Rock Bottom Milwaukee Blitzen Ale

On tap at Rock Bottom Milwaukee. Poured translucent, coppery-amber with the slightest bit of beige head. Nose was of rich lighter fruits and peppery spices with more alcohol apparent as it warmed up... aroma opened up significantly with warmth. Flavor also found light fruits and white pepper with caramel sweetness at the base.. sweetness was well-balanced with this spices and light herbal hops. Somewhat creamy on the palate with alcohol only complimentary. Quite good.

Listed as "Blitzen Triple": Pours a clear dark golden bronze with a thin, lightly-lacing white head. Aroma of sweet esters, some bubble gum and bready yeast character. Body starts with a sugary caramel sweetness turning slighty fruity and bready toward a bittersweet candy-like finish. The yeast strain seems pretty authentic, but the choice of malts and their under-attenuation are what’s holding this back.

"Milwaukee". Amber to bronze in color with a small cream colored head. Lightly fruity aromas, with peaches and bananas and a mild floral undertone. Estery flavors similar to the aromas. A dry somewhat boring finish.
Earlier Rating: 2/11/2005 Total Score: 3.4
Dark brown color with a small rich and creamy looking off white head. Aromas of hay and dark grain. Mild flavors of malt with a wheat sweetness. A nice change of pace from the normal fare.

Milwaukee. Clear, magnifying brass in color with no head, but a soapy white wrung at the edges. Bananas and cloves sweetly sing unto the nostrils, along with fresh French bread loves, candi sugar and laundry detergent. Bold, buttery banana bread for the flavor. Some acidity and floral reefs. Decent effervescence but a cutting bitterness seemingly undermines the palate performance, whether that was its intention or note. Nonetheless, a worthwhile rendition.
Earlier Rating: 1/20/2006 Total Score: 3.3
Milwaukee. Mostly translucent and rusty mahogany in color with a creamy khaki white head. Whole wheat bread, buttercream, caramel, chocolate toffee and mild cigar wrappers provide a somewhat traditional aromatic display. Flavor dance puts its best foot forward, taking cocoa beans and throwing them into a container of whole wheat flour. Some cinnamon and nutmeg spice a distant golden raisin dimension. Mild fruit banana esters. Sweet chocolate covered bananas softly chime the finish bell.

Sampled at R.B. Milwaukee as "Double Down Belgian Dubbel". Sure its not the tripel due to the color mentioned in previous ratings. Mahoganey molasses color. Creamy light tan lasting ring of a head. Nose has caramel and sweet coffee-hints. Slightly roasty dark cherry and banana. Creamy feel. Not overly sweet like the tripel. Some berries.
Earlier Rating: 1/2/2006 Total Score: 3.2
Tap @ R.B. Milwaukee (Blitzen Tripel, 8%). Shiny copper penny look to it. Thin off-white head which dissipates. Banana cream pie sweet malt is the most noticable thing. Some spices. Almost cloying. To me, like an American Brewpub Tripel (reminiscent of the Delafield Tripel).