 kmweaver (1973), Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
May 16, 2008
12oz bottle. Pours a viscous, mead-like, orange-amber color; light-tan head with solid, fine-bubbled lacing. Basic cola, dried fruits, and Belgian sugar in the aroma; a bit of a cardboard note, and bland overall. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: very chewy, viscous and heavy presence in the mouth; perhaps overly sticky altogether; cola note is most dominant, followed by dried fruits and viscous Belgian sugar, following the nose; intense and heavy, but not nearly as complex as the better examples of the style. Lengthy, sweet finish: cola, toasty malts, dried fruits and breadiness. Tasty; simple in its expression.
probstk (660), Nepean, Ontario, Canada
Aug 28, 2008 Bomber from BOTW (Rochester), served at cellar temperature in a tulip glass.
App.: Clear, fairly deep copper, with a decent light tan head.
Aroma: Lots of raisins and dark dried fruits with some salty, meaty notes, peaches, other fruitiness, some alcohol, lighter caramel and nuts,
Palate: Medium+ body, soft carbonation.
Flav.: Like the nose, lots of dark dried fruits, caramel, toffee and treacle, some brown sugar, a bit of warm, stinging alcohol, a bit nutty, a little vanilla; quite sweet with some bitterness and plenty of alcohol to finish.
Doesn’t hold up well to the better examples of the style. Needs more body and malt to properly support the alcohol. Come off as harsh and unrefined.
durhambeer (397), Durham, North Carolina, USA
Aug 28, 2008 Bottle. I thought I had rated this a few weeks ago, but I guess not. Light coppery pour with very small head. Thick looking, and with a nose that reveals its alcohol. This one burns, so much so that the taste really gets lost. Malty, not very bready. Hard to taste the fruits in there b/c they’re so soaked in alcohol. Couldn’t get into this beer.
ucusty (1016), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
Aug 23, 2008 Bottle from 2006. Copper to orange pour with a thin off-white head. Caramel malts on the nose. Oily mouth-feel with flavors of malt with sweetness, dark dried fruit, light orange peel, plenty of spices. Slightly sweet with a slightly dry finish
JCB (1001), Durham, North Carolina, USA
Aug 19, 2008 12oz from Carytown Wine and Beer, Richmond (RIP). A glowing russet pour, nearly still with only faint carbonation. Hugely boozy smell, with sweet caramel notes in there. The taste is immediately scorching, slick mouthfeel, aggressive as hell. Some spice in there, almost a bit of ginger perhaps. Sweet malts come through the further you get into the beer, but this doesn’t have the depth and complexity you need from this style.
tmongoose (28), Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Aug 19, 2008 12oz bottle from jungle jims back in the spring. dark amber color. the head quickly disappears. aroma is strong almost fruity scent. the first taste was very strong and a warm burning sensation on the tongue that just lingered for awhile. i enjoyed that. i suppose if it was just a little cooler than room temp it would be very good but i like it this way.
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