 stefanje (483), (Santee) San Diego, California, USA
May 3, 2008
Bottle at Toncatcher’s tasting. Poured a rich copper color with medium beige head that lasted a fair while. The aroma was big and bold with dark fruits, barley, caramel and Belgian yeast. The flavor was overtly sweet and mellow with well balanced dark fruits, caramel and a touch of vanilla. The mouthfeel was extraordinarily smooth and creamy, I am reminded of the palate of the Westy 12. The finish was long with lingering sweet caramel. Overall: Awesome brew. The biggest surprise of the night for me. Must get more.
kmeves (981), Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, USA
Jul 20, 2008 Pours a light hazed brown body with a huge frothy off white head a plenty of lacing. Aroma is very sweet with raisin, candi sugar, caramel, grape and plum. Flavor is raisin, plum, caramel, light nutty, honey and some grass. Long sweet finish with just a slight alcohol burn. Full body, very sticky texture.
Ughsmash (2835), Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA
Jul 9, 2008 750mL bottle. Poured brilliant amber with a shorter cap of off-white head. The aroma opened with rich darker fruits, raisins, and candi sugar.. just a hint of lemon zest and floral behind.. a pinch of green apple at the very back, but I wasn’t about to let that detract from my enjoyment. The flavor struck me as an amped-up double initially, but then I caught myself.. darker fruit, rum-soaked raisins, and peppery yeast.. bitterness was light and yielded to the spicage.. lengthy finish with candied apples, caramel, and green raisins. Heavier-bodied with active carbonation that moved the brew well across the palate.. warm and very well balanced. Excellent stuff!
porterhouse (892), Alna, Maine, USA
Jul 7, 2008 (750 ml bottle from 1828 Vintage House, cellared for 1 year after purchase) Sweet, soft and spicy...Pours dark rubyish amber. Fairly clear - surprising. A finger or so of soft-looking, light khaki/tan head. Aroma of dark fruits, light candy malt, brown sugar, hints of port. Mouthfeel is buttery soft - wow, awesome. A bit sticky as it warms. Beautiful weepy sheets of lacing. Flavor is sweetness and spice. Candyish malt and dark fruit sweetness with a marvelous spice note (not quite cinnamon but sort of). Dark and sweet. ABV very well-covered. Not overly complex but complex enough. Just straightforward elegant with an excellent palate and a very unique flavor that hits the mark. A great beer and I think a great one to cellar.
bgburdman9 (708), Columbus, Ohio, USA
Jun 28, 2008 An old rating i finally got to entering. Poured dark brown with some reddish hues. Aroma was a light roast, dark fruit, raisin, belgian, maltiness. Very smooth feel with a good body.
JCB (889), Durham, North Carolina, USA
Jun 14, 2008 750 from a trade on the other site (thanks to whoever sent me this - memory fades!). A nice dark pour with a fast rising head and lots of carbonation. Off to a promising start, with rich notes of figs and other dark fruits, reminding of some great canonical brews like Gouden Carolus. The mouthfeel turns out to be a trace too thin, and the sweetness of the flavor is a little over the top for me. Some hops are there just a tad, but most attempts to balance this out fall a bit short. Ends up too one-dimensional to compete with the big boys, but I’m still glad to have tried this.
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