Ranger Creek La Bestia Aimable

Brewed by Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
San Antonio, Texas USA

Serve in Trappist glass

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Poured in Ranger Creek tulip at 50 degrees Full review at http://lownobudgetreviews.wordpress.com/2013/04/22 (Ryan’s Reviews) Pours a medium brownish-red with a vigorous light-tan head that sticks around for a long time before slowly fading to a ring of bubbles that coat the inside of the glass and leave behind nice lacing. Held to the light, a deep burnt orange shines through the brown. The nose on LBA reveals its Belgian roots, as the Belgian yeast / ester scents dominate. Some dark fruits, cinnamon, and allspice follow. The taste is much what one would expect from the smell: it opens with malt intermixed with fig and raisin flavors, and on the backend you get the honey that makes LBA a bit different than your average dark strong ale. These flavors are all pinned to the “standard” Belgian flavors, and if I had to place this in a style I would venture to call it a quadrupel. On the exit, there is a bit of alcohol, but not enough to be bad just enough to warm the belly in a pleasant way. LBA has a medium body, and a very light mouthfeel that makes it easy to put back, despite it’s near 10% alcohol content. For its color and its strength, LBA is a very easy to drink, easy to enjoy beer, and I greatly enjoy it.

750 ml. bottle. Batch LB-008. Bottled 7/2/2012. Pours a huge, poorly retained ivory head, with some lacing, over a slightly hazy light brown (SRM 20) body.....nose is molasses, brown sugar, light floral honey, raisin, plum, light phenolic medicinal tones....taste is light honey, light molasses, nutmeg, light clove, hints of plum, raisin, finishing with a dry medicinal twinge......mouth feel light of medium, slightly sticky, alcohol burn present, carbonation, after the initial exuberance, low. This falls within the style, but is low on overall complexity in both aroma and flavor, and, in addition, has the moderately off putting medicinal finish. BJCP 7/3/13/3/6

Bottle:   Deep brown, dirty sudsy off-white head, spotty lacing.   Dark pitted fruit nose, yeasty, bready, smells good.   A little flat on the tongue, but flavorful.   Very similar on the tongue.   Lots of dark pitted fruit and yeastiness, but not bubley enough.   However, its very enjoyable.   Smooth, but could use some body.   Flavorwise its enjoyable, needs more carbonation though, and could be a little heavier.   Still enjoyable.   Thanks Bill!

750 ml bottle courtesy of Bu11zeye ( thanks Markus!) poured a clear dark reddish amber with a lasting creamy amber head. Aromas of toffee, candied fruit, white pepper, light cinnamon and light carmel. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of toffee, fig, earthiness, cinnamon and white pepper with a smooth dry lingering peppery finish. It was better warmed up more than their recommened 48 degrees f.

Tap. Dark ruby pour with small head. Nose is toffee , crystal malt , fruit. Flavor is crystal malt, candi sugar, light smoke, plastic. Lively mouthfeel.

Pours a thick, dark brown with little to no head retention. Aromas of raisins, and figs. Light body for the style. Very sweet with strong notes of prunes and hints of vanilla, with a tobacco-like aftertaste. No hiding the alcohol, more subtle as it warms.

750 ml bottle acquired in trade. Don’t remember who from as it’s been in the fridge for a long, long while. Pours a deeper copper deep ruby hue. Gentle haze, darkness with brown and deeper glowing reddish notes throughout and on the edges. A loose tannish head atop dies to a smaller film, laces small. Aromas a mixed bag showing carmelized brown sugar, gentle dark fruit, toffee, and touches of apple and pear. Mellow spice, that brown sugar note strikes true. Gentle fruit, yeast, touch of red fruit and alcohol warmth as it settles a bit more, nutmeg and spice, clove. Initial is a bit thin for what I was expecting, dryness and carmelization, gentle toast, spice and gentle fruit. Biscuits, carmelization, gentle fruit. An odd metallic twang in there. The middle shows a touch of heat, gentle red fruit, plum and berry, some gentle spice, toast, brown sugar carmelized. Biscuit, toast, and bread. Backend is a more more spicy, dry. Some nutmeg, clove, and touches of earth. Dryness, gentle heat linger into the finish. A bit thin, the nose grows on me, the flavors remain average and a bit off at times. An interesting one. Not sure I’d revisit right now.

Batch LB 007, bottled on 2/21/2012 and opened 11/11/2012 Aroma: earthy malt, banana, pepper, Belgian yeast Appearance: dark amber, a bit hazy, tan head Taste: light malty sweetness with fruit and yeast notes, herbal aftertaste with a lingering light bitterness Palate: medium body and carbonation Overall: a decent example of a quadrupel, but not extraordinary

25.4 oz bottle. Deep brown with a smooth bone head. Nose is toffee, black pepper, earthy apple and mild grass. Medium to full body, buttery with a buzz. Taste is honey, parsley, fig; yeasty and bitter. It’s got an interesting random, rustic quality; oddly cloying but not really sweet.