Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Brooklyn - Black Chocolate Stout (2007)

This is the famous Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, our award-winning rendition of the Imperial Stout style once made exclusively for Catherine the Great. We use three mashes to brew each batch of this beer, achieving a luscious deep dark chocolate flavor through a blend of specialty roasted malts. We brew it every year for the winter season. It is delicious when newly bottled, but also ages beautifully for years.  Available from October through March.

This review is for the 2007 vintage.  Click here to see my review from 2005 or 2010 of a fresh bottle.

The ABV is 10.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Russian Imperial Stout
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Becker, Tumbler, Snifter or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a solid thick black (like ink) color with no head at first then a nice 1/2" dark brown head appears. Great lacing.
Aroma - Strong chocolate, some dried fruits (raisin and plum).
Taste -  Malts, caramel and dark chocolate.  Slightly bitter in the finish.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and full body. A nice dry finish.
Drinkable - At nearly 5 years of aging, it lacks the typical aging tasting notes.  The alcohol is well hidden. I have two other vintages to try; a 2008 and 2009.  I think 5 1/2 years is perfect for this brew.  I'll wait for the other two to mature a bit before opening. 

This beer pairs well with cheese and desserts (Anything chocolate!).

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =100

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Iron Hill - Old Ale (2007)

Traditional English-style brown ale with a distinct malty sweetness and fruity aromas that deepen with age.

The ABV is 7.2 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Old Ale
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Snifter, Tumbler, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery - 750ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Small 'Pop' from the cork, Pours a dark amber color with a tan head and some lacing.
Aroma - Filled the room with a light musty smell, malty, hints of dark fruit and some grassy notes.
Taste - Malty, earthy and dark fruit.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - This bottle aged a bit better than the other corked Iron Hill brews I've had in the past.  In my experience Iron Hill corked bottles do not age well after a year or two.  This bottle was a pleasant surprise.

This beer pairs well with cheese.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =96

Friday, December 9, 2011

Stone - Old Guardian Belgo

Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine, in all its unadulterated glory. We make small adjustments to the recipe every year, just a little bit...as it provides an opportunity to try some different hops or malts.
When our illustrious brewing team spiked a few barrels of the Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine with our Belgian yeast strain last year, we absolutely loved it. So much, in fact, that we knew we needed an excuse to make more. So, in our unending quest to constantly challenge the status quo (even our own), we came up with Odd Beers for Odd Years, a program to release odd beers – e.g. Stone Old Guardian BELGO Barley Wine – in odd years (2011, 2013, 2015…). It was met with a bit of resistance (to say the least) since we weren’t originally offering the traditional Old Guardian alongside it, but we’ve mended our ways and decided to make both. You’re welcome.

First Release Date:
February 1998

The ABV is 11.0 and the IBU rating is 85
Style - American Barleywine
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 22oz Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Copper in color and a tan head.  Some lacing.
Aroma - Malty, sweet, hoppy and some fruit. 
Taste - Malty and hoppy, sweet, caramel, some fruitiness and spices.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.  A hoppy aftertaste.
Drinkable - A good American Barleywine.  This is a sipper, enjoy it does not need to be rushed.  

This beer pairs very with pungent and sharp cheese and desserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B
BeerAdvocate Rating =82
Ratebeer Rating =96

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Corsendonk - Christmas Ale (2011)

On the palate this silky smooth ale is predominantly malty, with smoky, spicy and citrusy notes, and a long, lingering finish that is lightly tart and malty

This is my second review for this brew.  The other was the 2010 vintage.  The difference was the 2010 was from a case with 330ml bottles and the 2011 was from a gift set containing 250ml bottles.

The ABV is 8.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Belgium Strong Dark Ale
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Goblet, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 250ml

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Brown in color.  Very big tan head that lingers around. Great lacing.
Aroma - Malts, spices and hops.
Taste - Malty and sweet, some fruitiness and spices.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.  Smooth.
Drinkable - Very drinkable, the 250ml bottle went down quickly. At this size I could drink several in one sitting.  The 2011 is slightly better than the 2010.  Next I will pop open one of the 2010 after aging for a year.

Goes great with cheese and meat (grilled meat).

This beer gets a Duper rating of A+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =98

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Avery - Samael's Oaked Aged Ale

Samael is the prince of demons, the angel of death, accuser and destroyer. Filled with enmity towards man, he planted the vine, the forbidden tree of paradise. Behold his venom and vengeance, both sweet and tempting, enticing you, his spellbound victim, within his wings.

Samael’s Ale is a super-caramelly, oak aged English-style strong ale. Perhaps the least hoppy (sacrilege here at Avery!!) beer we’ve brewed, to accentuate the malt. The oak is very apparent in this rich and high gravity ale, adding additional depth and complexity with a woody and cask-like nose and a pronounced vanilla flavor on the palate. Notes for 2007 - With the addition of an additional roasted malt, Samael's now delivers subtle bitterness to add balance to the natural sweetness.

A super-caramelly, oak-aged strong English-style ale, brewed with Columbus, Fuggels hops and two-row barley, caramel 150L malt.

2007: 14.50% (Batch #3)
2008: 15.53% (Batch #4)
2009: 16.45% (Batch #5)
2010: 15.82% (Batch #6)
2011: 15.31% (Batch #7) 

The ABV is 14.5 and the IBU rating is 41
Style - Oak Aged English Strong Ale
Glass to use- Flute, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Sweet, oaky tannins, sour dark fruit - cherries.
Taste -  Malty, nice tart taste taste, some spices. 
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body, dry finish.
Drinkable - This bottle had aged for two years and it shows in a good way.  Seek it out though it may be very hard to find since the last batch was in 2009.  Had this in Florida during the holidays.

This beer pairs well with crème brulee, sticky bread pudding or any dessert dish featuring the flavors of burnt or caramelized sugar.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B-
BeerAdvocate Rating =87
Ratebeer Rating =96

Monday, November 28, 2011

Flying Fish - Grand Cru Winter Reserve

This Belgian-style strong golden ale showcases a variety of the ingredients and brewing methods that help differentiate Flying Fish beers. The Grand Cru is fermented at a higher temperature than our other beers adding an undercurrent of fruitiness and clove (although there is no fruit or spice in the beer). Very lightly filtered, the Grand Cru exhibits complex mouth-feel, strong malt flavors, a spicy hop presence and a soothing alcohol warmth, followed by a clean, dry finish. It is excellent with food as well as served by itself.

Available October through February

The ABV is 7.2 and the IBU rating is 10.4
Style - Belgium Grand Cru
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a cloudy straw color with a white head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Orange and other citrus notes like lemon, bready, sweet and spicy.
Taste -  Sweet, citrus fruits and spices
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body. A bit of a dry finish.
Drinkable - A nice brew with a good finish.  A pleasant Belgium winter brew.  Can drink several in a session.  I had this in Florida over the Thanksgiving Holidays

This beer pairs well with most meats, cheese and hearty soups.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+
BeerAdvocate Rating =84
Ratebeer Rating =81

Saturday, November 26, 2011

St. Sebastiaan - Dark

Dark top-fermented Abby ale brewed according to the purity law of 1516.  Sweet and bitter on the tongue with a sweat perfume of caramel malt.

The ABV is 6.9 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Dubbel
Glass to use- Goblet, Chalice, Snifter or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 500ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a big tan head and some lacing.
Aroma - Lite aroma consisting of malts, caramel and hints of dark fruit.
Taste - Same as the smell mostly malty and caramel.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - An average Belgium brown.  Worth a try but that's 'bout it.  It does get the winner of the most unusual bottle.

This beer pairs well with cheese, chocolate and beef.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =87

Friday, November 25, 2011

Caracole - Nostradamus (2010)

A very complex artisanal Wallonian brown ale, rich, warming, little piquant in the mouth with liquorice, mocha flavors, pear and toasted bread background notes, perfect after-dinner drink or night cap.

The ABV is 9.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Belgium Strong Dark Ale
Glass to use - Snifter, Tulip, Goblet or Oversize Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz bottle.

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a brown color with a small tan head that disappears. Some lacing.
Aroma - Spices and dark fruit.
Taste -  Sweet, malty, dark fruit, molasses and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and full body. A slight warm burn.
Drinkable - I like this brew.  One year of aging helped this brew.  A very good beer for the cooler months.  Well balanced between the sweetness and spices.

This beer pairs very well with cheeses and beef.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating = 97

Monday, November 21, 2011

Otter Creek - 20th Anniversary Ale

Otter Creek's Twentieth Anniversary Ale is a homage to their long-running flagship... Copper Ale. With four times the malts and hops, the traditional flavor is a bigger, bolder and more complex ale that can be savored for years to come. It features a blend of six malts with German & American hops and is a celebration of Otter Creek's 20 years of craft brewed ales in Middlebury, Vermont

The ABV is 12.0 and the IBU rating is 55
Style - Quadruple Alt / American Barleywine
Glass to use - Snifter, Tulip, Goblet or Oversize Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz bottle.

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a brown color with a very small tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Malty, caramel, molasses and dark fruit.
Taste -  Sweet, malty, boozy and hoppy.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and full body. Boozy finish with a nice warm burn.
Drinkable - Very nice, I had this on draft at Capones in Norristown a month ago and was able to find the special four pack.  I've never heard of a Quadruple Alt style so this is a first for me. I think the style is closer to an American Barleywine in my judgement.  Beer Advocate calls it an American Strong Ale.  I like the nice 12% warm alcohol burn nice during the cool months.  I will try another after aging for few more years.

This beer pairs very well with cheeses and smoked meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B-
Ratebeer Rating =n/r

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Weyerbacher - Blithering Idiot

Weyerbacher says, we prefer to brew things true to European style guidelines, so this Barleywine is definitely on the malty side, without being overly sweet. Notes of date or perhaps fig on the palate follow a pleasurably malty aroma to your taste buds. The finish is warm and fruity, and begs for the next sip.

I first had this brew with an old friend in Jacksonville, FL.  We sampled several big beers this evening all of which are on the blog site.

The second time was at dinner with friends on one of my trips back home from Libya, Sept 7th, 2009.

Update in 2011 with a 2010 vintage.

The ABV is 11.1 and the IBU rating is ??.  
Style - English Barley Wine.  
Glass to use - Snifter or Oversize Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz bottle.

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a brown color with small tan head. Great lacing.
Aroma - Sweet, malty and some dark fruit.
Taste -  Malty, sweet, caramel, dark fruit with a hoppy after taste.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and full body. Boozy finish with a nice warm burn.
Drinkable - Okay, this is listed as an English Barleywine, however it is way too hoppy to be an English BW.  Closer to an American Barleywine in my judgement.  Given that, it's still a very good brew.  I like the nice 11% warm alcohol burn.  My last one was aged for one year.  I will try another aged for few more years.

This beer pairs very well with cheeses and desserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating = 97
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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Great Divide - Hibernation Ale

English-style Old Ale. Hibernation Ale is Colorado’s original strong ale -- it has been Great Divide’s winter seasonal each year since 1995. Hibernation’s massive flavors are so intense that it requires over three months of aging each year. This lengthy aging process gives Hibernation its revered malty richness, complex hop profile and hearty warming character, which is perfect right out of the bottle or cellared for longer periods of time.

8.1% ABV through 2008
8.7% ABV in 2009

The ABV is 8.7 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Old Ale
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Becker, Tumbler, Snifter or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a dark amber color with a small tan head. Some lacing.
Aroma - Hoppy, spices and dark fruit.
Taste -  Malty, tobacco, toffee maybe some brown sugar and hops.
Mouth Feel - Low carbonation and full body. Smooth.
Drinkable - Taste more like an American Barleywine with the hop kick.  It is dry hopped which is why I get the hoppiness.  It is well balanced between the malts and hops.  Not sure why they call it an English-style Old Ale.

This beer pairs well with aged cheese and grilled meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =98

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Great Lakes - Christmas Ale

It has a cinnamon and ginger spice flavor, a rich copper color, and a medium body that will fit with any holiday meal.  Available November and December every year.

Gold Medal, 2009 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 2007 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 2006 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 2005 World Beer Championships
Silver Medal, 1999 World Beer Championships

The ABV is 7.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Winter Warmer
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Becker or Tumbler
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours an amber color with a small tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Not much at first then the spices start coming through as it warms up.
Taste -  Sweet, honey, orange peel, nutmeg and all spice.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - Pretty good, a well balanced Xmas beer.  Not too sweet and just the right amount of spice.

This beer pairs well with cheese and desserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =93

Friday, November 11, 2011

Brooklyn - Black Chocolate Stout (2005)

This is the famous Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, our award-winning rendition of the Imperial Stout style once made exclusively for Catherine the Great. We use three mashes to brew each batch of this beer, achieving a luscious deep dark chocolate flavor through a blend of specialty roasted malts. We brew it every year for the winter season. It is delicious when newly bottled, but also ages beautifully for years.  Available from October through March.

This review is for the 2005 vintage.  Click here to see my review from 2010 of a fresh bottle.

The ABV is 10.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Russian Imperial Stout
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Becker, Tumbler, Snifter or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a solid thick black color with no head. Clear coat lacing.
Aroma - Strong licorice, dried fruits (raisin and plum).
Taste -  Same as the aroma with the addition of some malts and caramel. Notes of dark chocolate with a tart finish.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and full body. Dry.
Drinkable - My first aged Imperial Chocolate Stout. At 6 years of aging it taste like other aged brews with chocolate added to the mix.  I have three other vintages; a 2007, 2008 and 2009.

This beer pairs well with cheese and desserts (Anything chocolate!).

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =100

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Bosteels - Pauwel Kwak

Pauwel Kwak is from the the Bosteels Brewery which also makes DeuS and Tripel Karmeliet.

Full-bodied Belgian Specialty Ale. Amber in color with beautiful foam and slightly sweet, seductive malt character. Rich, satisfying Belgian experience.  Discover a very mellow, fruity attack, a nougat-like solidity, and a slightly spicy character with hints of liquorice passing into a warm finish that reminds you of caramelised banana. The bitterness always remains in the background but in the end emerges delicately.   

I've been saving this for a year, the date on the bottle is March 2010.  I remember first having this at Nodding Head's Brewpub circa 1996.  The second time was with an old friend in Jacksonville, FL.  We sampled several big beers that evening all of which are on the blog site.

Updated in November 2011

The ABV is 8.4 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Belgium Strong Pale Ale
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 330ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a dark amber color with a big white head. Great lacing. Poured into a great special Kwak glass (see photo).
Aroma - Grassy, hops, some spices and fruits.
Taste -  Sweet like candy, with some spices and hints of fruit.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and lite/medium body. Crisp and a little dry.
Drinkable - This was one of the first Belgium beers I ever had, about 15 years ago.  It still taste great to me, I love the fancy glass from their gift set.  The alcohol is hidden well.

This beer may pair well with white meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating = 94

Rouge - Double Chocolate Stout

Double Chocolate Stout is an evolution of Rogue Chocolate Stout, which is flavored with imported Dutch bittersweet chocolate. In 2010, Double Chocolate Stour received a Gold Medal at the World Beer Championships.

Made with 10 Ingredients:
Malts: C120, Chocolate and Rogue Micro Barley Farm Risk™
Hops: Cascade and Rogue Micro Hopyard Revolution.
Yeast & Water: Rogue’s Pacman Yeast and Free Range Coastal Water.

Comes in a bright red painted 750ml bottle, I purchased a case.

The ABV is 8.7 and the IBU rating is 50
Style - Imperial Stout
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Becker, Tumbler, Snifter or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 750ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a black color with a big tan head. Great lacing.
Aroma - Dark chocolate fills the air as you pop the cap, malts, molasses and coffee.
Taste -  Like drinking a dark chocolate bar with other notes of malts and coffee.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and big body. Very creamy.
Drinkable - Delicious!  Will obviously cellar many bottles to see how it ages. One of the best DCS I have ever had, maybe even better than the Brooklyn DCS. 

This beer pairs well with cheese and desserts (Anything chocolate!).

This beer gets a Duper rating of A+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =100

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Samuel Smith's - Oatmeal Stout (2010)

Brewed with well water (the original well at the Old Brewery, sunk in 1758, is still in use, with the hard well water being drawn from 85 feet underground); fermented in ‘stone Yorkshire squares’ to create an almost opaque, wonderfully silky and smooth textured ale with a complex medium dry palate and bittersweet finish.

The ABV is 5.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style – Oatmeal Stout
Glass to use - Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Stein
Delivery 550ml bottle.

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours a black color and a big tan head. Great lacing.
Aroma - Oat grains, malty, sweet, caramel and molasses.
Taste - Dark malts, dark chocolate and sweet.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body. A little tangy.
Drinkable - One of the best oatmeal stouts on the market. 



This beer pairs with cheese, smoked meats and shell fish.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating = 99

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Samuel Smith's - India Ale (2010)

Brewed with well water (the original well at the Old Brewery, sunk in 1758, is still in use, with the hard well water being drawn from 85 feet underground); best malted barley and a generous amount of choicest aroma hops; fermented in ‘stone Yorkshire squares’ to create an exceptionally full-flavored complex ale with an abundance of maltiness and fruity hop character.

The ABV is 5.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style – English IPA
Glass to use - Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Stein
Delivery 550ml bottle.

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours a copper color and a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Hops, spices and bready.
Taste - Grains, spices, .
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - No harsh after taste.  A nice refreshing brew.  This was aged for a year, I will try a fresh one soon.



This beer pairs with cheese, Indian food, shell fish.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating = 88

Flying Dog - Dogtoberfest (2010)

Dogtoberfest is a unique beer containing five premium malts. This lager draws its influence from the Vienna Marzen or Oktoberfest style. It is rich and malty with a sweet aroma and deep mahogany color.  

The ABV is 5.3 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Oktoberfest
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Stein
Delivery - 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours a amber color with a small tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Malty, sweet, hint of dark fruit (fig).
Taste -  Malty, sweet and dark fruit.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - A surprise with the dark fruit.  Must be from the aging.  this brew should be enjoyed fresh.  However, though it's only 5% in aged well for a year.  I would not push it longer.

This beer may pair well with German food.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating =62

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Delirium - Nocturnum (2009)

Delirium Nocturnum is brewed in Belgian Family Brewery in Brouwerij Huyghe which is just outside Ghent, Belgium. The brewery is over 400 years old. It began in 1654 and is still at its original location and is still family owned. It’s known by many beer fans as the brewer of the well-reputed and amusingly named “Delirium Tremens”.

When Delirium Nocturnum (and Tremens) began being imported into the United States and Canada, it was quickly banned and taken off the shelves because of its name and the law that forbids the sale of an alcohol product that promotes "excessive drinking". It was refused to be allowed to be licensed for consumption, fearing the beers' names would encourage alcohol abuse. The dictionary defines the word 'delirium' as: ‘an acute mental disturbance characterized by confused thinking and disrupted attention usually accompanied by disordered speech and hallucinations’, and, ‘frenzied excitement’. It was also found offensive to people who have had the "DT's" which indicates a violent sickness induced by withdrawal after alcohol abuse. To avoid not being imported, Delirium was imported under the name ‘Mateen Triple’ for a while until the ban was lifted in the United States and Canada.

Because of the living yeast added for refermentation in the bottle (bottle conditioning), the taste of Delirium will change (and often improve) with age due to both metabolism by the yeast and the effects of oxidation in the bottle.

The ABV is 8.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 330ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a dark ruby/brown color with a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Sweet (cotton candy), malty and dark fruits (cherry).
Taste - Candy sweet, dark fruit, hint of tartness like an apple. 
Mouth Feel - High carbonated and medium body.  Too fizzy.
Drinkable - A great Belgium double.  Two years of aging have done this beer well.  I like it.

This beer pair well with cheese and meats (grilled meats).

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =94

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Ithaca - Excelsior! Eleven Anniversary (2008)

Anniversary ale, ELEVEN is brewed with British, German and French malts, American hops and milk sugar.  It’s aged for weeks on locally roasted Sumatra Coffee Beans.Enjoy the deep mocha color, sumptuous roasted aroma, rich flavor and smooth creamy finish.

Batch E!016

The ABV is 7.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Sweet Stout
Glass to use - Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Steins
Delivery - 750ml Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours a black color with a thin tan head and good lacing.
Aroma - Malty, coffee and toasted grains.
Taste - Sweet, malty, coffee and chocolate.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body. 
Drinkable - I like it, heavy coffee aroma and taste.  But it's well balanced. If you are lucky enough to find a bottle, give it a try.  Three years of aging mellowed this already smooth beer to perfection.

This beer pairs well with cheese and desserts (chocolate).

This beer gets a Duper rating of B
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =94