickly, but a thin film of carbonation is present throughout the duration.
The aromas on the 668 are lightly sweet and citrusy. The last brew I had from New England Brewing was the Ghandi Bot, and I totally wasn’t prepared for this soft little guy today. A little bit of that typical ’belgian funk’ is present in the background, but the citrus and spice is definitely the dominate force in the aromas.
On the palate the start is very nicely sweet, followed by some nice fruit esters, and finishes with a crisp dryness in the back of the palate. There’s just a touch of hops clinging to the back of my tongue, but the overall impression is distinctly citrusy, fruity, and a touch sweet. A nice medium body makes the 668 both flavorful and quite drinkable.
All said and done, I’m quite impressed! This "Belgian Strong Pale Ale" is very balanced, smooth, and well-done. If this were available on a regular basis, it would be a staple in my own fridge. Great job guys!
3.8 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Poured a nice hazy gold, with a nice foamy head. Didn’t have the normal feel associated with a Belgian that I’m used to (which for me was a good thing).
But, I will tell you one thing. I drank this on a particularly hot day... and I think I may have found my new summer beer. Summer beers are usually super light (Pilsners/Golden ales) and just lack flavor and complexity. This beer, while not, and would never be labeled a summer beer has all of the flavors and complexities that I love during the hot summer days. It’s refreshing, not too heavy (even for 8.5%), is easy to drink, and has an incredible flavor.
3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Can [12oz]. Pours a hazy gold with an average size semi-lasting frothy off-white head. Aroma of light grassy hops, herbs, yeast, light candi sugar and light spices. Sweet, slightly overly so, yeasty flavour along with herbs, grassy hops, bready malt and light spices. Gets slightly less sweet as it warms a bit. Average bodied. I found this just O.K.
---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
Can (not the can pictured, though). First time ever having this. Pours a hazy gold, little wispy white islands. Definitely the Belgian spice/Belgian yeast feel to it. A bit spicy but not heavy. Easy to drink. Good beer.
3.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
Yellow with a white head. Aroma is full of grain and wheat with some grass thrown in. Flavor is bready with some grass and orange citrus notes. A little bit of spice from the yeast. Alcohol is also present. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.
2.7 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 4/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
12 oz can poured into a Ballast Point snifter. Pours cloudy orange with an off white fluffy head. The smell is extremely yeasty with typical Belgian characteristic esters: clove, ginger. Nothing too interesting going on here. Taste is very heavy and dense with fresh yeast, cardamom, and wheat like body. Spicy finish, but not in the way of a saison. Lingering acidity and spice on the tongue. Really not my kind of beer.
3.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Draft at Plan B West Hartford. Pours yellow with a thin white head that leaves trace lacing. Slight bitter spice note on the nose. Tastes like perfumed saison on the tongue. It’s got some bitterness on the finish. Eh!
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Hazy gold with a thin beige head. Medium body with high carbonation.
Aroma: saison citrus note, spicy and phenolic belgian yeast character, pale malt, and a bit of stale hops.
Taste: more saison-like citrus character and spicy belgian yeast, biscuity malt, herbal hops, and alcohol warmth.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
can thanks ernesto. pours orange with white frothy nhead. big sweet toffee aroma. taster is very sweet orange and hops some sugar and burnt malt.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Served from an amusing can. Aroma of apricot, sugar, and citrus. Opaque orange-yellow. Starts off sweet, but surprisingly bitter and hoppy. Not dry, however, and unfortunately a bit flat (relatively speaking of course). Not boozey, though it is obviously very strong. Not yet feeling right next door to hell.
3.5 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 15/20
One of the better BSAs that i have had in a long time. Good strong alcohol flavor with slight carbonation and an impressive hop taste. Mellow mouthfeel in the middle. Very enjoyable.
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