Szot Strong Ale 12%

Brewed by Szot Microbrewery
Style: Barley Wine
Santiago, Chile

500mL Bottle at Bar Irlandés. Bottle said it was made in Dec06 and bottled in Feb 07. Aroma-right away you can tell it’s a been aged a few years-dank, cigary, flat flavored old beerness-I would say it’s about 6 months past it’s prime, but still drinking very well nonetheless. Hops have all faded from the nose, but they are still very much in the flavor and palate. This beer has an aggressive bitterness in the finish-like a chinook/colombus combo if I had to guess-piny and rough with some earthy herbalness. The finish was definitely the stand out moment in this beer, particularly the hops. Dried out nicely, not much for residual sweetness, but tons of deep caramel flavors. No alcohol heat, smooth as can be. Flavor has quite a bit of cherry that is borderline cough syrupy (a mixed bag), some wood, old ale "flavors", chocolate, caramel (but doesn’t come through as much till the finish). Carbonation was right where it should be. A very solid 4.1.

Very complex aroma an flavor. Some nuts, toffee and liqcuor touches. Same in palate, plus some citrus touches, even though I expected a little more sweetness. Carbonation was very low, but probably that was a defect on this particular bottle.

Powerfull and long lasting taste.. Szots best beer. Shows some notes of malt, oak and still fresh tropical, peaches, pears.

iBottle at Sicosis/i A Barley wine / Strong ale sold in a 500ml bottle seemed a bit strange but none the less it was one of the better beers I tried whilst in Chile. Prominent though not overpowering caramel aroma, really smooth taste, hidden alcohol and also a touch of honey on the aroma.

Appearance: dark amber color. Medium head, ivory color, dense and persistent. Good adherence at glass. Aroma: sweet malty, toffee, candy, butterscotch, vanilla, oak and cream. Evidently complex. Fruitiness of peaches, ripe pears and plums. Floral hoppy, some aniseed. Nutty, cherries and cinnamon touches. Flavor: syrupy malty, toffee, butterscotch, cream and vanilla notes in start. Sweet-fruity of syrup plums, red raisin, apricot and cherry. Too nutty, almonds, cinnamon and humid wood touches. Persistent hoppy finish, with aniseed and mentholated notes. Hidden liquory, reminiscences of camomile and amaretto liquors. Complex and self-personality. Palate: medium body, syrup texture. Little and medium carbonation. A Chilean nicety, complex, power and balanced.

Bottle. Color amber, very dark. The cloudy and cremy head. The Aroma is to strawberries and caramel. In paladar is very malty, with toasted seeds and wood. Some alcohol signs appear, in a penetrating sweet flavor. Very good finish, unexpected. A beer to recommend single to that they know to drink, because the alcohol well is camouflaged (Hidden).

Bottle, april 07. Thanks to Lilith, Nigredo and Panzerfaust!. Shinny, clear, deep copper/ burgundy color with light red hues and a creamy, dense, light beige head. Aroma is fruity, some dates, fruit cake and some brandy. Flavor is nutty, sherry brandy rich maltiness, complex, layered with some dried fruits. Excellent. Full MF, packs a flavor punch, deep, complex, satisfying and not heavy. Highly refined, nutty BW, which may be the finest south american brew.