Pizza Port Mother of All Beers

2005 bottling on 5/26/06.
Still a very strong, frothy, bottle conditioned dark beige head creates copious lacing from the outset. The liquid is breathtaking when held to the light. Just a hint of haze (we were careful with the pour) creates a glowing, crimson body, with strong black cherry-skin tints and light auburn highlights on the edges. Single streams of tiny bubbles rise methodically.
Here’s a beer which I can’t stop looking at!
The nose is subtle, elegant, reserved, delicate. None of the heavy breadiness, vinousness or strong sherry and raisin dominance. No sir. This one is a smooth ride of light cherry esters, fabulously clean and tastefully done Belgian yeast and light dots of caramel sweetness lying in the shadows. I’m pretty sure that Solana Beach is not an old, musty, farmhouse brewery, but you couldnt tell based on this nose. Just a fabulously characterful yeast, with light plant-like notes, some dark herbs and spices and caramelized cherries. Must be the mix of the esters and the caramel notes from the malt, with the smoothness of the wheat creating a balanced cherry like note. This aroma has near infinite levels of depth. Some notes of the fermented candi sugar (light plastic and vanillin) with a very light roasty/toastiness that combines with the residual sugar as well, to produce a lightly "zesty" note (couldnt really describe it better than zesty, but it’s lightly cola-like). Medium-high to high in strength and damn if I couldnt sniff this all night. Not that I expected any less.
Sweet caramel and dry toffee notes embark on a journey throughout the palate. Like a large ball of sticky chocolate, it picks up all of the various notes along the way, weaving its flavors in to everything but essentially remaining medium-dry, sticky, lightly caramel-like and just bursting with flavorful, delicate Belgian yeast. Light phenols dry the finish, with some lightly bittersweet malt and tons of fruity esters (blackberries, black cherries). Hints of intriguing roast dot the path to the finish and cola and anise combine as well. Cherry chocolate lingers on, with chewiness, a bit of roast, nuttiness and light raisins. Complex, insanely so. The carbonation is tight, engaging and the body displays not even the least bit of fatigue.
At first I wanted to say it was a bit too sweet, but then, as much as I like dry, extremely attenuated beers, as I drink more, the sweetness bolsters the flavor complexity and allows for the intertwining of the different notes. It also seems quite necessary at this high an alcohol level. Not to mention, it’s not really "sweet", just a little bit sweeter than medium-dry.
As much as I appreciate the additional notes that the barrel imparts, a fantastic beer is a fantastic beer, barrel or no barrel. Perfection? What’s perfection? I do know that when I’m not in the mood for a gueuze, pils, Orval... that my first choice would be this.

Rating 1000! Big thanks to DarkElf for this 2005 750ml consumed with help from ClarkVV on 5/26/06. Pours a dark brown color with a beautiful red hue when held towards light. The head is a creamy, frothy off white/light khaki color that keeps a steady head throughout the glass. The nose begins dark with some nice raisins and dates, hints of dark chocolate and as the beer begins to warm, it offers up a nice fruit hint with cherries leading the way and some nice green raisin and grapes. A very light alcohol note, especially for the 11.5%, is noticed and seems to give the nostrils a nice bit of warmth. It truly smells like a belgian brew. The palate is nice and thick but not overly chewy. Has a nice film character to it and leaves the tongue and molars coated in "mothers milk". Flavor is outstanding and yet very subtle and extremely well done for the style. Immediately some chocolate and date notes hit your tongue. This is followed up by some great grape notes and some more of the darker fruits. A few apple notes here and there, lots of grape skins and an alcohol warmth that is willingly accepted by the throat. Every sip and sniff is a whole new adventure, a couple times I noted some peanutbrittle, other times it was more fruity and grapey, this beer is chalk full of suprises that keep you guessing. To sum up, I greatly thank Stephen for sending this brew my way, it was an experience and a half and a wonderful way to celebrate my 1000th rating!

(bottle - 750 ml) Murky copper pour with a veritable mountain of foam. Excellent color. Aroma is a noseful of malt, alcohol, candi sugar, and some roasty hint hidden in there somewhere. Flavor explodes malt in your mouth along with about a dozen other flavors. Lots of candi sugar, toffee, dark fruits and malt to name a few. Thick and chewy and very warming on the way down. In a word, wow.

750 mL capped bottle (fairly fresh 2005 version): pours a dark murky brown-orange with a generous a slightly diminishing off tan tight bubbled cream the forms dark lily-pad patches…strong doughy aroma with soft yeast accents, vanilla bean, clove pierced banana peels, freshly cracked pepper, oak bark, rose petals and some smooth leather tannins...excellently carbonated palate, I don’t say it very often, but this is why I drink beer: to feel the contrast of soft bubbles and the lively carbonation – but the perfect mixture; both sides in just the right amounts is hard to find and this is one of the best. Flavours are rounded out and developed to a level that is surprising given such a young beer: creamy toffee and strawberry preserves on top of soft, doughy biscuits. Lightly toasted grain, sticky fig juices, bitter concord grapes, and a wonderful, elegant yeast finish and round out a simply (and complexly) fabulous beer.

Bottle. Wow. Deep reddish copper in color with a nice fluffy tan head.that left a nice lacing on the glass. Malty sweet aroma. Lots of chocolate in the nose. Candied sugar fruity notes. Raisins, cherries and plums. Bittersweet chocolate and fruity flavor. Prunes, and cherries. Spicey and yeasty. Tart. Very complex. Full bodied. Finish is smooth. Clean tasting. Very nice.