 Beerlando (1237), Orlando, Florida, USA
Nov 11, 2007
#500, and coincidentally, my six month RB anniversary. Cap code 09.05.10. Pours a dark, murky brown body that lets just the slightest bit of light shine through. A large, frothy, cream colored head settles to a thin but dense blanket of foam. Random patches of microfilm lace are strewn about the glass. The nose is intensely aromatic, and almost indescribably inviting. Sweet caramel meets rum soaked figs, prunes, and raisons. Scents of root beer, maple, cocoa, heavy cream, and Tahitian vanilla beans foreshadow the decadent flavors that are surely to follow. The flavor is just downright epic. Its sweet up front, with caramel and maple showing strong. It then transitions seamlessly to the complimentary flavors of figs, raisons, and vanilla. Surprisingly bitter floral hops tickle the roof of the mouth on the back end, providing punch and balance. The body is medium-full, with a smooth, creamy mouthfeel that ends up just a bit too sticky. Sweet and sour dry fruits linger on the palate for ages. This is a truly fantastic beer that lives up to the hype. I couldn’t have chosen a better candidate for #500.
Beerman6686 (654), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 19, 2008 Poured a hazy brown color with a tiny off white head. Aroma was of a lot of dark fruits, caramel, nuts and some alcohol. Flavor was lots of caramel, and some fig and dates, and some grass with a nice alcohol warmth and thickness in the swallow. Pretty good, but I would prefer a Rochefort 10
uhre (231), Denmark
Aug 18, 2008 The beer is dark brown with a tone of red, and a huge head. Aroma of caramel, alcohol, prunes and cherries perhaps - sweet. The flavor is of dark fruit, cherries, caramel and a bit of burn from the alcohol to balance the sweetness.
nbutler11 (108), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Aug 14, 2008 Sincere thanks to ajm for leaving this in my fridge. It would have been better shared, but there’s no way I could keep staring at this one. Poured a robust/murky brown from the bottle with a thick tan head of foam. Notes of lemon zest, almost like a pilsner, in the nose as well as some hazlenut. Very unsuspecting until the molasess, caramel, apple, hazenut, and smoke slam your palette. Aggressive, yet sweet, with mild carbonation. Distinctly German. Plenty of sediment. Certainly a treat, but not quite the Holy Grail of Beers.
nhorween (502), New York, New York, USA
Aug 12, 2008 Thanks cmubeerman, side-by-side with Westy 8. 2+ years old. Creamy head with a mahogany-chestnut body. Almost minty aroma, cherries, dark fruit, anise, cloves, coriander, cardamom. Much more complex, fruity, and boozy than the 8. Flavor is malty, smooth, and complex. Round, bitter, and boozy finish.
badlizard (1430), San Diego, California, USA
Aug 10, 2008 Bottle from ebay. Dark brown with a garnet tint and no head. Raisin, fig, and brown sugar and grain aroma. Initial taste has some wine like character with raisin and dark fruit flavors, mild spice, brown sugar, and subtle vanilla followed by a sweet oat and cereal grain taste with some perceptible alcohol in the finish. Quite complex, subtle and delicately balanced flavors. It’s quite good, but it’s not an over the top aggressive beer, which is what I prefer. Nevertheless, it probably deserves it place at the top.
|
