Pizza Port Cuvee de Tomme

GABF 2005. Samples tried: 5, ~6oz. total. Huge, tart, sweet, fruity, sour (brown) malty aroma, plenty of brown sugar and vanilla with abundant cherry, oak, earthiness, wafts of alcoholic vapor, lightly perfumy notes, cocoa and even some winey touches. Highly complex and utterly stunning. Dark red-brown color, largely opaque with a thoroughly solid head. Flavor profile is equally massive and satisfyingly intricate; tart, alcoholic, fruity and moderately sweet, plenty of cherry and milky chocolate, some faintly citric orange and berry throughout with a big, tart finish, somehow quenching and "moreish" despite the strength. Palate is incredibly smooth, lightly acidic, body is suitably massive. Absolutely intriguing from start to finish. This was easily my favorite beer of the Fest and my new No. 1 Beer to Obtain a Bottle of at All Costs.

Black label bottle, via trade with foolish mortal. Deep brown-red ruddy hue with a medium, frothy, tan and diminishing head. Darker appearance than the MOAB. Cherries, plums, oak, Irish cream, pinapples, leather, brett, tobacco and grape aromas. The base MOAB beer is apparent and the changes introduced by the oak aging and cherries are spectacular. The only real loss is that I can’t detect those wonderfully fresh strawberry esters anymore. Hints of vinegar as well. Moderate to heavily sweet and acidc (tart) flavor. Moderately sweet, moderate to heavily acidic finish. OH SWEET ERIS, this is delicious. It’s...it’s...like an imperial Flemish sour. I’ve died and gone to heaven. The robust fruitiness, dry tannins, vinegar/tart/brett funk...wonderful. Full bodied, rich oily texture, lively carbonation. 11.5% be damned, I’d drink this all day long.

Nose-beautiful horse tart brett and cherry. Taste-OMG. Woody, tart, brett, some vinegar, very light bourbon, tannins. This is an almost perfect beer.

dark brown pour w/ a small tan well laced head. Has a tart scent along w/ some sweet syruppy notes and hints of roastiness. Palate is well coated tart and creamy. Flavor is nicely tart a sweet malt and a touch oddness in the flavor. Good stuff.

Oak and red wine as well as some bourbon notes. Dark amber in color with a large fluffy head. Sour fore that tastes like a stab at bourbon vinegar. There is a whole basket full of fruits making appearances here, but the acidic sourness dominates the flavor profile. The overall feel is smooth though and it is a beer that compels you to keep sipping.

Bottle at O’Brien’s, San Diego, shared with a bunch of RateBeer locals - courtesy of someone or other. (Things were getting pretty fuzzy by this point - I could barely take notes, let alone keep track of who was buying the rounds. So this rating will have to serve as a placeholder until I can get it a more informed/sober review.) Deep ruby colour. What a nose! Like funky cherry coke & bourbon. Powerful flavour - sharp, tart, boozy, fruity, spicey, peppery. So much going on in this - I really need to try it again when I’m sober!

750ml Black label bottle: Pours to a deep brown with rusty highlights when held to the light; remains mostly murky & opaque throughout. The creamy and thick beige head slowly diminishes and lasts throughout the entire bottle (and believe me I took my time enjoying this one). The aroma is alcohol, cherries, grains, sweet cherry pie, burnt cinnamon, roasted nutmeg, sweet lime, pineapple, distinct brettanomyces scents, sweet caramel just for a brief instant, bourbon, wood and a hint of cocoa. The taste is syrupy sweet in feel, though is only sweet for a brief second before nice lightly acidic tannis take over. There’s notes of obviously real cherries (not artificial syrup), apple, oak, lemon, pine, grapefruit, maple, black pepper, chocolate, bitter roast, and heavy bourbon notes. The alcohol and harsh bourbon is noticable in the taste, not to the point where it’s offensive, but to the point where it gets in the way of some other flavors. I have heard the earlier versions of this don’t quite have the same bourbon barrel pungency. Either way this is what I have to taste and I’ve tasted better examples of barrel aging. Medium-full bodied, medium-lively carbonation (natural, small & crisp bubbles), surprisingly dry on the palate.

Four of these in one night leaves them blending together a little...Thanks Vac and JohnC
Sour, without the vinegar aroma - like unripe cherry. Aroma is slowing building to tartened height of majesty. The first sip of the 2003 Silver was full and chewy. The cherry is evident. 2005 Gold is much more dense, and the palate is lively, with apple being more evident. All are conditioned by a salted leather element that gives a distinct charm. A treat that may be loved by some and expectorated by others.