3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle: Dark ruby color, maybe black, tan head, light lacing. Nose of grape, smoke, licorice, dry rice, some cherry or apricot. The flavor is very smoky and briney with vegetal notes and plenty of hops....vegetal hops. Roasty, spicy, hoppy. Finishes with a large intense body. Good combination int he end.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Bottle from Premier Gourmet, shared with Mabel. Very dark brown almost black body with a good creamy brown head. Roasty acidic aroma of dark roasted malts, very light touch of raisins or plums, mild chocolate. Flavour is a touch simpler than expected, but with plenty of roast and hop bitterness. Just enough malt sweetness to offset the bitterness a bit. Pleasant glimpses of dark bitter chocolate are fleeting, but frequent, before coming into a more solid presence in the aftertaste. Minute coffee notes to the roast. Gains flavour complexity as it warms, Average to medium palate (3+). Very nice.
3.7 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
Raters are placing votes for the style, so I’ll cast mine for a sweet stout, albeit with fruity notes. Not important. What it is is a darned fine ale, pouring a deep, dark brown body with a respectable cocoa head. It’s got a pleasing multi-level aroma, beginning with roasted malts and dark caramel, then some dark berries, a drop or two of alcohol, and a bit of anise. The flavor is roasty and has a touch of smoke. The berries are neatly rolled in for support along with a dollop of milk chocolate and a chaw of licorice. Very smooth drinking. Whatever it may be, it’s a fine Winter warmer. <font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Lakeview Liquors, Chicago, IL<font size=-1>
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Amber/brown color, small offwhite head. Malty aroma with chocolate and cocoa. Malty chocolate flavor, vanilla notes and a bit roasted. Alcohol is well hidden, quite a mild and pleasant beer.
3.3 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 11/20
3rd August 2008. Soft black beer with a tan head. Chocolate malt and a touch of fig leading to a subtle hop finish and a pronounced cinnamon like spice ending. Complex, unusual.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Hazy deep brown beer with a foamy light brown head. Light roasted malty aroma with hints of liqourice and coffee. Roasted malty flavor with a faint chocolate sweetness and a light bitterness towards the finish.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottle 500 ml
Appearance: Gusher , dark brown ale with creamy tanned top. Nice lacing presented.
Nose :Highly aromatic hops straight up front with muted grainy malts and coffee notes.
Flavor/Palate : Medium bodied. Mineral, earthy feel with semi dry alcohol. Drinkable brew with good hop accents. Alcohol slightly overexposed to my liking .Quiet good but it requires further maturing.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bottle (2008 "Winter Ale" edition).
Head is initially large, frothy, light brown, fully lasting.
Body is dark brown, bottle conditioned.
Aroma is moderately malty (caramel, nuts, cookie, chocolate), lightly to moderately hoppy (apricot, flowers, grapefruit, resin), with notes of raisin, anise, toffee, leather, brown sugar.
Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter.
Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter.
Medium to full body, velvety texture, lively carbonation, lightly to moderately alcoholic.
Quite delightful. Rich and complex aroma, sweet and warming without being cloying, and the use of hops is quite unlike the typical American treatment (not abrasive or overdone at all). Fruity and spicy with no apparent adjuncts; still offers the essence of a winter brew without beating you about the head with spices. Very well done. I’d buy it again.
|
