4.1 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Tap @ Brouwers... Poured pitch black with a thin forming head at the top of the snifter. This was quite sweet with boozy brandy tones and barrel characters. The sweetness and alcohol heat rounded out the roast and was sweet mostly through created a delectable sipper here. Dark chocolate and caramel sweetness with cookie dough and dessert-like tones.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
On tap @ Bambinos. Pours thick opaque black with super thin mocha head to dissipates quickly. Aroma is boozy brandy, port, and just a bit of the roasty malts that I recognize from the standard version of this beer. Taste is heavy thick dark malts with a big boozy brandy and bourbon finish. Port doesn’t skimp on the barrel aging, the 10% abv is almost certainly modest.
3.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
San Diego Strong Ale Fest 2012. Black body with tan head. Big brandy, tobacco, ash, dark chocolate aromas. medium body. Deep ash, dark roast flavors with boozy brandy, dark chocolate--heavy handed but still good
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Strong Ale 2012. Black in color with a small khaki head. Nose is heavy on the brandy, but also a really great roasted malt, chocolate, and cocoa note. Some marshmallow, vanilla, graham cracker, and a hint of coffee. Really nice graham cracker sweetness to the flavor. Excellent brandy, roasted malt, chocolate, and vanilla, too. Some coffee, a bit of cocoa powder, and a bit of toasted marshmallow.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Tap @ PP Carlsbad Strong Ale. Last year the standout for me was Serpent’s with cocoa nibs and coffee; this year it’s brandy santa’s. Black pour with a slick of dark tan foam. Aroma is dense, layered brandy with light chocolate, underlying roast, and coffee. Taste is an intense melange of sweet, decadent brandy, roasted chocolate, slight hop bitterness, and lingering alcohol. Smooth, coating mouthfeel. Insane. Bottle this beer now!!
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