 ClarkVV (3550), Allston, Massachusetts, USA
May 26, 2006 Updated: Jan 24, 2007
2005 bottling on 5/26/06.<br />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.<br />Here’s a beer which I can’t stop looking at!<br />The nose is subtle, elegant, reserved, delicate. None of the heavy breadiness, vinousness or strong sherry and raisin dominance. <i>No sir.</i> 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. <br />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.<br />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.<br /><i>As much as I appreciate the additional notes that the barrel imparts, a fantastic beer is a fantastic beer, barrel or no barrel.</i> 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.
padrefan98 (659), (San Diego) Santee, California, USA
Oct 31, 2008 Bottle shared by toncatcher by way of cquiroga. Thanks for sharing this retired gem. Sour funk aroma, flavors of cotton candy, vanilla, and some sour lemon peel. Very enjoyable.
ogglethorp (804), Ohio, USA
Sep 12, 2008 Bottle shared by miketd, Cleveland tasting. Pours a brown color with a sopay tan colored head. Aroma is raisins, caramel, prune, fig. Flavor is yeasty, whole lotta dark fruit going on, prune, fig, raisins, caramel notes, candi sugar. Palate is full bodied, medium carbonation, finished sweet. This was quite good, however fell just short of being great, perhaps the hype killed some of that for me.
arjoseph (558), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Aug 22, 2008 Sampled in our hotel room, GABF 2007. I think cquiroga brought the bottle; apologies if it was someone else (everyone just threw their bottles in our bathtub full of ice, so it got confusing). Smell belies the bourbon, with some candi sugar. Flavors remind me of Thomas Hardy’s in the golden raisin and malts. Very lively carbonation. Vinous. Bitterness in the finish is somewhat acrid. This was enjoyable, but I have to say I"m a bit disappointed.
illidurit (489), Santa Cruz, California, USA
Aug 8, 2008 Thanks to cquiroga for sharing this epic beer at the RBSG 08 Grand Tasting. Pours a dark brown color with a dense tan head that leaves thick lacing. Aromas of raisins, oxidized apples, caramel. Primarily dark fruit flavor with fig and raisin. Also some candi sugar, vanilla, and caramel which make this beer rather sweet. Spicy fruity alcohol in the finish. Full bodied and warming.
IrishBoy (2211), Bakersfield, California, USA
Aug 8, 2008 Sample from an 05 bottle at RBSG shared generously by cquiroga! Nose of Raisins, caramel, candisugar, and a vanilla note; cloudy dark brown with a small beige head; flavor of figs, raisins (very dark fruity), lightly yeasty and sweet! Glad I got to taste this as it is one of the mix between AS and Vinnie of RR Despirartion (a favorite)!
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