3.5 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20A 750ml from Wegmans served a little on the cold side. Poured a dark amber with a off white head that settles down to a thin lacing. It is a little light for a "dark ale". Initial whiff has some spiciness, caramel, and then it is all wiped out by the smell of booze. As it warmed, the only thing that I can smell is the booziness. Luckily the taste isn’t overwhelmed... the taste is pretty complex. Very spicy up front followed by some nice vanilla with hints of caramel. The taste trails off with a little sour cherry and then a salty malted finish. Interesting. The tartness sits on the front of the tongue and roof of the mouth long after.
I can see why this is a winter warmer even though it is a little thin. The spicing is not over the top like some of winter ales are. The taste and slight sourness is a nice touch but the heat of the alcohol is a little too much. Overall, this is a good one to drink on a cold night. Not perfect, but quite passable.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Draft @ the Ale House. Tulip shows a deep mahogany color with thin lasting white head. Tantalizing aroma of dark fruit caramel, and Belgian yeast. Weighing in at 10% alcohol, I thought this would be over powering alcohol on draft. It wasn’t! You can taste the grains of paradise in the flavor; although with cinnamon, orange peel, plums, raisins, and caramel. The palate is full bodied and very complex, with a sweet finish. Texture on the tongue is extremely smooth. Damn, this is a nice beer!
3.4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Pours a hazy copper red from the bottle with little to no head or lacing. Aroma is dark fruity Belgian esters and a hint of spice. Taste follows, slightly astringent caramel on the back end. Not sure how I feel about this one, not bad but not something I really feel like going back to.
3.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
750 mL bottle. Pours a dark amber/copper color with a medium amount of tan head--little lacing and retention. Aroma is a bit faint--some dark fruits, orange peel, and Belgian spices. Taste is fruity--mostly plums--with some spices. The finish is mostly spicy. The beer masks the taste of alcohol well, but there is some alcohol character present--it’s more warming than oppressive. The finish is brief, spicy, and leaves a little bit to be desired. A solid beer overall and a decent winter brew.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Deep brown color. Aroma is raisin, banana, mild hops, mild yeast, slight cranberry tartness. Also getting a Kriek type of taste. Palate is dark cherry, variety of spice and a touch of yeast. Overall a good beer on a cold night such as tonight.
---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
UPDATED: FEB 15, 2013 Poured draught at Stag’s Head NYC. Pours what I can only describe as the color of a bosc pear with a thin white head. Aroma of orange, grains of paradise, cherries (like cherry jolly ranchers). Tastes of spice: coriander and a huge cardamom spice taste coming through. Therer is fruit in the taste as well, some dark fruits and booze, but the booze is mostly well hidden. A really different beer and very enjoyable.
3.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Little head light lacing. Nose of spices. Spice and banana bread. Light carbonation. Nice winter brew
3.2 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Bottle courtesy of Vi during a heated game of Settlers of Catan. Pours a deep hazed brown body with thin white lacing. No head. Aroma is light muted spices. Mouthfeel is medium with notes of clove, spice, yeast, dark fruits, plums, light banana and booze. Overall the alcohol character dominates the blend of spice.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
750 ml bottle from Randall’s. Can’t remember if this was a 2011 or 2010, but I think 2011. Pours a deep, but clear mahogany color with a finger of khaki head. A little sediment shows up in later pours. Big aroma of cardamom and coriander, orange peel, fig, date, caramel, and brown sugar. Flavor of rich, sweet caramel/toffee malts, some cocoa, orange peel, the same spices as the nose, and dark and dried fruits. Medium-full bodied, with a spicy, malty mouthfeel that has some noticeable warmth and moderate carbonation. Really tasty. Ommegang does it again.
4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
This is just spectacular! Pours a cloudy copper color with an off-white head. Aroma of dark fruit, fig, caramel, molasses,and Belgian yeast. Complex flavor with lots of dark fruit, hint of apple, molasses, caramel,and just enough Belgian yeast.Very nice beer!
4.1 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
750ml bottle, corked and caged. Pours a murky dirty copper color, like an old penny, with a 2 finger creamy beige head. Not much in the way of lace. Aroma is loaded with scents. Molasses, brown sugar, caramel as well as aromas of dark fruits, figs, dates, raisins. Flavor is sweet as well as a ton of spice. Also, hints of Belgian yeast. There’s a bit of booze as well, buts it’s warming as opposed to harsh. Medium palate with a gut warming finish. Very nice indeed.
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