My Uncle gave me two six-packs from Wasatch for Christmas (along with a few other things), because he'd recently gone to Park City, Utah for skiing. I had a beer from each sixer at his house.
748. Wasatch Evolution Amber Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Utah Brewers Cooperative
Alcohol: 4.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Amber/Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a clear amber with a beige head that thins to a sudsy film.
Smell (3.5): Malty. Toasty and bready with maybe a hint of caramel
Taste (3.0): Toasty malts, a hint of caramel sweetness, with a grassy quality and light bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Light-bodied, high-carbonation.
Drinkability (4.0): Light and easy to drink.
Overall (3.35): Solidly drinkable.
749. Wasatch Polygamy Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Utah Brewers Cooperative
Alcohol: 4.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a dark black-brown with hints of ruby at the edges. A thick brown head fades to a layer with a speckling of lace.
Smell (3.0): Fairly light overall. Roasty with a hint of fruitiness.
Taste (3.5): A vague roasty character predominates. There are hints of chocolate and lightly sweet fruit. The finish has a light roasted bitterness.
Mouthfeel (2.5): Light-bodied, and overly carbonated. Thin for a porter.
Drinkability (3.5): Seemed a bit thin, but it was decently balanced.
Overall (3.4)
748. Wasatch Evolution Amber Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Utah Brewers Cooperative
Alcohol: 4.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Amber/Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a clear amber with a beige head that thins to a sudsy film.
Smell (3.5): Malty. Toasty and bready with maybe a hint of caramel
Taste (3.0): Toasty malts, a hint of caramel sweetness, with a grassy quality and light bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Light-bodied, high-carbonation.
Drinkability (4.0): Light and easy to drink.
Overall (3.35): Solidly drinkable.
749. Wasatch Polygamy Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Utah Brewers Cooperative
Alcohol: 4.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a dark black-brown with hints of ruby at the edges. A thick brown head fades to a layer with a speckling of lace.
Smell (3.0): Fairly light overall. Roasty with a hint of fruitiness.
Taste (3.5): A vague roasty character predominates. There are hints of chocolate and lightly sweet fruit. The finish has a light roasted bitterness.
Mouthfeel (2.5): Light-bodied, and overly carbonated. Thin for a porter.
Drinkability (3.5): Seemed a bit thin, but it was decently balanced.
Overall (3.4)
Labels: American Amber/Red Ale, American Porter
747. Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout
I picked up a bottle of this at Downtown Wine & Spirits a week or two ago. I had it tonight while packing for my flight tomorrow. I let this warm to 50º or so and served it in one of my NERAX ping glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Kiuchi Brewery
Alcohol: 7.50%
Serving: Bottle, 11.2 oz.
Style: American Double Stout
Appearance (4.5): Pours an opaque black except for the hints of brown at the edges when held to the light. It's topped by a thick brown head that fades to a thin later leaving patches of lace.
Smell (4.0): The coffee smell is evident when the bottle is opened, before the beer hits the glass. In the glass coffee aromas dominate. There's also a nice chocolate aroma and some dark fruit that comes out on swirling.
Taste (4.0): Sweet maltiness upfront. Moves into a nice dark chocolate sweetness, which gives way to a nice coffee bitterness that lingers long into the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel (3.0): Full-bodied, low carbonation. There's an odd chalkiness.
Drinkability (4.0): Very tasty, coffee provides a nice balance.
Overall (4.0)
I picked up a bottle of this at Downtown Wine & Spirits a week or two ago. I had it tonight while packing for my flight tomorrow. I let this warm to 50º or so and served it in one of my NERAX ping glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Kiuchi Brewery
Alcohol: 7.50%
Serving: Bottle, 11.2 oz.
Style: American Double Stout
Appearance (4.5): Pours an opaque black except for the hints of brown at the edges when held to the light. It's topped by a thick brown head that fades to a thin later leaving patches of lace.
Smell (4.0): The coffee smell is evident when the bottle is opened, before the beer hits the glass. In the glass coffee aromas dominate. There's also a nice chocolate aroma and some dark fruit that comes out on swirling.
Taste (4.0): Sweet maltiness upfront. Moves into a nice dark chocolate sweetness, which gives way to a nice coffee bitterness that lingers long into the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel (3.0): Full-bodied, low carbonation. There's an odd chalkiness.
Drinkability (4.0): Very tasty, coffee provides a nice balance.
Overall (4.0)
Labels: American Double Stout, Kiuchi Brewery
746. John Harvard's Espresso Stout
I had this on tap at John Harvard's on Wednesday.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: John Harvard's Brew House
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (5.0): Pitch black, topped by a dense brown head with very nice retention. Leaves sheets of lace on the side of the glass.
Smell (3.0): The aroma is fairly light: coffee and roasted grain.
Taste (3.5): Sweet upfront, chocolate flavors move into a somewhat bitter coffee finish. Sweet all the way through. Needs more balance.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Creamy and smooth. Low carbonation.
Drinkability (4.0): Very drinkable, sweetness is there but isn't too cloying.
Overall (3.75)
I had this on tap at John Harvard's on Wednesday.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: John Harvard's Brew House
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (5.0): Pitch black, topped by a dense brown head with very nice retention. Leaves sheets of lace on the side of the glass.
Smell (3.0): The aroma is fairly light: coffee and roasted grain.
Taste (3.5): Sweet upfront, chocolate flavors move into a somewhat bitter coffee finish. Sweet all the way through. Needs more balance.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Creamy and smooth. Low carbonation.
Drinkability (4.0): Very drinkable, sweetness is there but isn't too cloying.
Overall (3.75)
Labels: American Stout, John Harvard's
745. Leffe Blonde
I had a bottle of this at a goodbye party for one of Jadyn's labmates.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Abbaye de Leffe S.A.
Alcohol: 6.60%
Serving: Bottle, 11.2 oz.
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
This one seemed like a fairly standard Belgian Pale Ale. It was on the fruity/sweet side. Nothing objectionable, but nothing that really stood out as great either.
I had a bottle of this at a goodbye party for one of Jadyn's labmates.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Abbaye de Leffe S.A.
Alcohol: 6.60%
Serving: Bottle, 11.2 oz.
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
This one seemed like a fairly standard Belgian Pale Ale. It was on the fruity/sweet side. Nothing objectionable, but nothing that really stood out as great either.
Labels: Belgian Pale Ale
297. Late Harvest IPA
I had this on tap at the CBC on the 10th of December.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a lightly hazed golden. Topped by a frothy, white head that thins to a patchy film leaving sheets of lace.
Smell (4.0): Resiny, citric hops, and a biscuity malt aroma.
Taste (4.0): Toasty and sweet malts that move into a resiny bitterness that lingers into the finish with a bright citric character.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, mellow, with an oiliness in the finish,
Drinkability (4.0): Tasty, has a nice assertive bitterness. This went well with the spiciness of the chili we had.
Overall (4.1)
I had this on tap at the CBC on the 10th of December.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a lightly hazed golden. Topped by a frothy, white head that thins to a patchy film leaving sheets of lace.
Smell (4.0): Resiny, citric hops, and a biscuity malt aroma.
Taste (4.0): Toasty and sweet malts that move into a resiny bitterness that lingers into the finish with a bright citric character.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, mellow, with an oiliness in the finish,
Drinkability (4.0): Tasty, has a nice assertive bitterness. This went well with the spiciness of the chili we had.
Overall (4.1)
Labels: American IPA, Cambridge Brewing Company
744. Collaboration Not Litigation Ale
I've had this bottle in my fridge for quite awhile. Jadyn and I split it on the 7th of December. I served it in my Ommegang chalices.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.99%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a cloudy brown with a nice, dense, beige head that thins to a shiny film leaving trailing sheets of lace.
Smell (3.5): Woody, tart, and malty with a light fruitiness.
Taste (3.5): Lightly sweet caramel malts. The center is tart with some spiciness. The finish is woody with a lingering bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, semi-dry finish.
Drinkability (4.0): Pretty good, it's tasty with some nice elements.
Overall (3.8)
I've had this bottle in my fridge for quite awhile. Jadyn and I split it on the 7th of December. I served it in my Ommegang chalices.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.99%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a cloudy brown with a nice, dense, beige head that thins to a shiny film leaving trailing sheets of lace.
Smell (3.5): Woody, tart, and malty with a light fruitiness.
Taste (3.5): Lightly sweet caramel malts. The center is tart with some spiciness. The finish is woody with a lingering bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, semi-dry finish.
Drinkability (4.0): Pretty good, it's tasty with some nice elements.
Overall (3.8)
743. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
I had a bottle of this at a birthday dinner for a friend at the Publick House.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Alcohol: 10.00%
Serving: Bottle, 750 mL
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a hazy-brown with a beige head that thins to a film.
Smell (4.0): Subdued, some dark fruit, malts and a light spiciness.
Taste (3.5): Sweet malts, dark fruit, a nice alcoholic spice, and a light bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Full-bodied, carbonation is a little high.
Drinkability (3.5): Too sweet and spicy.
Overall (3.6)
I had a bottle of this at a birthday dinner for a friend at the Publick House.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Alcohol: 10.00%
Serving: Bottle, 750 mL
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a hazy-brown with a beige head that thins to a film.
Smell (4.0): Subdued, some dark fruit, malts and a light spiciness.
Taste (3.5): Sweet malts, dark fruit, a nice alcoholic spice, and a light bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Full-bodied, carbonation is a little high.
Drinkability (3.5): Too sweet and spicy.
Overall (3.6)
111. John Harvard's Harvest Spice Ale
I had this on tap at John Harvard's on the 16th of November. I must have had this one when I first got to Boston just over four years ago since it's number 111 on my list.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: John Harvard's Brew House
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: Herbed/Spiced Beer, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Clear, lightly hazy, brownish copper. The beige head thins to a ring.
Smell (3.5): Toasty, with a sweet, malty aroma. Spicy cinnamon and ginger. Alcohol becomes evident on swirling.
Taste (3.5): Toasty and sweet upfront. Moves into a spicy cinnamon and ginger flavors. The finish is alcoholic with a bit oh hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, dry finish.
Drinkability (3.5): A tad sweet and a little overspiced.
Overall (3.65)
I had this on tap at John Harvard's on the 16th of November. I must have had this one when I first got to Boston just over four years ago since it's number 111 on my list.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: John Harvard's Brew House
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: Herbed/Spiced Beer, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Clear, lightly hazy, brownish copper. The beige head thins to a ring.
Smell (3.5): Toasty, with a sweet, malty aroma. Spicy cinnamon and ginger. Alcohol becomes evident on swirling.
Taste (3.5): Toasty and sweet upfront. Moves into a spicy cinnamon and ginger flavors. The finish is alcoholic with a bit oh hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, dry finish.
Drinkability (3.5): A tad sweet and a little overspiced.
Overall (3.65)
Labels: Herbed/Spiced Beer, John Harvard's
742. Aestas Ale
I had this on tap at the CBC on the 13th of November.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.20%
Serving: Tap
Style: English Pale Mild Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a hazy straw color with a light, fluffy, white head that fades to a film leaving sheets of lace.
Smell (3.5): Primarily citric and resiny hops, with a touch of graininess.
Taste (4.0): Toasty malts and a bit of citrus in the center. The finish is resiny hops with a hint of spiciness.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, oily with a coarse finish.
Drinkability (5.0): Very easy to drink. It has a nice bitterness, but doesn't overdo it.
Overall (4.05): A very tasty mild.
I had this on tap at the CBC on the 13th of November.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.20%
Serving: Tap
Style: English Pale Mild Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a hazy straw color with a light, fluffy, white head that fades to a film leaving sheets of lace.
Smell (3.5): Primarily citric and resiny hops, with a touch of graininess.
Taste (4.0): Toasty malts and a bit of citrus in the center. The finish is resiny hops with a hint of spiciness.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, oily with a coarse finish.
Drinkability (5.0): Very easy to drink. It has a nice bitterness, but doesn't overdo it.
Overall (4.05): A very tasty mild.
741. Stone Ruination IPA
I had this on tap at Bukowski's in Boston.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 7.70%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a nice copper with a light haziness to it. Topped by a creamy beige head that fades slowly to a film, leaving sheets of lace.
Smell (4.0): The hops really dominate the aroma. There's a fainty sugary maltiness that's eveident, but herbal, resiny and citric hops are at center stage here. There's also a hint of grassiness.
Taste (4.5): Toasty maltiness followed by some caramel sweetness are evident briefly. Resiny and citric hops soon take over making for a very bitter finish with a bit of alcoholic spice.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Full-bodied. Moderate carbonation. A bit of oiliness.
Drinkability (3.5): Pretty strong and hoppy.
Overall (4.25): This is a very nice Double IPA. It has strong hops that are the focus without enough, but not too much malt for balance. I find too many DIPAs to be too sweet.
I had this on tap at Bukowski's in Boston.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 7.70%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a nice copper with a light haziness to it. Topped by a creamy beige head that fades slowly to a film, leaving sheets of lace.
Smell (4.0): The hops really dominate the aroma. There's a fainty sugary maltiness that's eveident, but herbal, resiny and citric hops are at center stage here. There's also a hint of grassiness.
Taste (4.5): Toasty maltiness followed by some caramel sweetness are evident briefly. Resiny and citric hops soon take over making for a very bitter finish with a bit of alcoholic spice.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Full-bodied. Moderate carbonation. A bit of oiliness.
Drinkability (3.5): Pretty strong and hoppy.
Overall (4.25): This is a very nice Double IPA. It has strong hops that are the focus without enough, but not too much malt for balance. I find too many DIPAs to be too sweet.
Labels: American Double IPA, Stone Brewing Co.
740. Southampton Pumpkin Ale
I had this sometime around Halloween at Jadyn's house. I have a nice picture, but that's on her camera. I'll add it when she gets back from California.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Southampton Publick House
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a slightly hazed orange-amber. The head is foamy and beige and fades to a thin film.
Smell (4.0): Malty. Pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices.
Taste (4.0): Sweet pumpkin flavors upfront that quickly moves into a pumpkin pie spiciness and finishes with some alcoholic spice. Toasty malt backbone and a light bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): Tasty, but a tad sweet.
Overall (3.95)
I had this sometime around Halloween at Jadyn's house. I have a nice picture, but that's on her camera. I'll add it when she gets back from California.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Southampton Publick House
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a slightly hazed orange-amber. The head is foamy and beige and fades to a thin film.
Smell (4.0): Malty. Pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices.
Taste (4.0): Sweet pumpkin flavors upfront that quickly moves into a pumpkin pie spiciness and finishes with some alcoholic spice. Toasty malt backbone and a light bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): Tasty, but a tad sweet.
Overall (3.95)
Labels: Pumpkin Ale, Southampton Publick House
I apologize for the tardiness of this post. Over a month and a half late, I'm beginning to feel like Ward.
Jadyn and I went to the afternoon session of Beer Advocate's Belgian Beer Fest on the 27th of October. We arrived early enough to be within a half-block of the doors. This year's fest seemed less crowded than last year's. The middle row of booths was removed and replaced with seating. Overall I think this was an improvement, there's still more than enough variety and it's far less crowded.
As with other fests the notes are more general, abbreviated and are probably to be trusted less as the fest progresses.
715. Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brewery Ommegang
Alcohol: ?
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours an opaque black, with a foamy brown head. Aroma is roasty with dark fruit and chocolate. Sweet, stoutish roastiness, dark fruit, chocolate, with a roasty bitterness in the finish.
716. The Lost Abbey Mother Pucker
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Port Brewing Company/The Lost Abbey
Alcohol: ?
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
This is an apricot lambic-style beer. Pours a hazy straw color with a wispy white head. The aroma is strong apricots with a funky aroma underneath. Sour, but has a nice sweet-apricot flavor. Mild earthiness in the finish. Nice and dry. One of my favorites from the fest.
717. Brooklyn Abbey Singel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy straw. Fizzy white head. Aroma is fruity: bananas, clove, Belgian yeast. Crisp maltiness, followed by characteristic Belgian yeast fruitiness, and a peppery graininess in the finish.
718. Bam Noire
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Alcohol: 4.30%
Style: Saison, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clearish brown, topped by a beige head. The aroma is predominantly Brett, with a light fruitiness underneath. The flavor is predominantly Brettanomyces with a roasty finish. An odd combination, but interesting.
719. Cantillon Lambic Aged in Cognac Casks
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Year: March 2005
Alcohol: 5.00%
Style: Unblended Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
A rare Cantillon, I had to try it. Looks much like the Gueuze, hazy straw colored with a faint head. The aroma is smooth, with the cognac making the funkiness less powerful. The beer is still sour, but is smoothed out nicely by the cognac flavors. This was tasty, but I still prefer the bright sourness and earthy funkiness of the original.
720. Ommegang Abbey Tripel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brewery Ommegang
Alcohol: ?
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, light-golden with a wispy white head. The aroma is fruity with bananas predominating, also notes of grain and more substantial malt (caramel maybe). Sweet malts and the banana heavy Belgian yeast profile. The finish is peppery with a light bitterness.
721. Black Jacob
Beer Stats:
Brewery: American Flatbread Burlington Hearth
Alcohol: 5.50%
Style: Saison, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a brown color, topped by a beige film. The aroma is yeasty, grainy and roasty. Toasty, dark fruit, with a roasty finish. I like Saisons with a little bit of earty/funky flavors that I felt that this one was lacking.
722. Dogfish Head Red & White
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: Witbier, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy red with a very light, pink, foamy film. Aroma is fruity, yeasty, Witbier characters seem muted. Malty upfront, moves into a fruity center with a citric bite and a peppery finish.
723. De Ranke Père Noël
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Ranke
Alcohol: 7.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a very cloudy, light amber. White film of a head. Mellowed hop aroma with a hint of fruitiness. Light bready sweetness upfront, moves through a fruity center before a pleasantly hoppy finish.
724. Kasteel Rouge
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.
Alcohol: 8.00%
Style: Fruit Beer, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a light red with a fizzy pink head. Cherry smell with only a little bit of tartness. Sweet cherry flavors throughout with minimal tartness. I remember being unimpressed.
725. Smuttynose Brett & I
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
A beer brewed with Brettanomyces, I had to try it. Pours a hazy golden, topped by a smooth, filmy head that leaves sheets of lace. The aroma is characteristic Brettanomyces with some nice medicinal characters. Toasty upfront, clean, light sweetness in the center, and an herbal, bitter finish with a hint of Brett.
726. Lost Abbey Veritas 002
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Port Brewing Company/The Lost Abbey
Alcohol: ?
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Hazy brown, beige ring lines the glass. The aroma is earth raspberries and tart medicinals. Lightly sweet raspberries, earthy and malty.
727. Dogfish Head Fluckey's Fest
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: ?
Style: Fruit Beer, BJCP Style Guide
From the website
728. Infusco
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Rock Art Brewery
Alcohol: 8.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Dark brown with a faint, beige ring of a head, can see floating aggregates. The aroma is sweet, candi sugar with a light phenolic touch. Sweet, chocolatey, lightly sharp medicinal finish.
729. Sixpoint Belgian Rye-PA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sixpoint Craft Ales
Alcohol: 7.70%
Style: Belgian IPA
Pours a hazy amber. Topped by a sudsy beige head. Aroma is peppery spice with a touch of sweetness. Toasty upfront with a sweet center. The finish is spicy and hoppy.
730. Ølfabrikken Abbey Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Ølfabrikken
Alcohol: 8.50%
Style: Dubbel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a cloudy brown with floating particles. The aroma is of sweet, dark fruit. High carbonation upfront, sweet caramel malts, apricot fruitiness. Sweet, but very nice.
731. Urthel Vlaemse Bock
Beer Stats:
Brewery: De Leyerth Brouwerijen
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear, brown amber with a sudsy beige head that leaves sheets of lace. The aroma is very malty: butterscotch, caramel, dark fruit. Lightly sweet upfront (flavors the same as the aromas). The finish is lightly grainy and bitter.
732. Nøgne Ø Saison
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Nøgne Ø - det kompromissløse bryggeri
Alcohol: 6.50%
Style: Saison, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a very cloudy straw-golden topped by a white sudsy head. Funky aroma with tart citrus. Bready, citrus, funky and bitter. I liked this one, it's hard to find a saison with a good amount of funk to it.
733. Troublette
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie Caracole
Alcohol: 5.00%
Style: Witbier, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a very cloudy straw color. The aroma is soda like with lots of citrus and fruit. Carbonation is high, grainy, citrus, banana, fairly sweet.
734. Weyerbacher Quad
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 12.20%
Style: Quadrupel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy amber with a beige head. Lightly fruity aroma with some nice malts. Very smooth, malty with some nice dark fruit.
735. Gouden Carolus Ambrio
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Het Anker
Alcohol: 8.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazed amber with a fuzzy, beige head. The aroma is a nice mix of malty and fruity. Sweet upfront, nice maltiness with some hints of fruit. Lightly bitter finish. Moderately carbonated.
736. Malheur Brut Noir
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Landtsheer
Alcohol: 12.00%
Style: Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut
Pours a hazy brown with a light brown head. Aroma is tart with a bit of roastiness. Sweet throughout, finish is fruity.
737. Sixpoint Belgian IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sixpoint Craft Ales
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: Belgian IPA
Hazy golden. Sweet fruity aroma, citrus and banana. Sweet banana fruitiness. Light, citric, hop bitterness in the finish.
738. Harpoon Munich Dark Barrel Age: The Funk
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a clear brown with a hint of amber. The aroma is sour and Brett-like. Light flavors at the onset, but moves into a nice fruity sourness. The finish is dry.
739. Harpoon Quad
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol:?
Style: Quadrupel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy amber with a beige head. Aroma is malty and fruity with a hint of bananas. Flavor is Belgian yeast fruitiness, banana, alcoholic spice, peppery.
Jadyn and I went to the afternoon session of Beer Advocate's Belgian Beer Fest on the 27th of October. We arrived early enough to be within a half-block of the doors. This year's fest seemed less crowded than last year's. The middle row of booths was removed and replaced with seating. Overall I think this was an improvement, there's still more than enough variety and it's far less crowded.
As with other fests the notes are more general, abbreviated and are probably to be trusted less as the fest progresses.
715. Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brewery Ommegang
Alcohol: ?
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours an opaque black, with a foamy brown head. Aroma is roasty with dark fruit and chocolate. Sweet, stoutish roastiness, dark fruit, chocolate, with a roasty bitterness in the finish.
716. The Lost Abbey Mother Pucker
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Port Brewing Company/The Lost Abbey
Alcohol: ?
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
This is an apricot lambic-style beer. Pours a hazy straw color with a wispy white head. The aroma is strong apricots with a funky aroma underneath. Sour, but has a nice sweet-apricot flavor. Mild earthiness in the finish. Nice and dry. One of my favorites from the fest.
717. Brooklyn Abbey Singel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy straw. Fizzy white head. Aroma is fruity: bananas, clove, Belgian yeast. Crisp maltiness, followed by characteristic Belgian yeast fruitiness, and a peppery graininess in the finish.
718. Bam Noire
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Alcohol: 4.30%
Style: Saison, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clearish brown, topped by a beige head. The aroma is predominantly Brett, with a light fruitiness underneath. The flavor is predominantly Brettanomyces with a roasty finish. An odd combination, but interesting.
719. Cantillon Lambic Aged in Cognac Casks
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Year: March 2005
Alcohol: 5.00%
Style: Unblended Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
A rare Cantillon, I had to try it. Looks much like the Gueuze, hazy straw colored with a faint head. The aroma is smooth, with the cognac making the funkiness less powerful. The beer is still sour, but is smoothed out nicely by the cognac flavors. This was tasty, but I still prefer the bright sourness and earthy funkiness of the original.
720. Ommegang Abbey Tripel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brewery Ommegang
Alcohol: ?
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, light-golden with a wispy white head. The aroma is fruity with bananas predominating, also notes of grain and more substantial malt (caramel maybe). Sweet malts and the banana heavy Belgian yeast profile. The finish is peppery with a light bitterness.
721. Black Jacob
Beer Stats:
Brewery: American Flatbread Burlington Hearth
Alcohol: 5.50%
Style: Saison, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a brown color, topped by a beige film. The aroma is yeasty, grainy and roasty. Toasty, dark fruit, with a roasty finish. I like Saisons with a little bit of earty/funky flavors that I felt that this one was lacking.
722. Dogfish Head Red & White
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: Witbier, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy red with a very light, pink, foamy film. Aroma is fruity, yeasty, Witbier characters seem muted. Malty upfront, moves into a fruity center with a citric bite and a peppery finish.
723. De Ranke Père Noël
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Ranke
Alcohol: 7.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a very cloudy, light amber. White film of a head. Mellowed hop aroma with a hint of fruitiness. Light bready sweetness upfront, moves through a fruity center before a pleasantly hoppy finish.
724. Kasteel Rouge
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.
Alcohol: 8.00%
Style: Fruit Beer, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a light red with a fizzy pink head. Cherry smell with only a little bit of tartness. Sweet cherry flavors throughout with minimal tartness. I remember being unimpressed.
725. Smuttynose Brett & I
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
A beer brewed with Brettanomyces, I had to try it. Pours a hazy golden, topped by a smooth, filmy head that leaves sheets of lace. The aroma is characteristic Brettanomyces with some nice medicinal characters. Toasty upfront, clean, light sweetness in the center, and an herbal, bitter finish with a hint of Brett.
726. Lost Abbey Veritas 002
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Port Brewing Company/The Lost Abbey
Alcohol: ?
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Hazy brown, beige ring lines the glass. The aroma is earth raspberries and tart medicinals. Lightly sweet raspberries, earthy and malty.
727. Dogfish Head Fluckey's Fest
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: ?
Style: Fruit Beer, BJCP Style Guide
From the website
"Admiral Fluckey's Lager was brewed with 51% Pilsner malt and 49% Chardonnay grapes, then fermented with Champagne yeast. It islow (~15 IBU’s) on the bitterness scale, a bit sweet, about 7-8% abv, with the slight acididity of a champagne. Admiral Fluckey was the first commander of the USS Dogfish (submarine) and just passed away on July 2, 2007."Pours a hazy, straw color with a white head that thins to a film. Light, clean graininess in the aroma. Fruity, you can taste the grapes. Moves through to a lightly grainy finish.
728. Infusco
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Rock Art Brewery
Alcohol: 8.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Dark brown with a faint, beige ring of a head, can see floating aggregates. The aroma is sweet, candi sugar with a light phenolic touch. Sweet, chocolatey, lightly sharp medicinal finish.
729. Sixpoint Belgian Rye-PA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sixpoint Craft Ales
Alcohol: 7.70%
Style: Belgian IPA
Pours a hazy amber. Topped by a sudsy beige head. Aroma is peppery spice with a touch of sweetness. Toasty upfront with a sweet center. The finish is spicy and hoppy.
730. Ølfabrikken Abbey Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Ølfabrikken
Alcohol: 8.50%
Style: Dubbel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a cloudy brown with floating particles. The aroma is of sweet, dark fruit. High carbonation upfront, sweet caramel malts, apricot fruitiness. Sweet, but very nice.
731. Urthel Vlaemse Bock
Beer Stats:
Brewery: De Leyerth Brouwerijen
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear, brown amber with a sudsy beige head that leaves sheets of lace. The aroma is very malty: butterscotch, caramel, dark fruit. Lightly sweet upfront (flavors the same as the aromas). The finish is lightly grainy and bitter.
732. Nøgne Ø Saison
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Nøgne Ø - det kompromissløse bryggeri
Alcohol: 6.50%
Style: Saison, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a very cloudy straw-golden topped by a white sudsy head. Funky aroma with tart citrus. Bready, citrus, funky and bitter. I liked this one, it's hard to find a saison with a good amount of funk to it.
733. Troublette
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie Caracole
Alcohol: 5.00%
Style: Witbier, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a very cloudy straw color. The aroma is soda like with lots of citrus and fruit. Carbonation is high, grainy, citrus, banana, fairly sweet.
734. Weyerbacher Quad
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 12.20%
Style: Quadrupel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy amber with a beige head. Lightly fruity aroma with some nice malts. Very smooth, malty with some nice dark fruit.
735. Gouden Carolus Ambrio
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Het Anker
Alcohol: 8.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazed amber with a fuzzy, beige head. The aroma is a nice mix of malty and fruity. Sweet upfront, nice maltiness with some hints of fruit. Lightly bitter finish. Moderately carbonated.
736. Malheur Brut Noir
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij De Landtsheer
Alcohol: 12.00%
Style: Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut
Pours a hazy brown with a light brown head. Aroma is tart with a bit of roastiness. Sweet throughout, finish is fruity.
737. Sixpoint Belgian IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sixpoint Craft Ales
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: Belgian IPA
Hazy golden. Sweet fruity aroma, citrus and banana. Sweet banana fruitiness. Light, citric, hop bitterness in the finish.
738. Harpoon Munich Dark Barrel Age: The Funk
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a clear brown with a hint of amber. The aroma is sour and Brett-like. Light flavors at the onset, but moves into a nice fruity sourness. The finish is dry.
739. Harpoon Quad
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol:?
Style: Quadrupel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy amber with a beige head. Aroma is malty and fruity with a hint of bananas. Flavor is Belgian yeast fruitiness, banana, alcoholic spice, peppery.
Labels: Beer Fests, Belgian IPA, Belgian Pale Ale, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Bière de Champagne, Dubbel, Fruit Lambic, Fruit/Vegetable Beer, Saison, Tripel, Unblended Lambic, Witbier
