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Notes: You have to be able to enjoy sour to get into a cherry behemoth like this. While it’s not my favorite style, I genuinely appreciate it when it’s done well. It’s done perfectly.
Appearance 5 out of 5
Color:ruby
Clarity: nearly opaque
Head Retention: poor
Lace: poor
Notes: Very much like a sparkling wine, with great visual effects.
Notes: An absolutely overwhelming sourness and bitterness. Done with finesse and great care.
Palate5 out of 5
Mouthfeel
Sensation: drying
Body: full
Carbonation: heavy
Finish
Length: long
Intensity: strong
Balance: bitter
Notes: A dark, oaky, bitter finish and a very dry bite. delicious.
General Impression: 19 out of 20
Craftmanship: excellent
Freshness: fresh
Personal Taste: liked very much.
Notes: As I said, while this is not my go to style (luckily, since I couldn’t afford it) I definitely appreciate when it’s done well, and this is very well crafted. It demands to be sipped.
It’s my birthday today, and I decided, what better way to celebrate both my birthday and my 200th beer on RateBeer but by enjoying an aged BWSA that was given to me as a gift from Sean Piotrowski? Thanks, Sean.
Glass: Snifter
Purchased at: A gift from Sean.
Price: $ n/a
Size: 8.5 fl oz
ABV: 11.7 %
IBU: n/a
Estimated Calories: 175 C
RateBeer Rating: 98
Aural: very quiet opening, subtle carbonation, beautiful amber pour
Aroma 10 out of 10
Intensity: overwhelmingly strong
Balance: very sharp
Impression: quite nice
Malt Aroma: barley, syrup, coffee
Hops Aroma: anise, licorice, acid
Other Aroma: alcohol
Notes: A wonderfully enticing smell, though seemingly strong.
Appearance 4 out of 5
Color: brown
Clarity: nearly opaque
Head Retention: poor
Lace: poor
Notes: A deep dark color, stands up impressively against the led test, but of course as with many ales of this strength, there is no head.
Notes: The flavor is surprisingly balanced. I expected this to be a repeat of Dogfish Head’s 120 Minute IPA, which defined new limits for me. This is much less intense than that, and very enjoyable.
Palate5 out of 5
Mouthfeel
Sensation: creamy slick drying and warming
Body: full
Carbonation: faint
Finish
Length: long
Intensity: strong
Balance: mostly bitter
Notes: A very dry, enjoyable finish. It really does need deserve to be sipped.
General Impression: 19 out of 20
Craftmanship: excellent
Freshness: fresh
Personal Taste: loved
Notes: I can’t wait to thank Sean for such an amazing treat. He made my birthday with this gift, even though for him, it was a drainpour giveaway. 😉
Aural: quiet opening, gentle carbonation, uneventful pour
Aroma 10 out of 10
Intensity: strong
Balance: sweet and sharp
Impression: very nice
Malt Aroma: raisin prunes
Hops Aroma: rose spicy grapefruit
Other Aroma: grapes, sour, cherry
Notes: An amazing aroma. Incapacitating.
Appearance 5 out of 5
Color: dark ruby
Clarity: brilliant
Head Retention: average
Lace: poor
Notes: A menacing appearance – deep beautiful ruby color with brilliant clarity under an off white yellow head.
Flavor 10 out of 10
Intensity: strong
Balance: bitter
Impression: very nice Malt Flavor: barley, pumpernickel, brown sugar, walnut, toffee, dark roast
Hops Flavor: flint, tropical flowers, red pepper flake, grapefruit
Other: maple syrup, raisins
Notes: wonderful, deep, rich, bold, dark, raisin, delicious, favorite
Palate 5 out of 5
Mouthfeel
Sensation: drying warming
Body: full
Carbonation: average
Finish
Length: long
Intensity: strong
Balance: bitter
Notes: bitter, long finish, strong, alcohol
General Impression: 20 out of 20
Craftmanship: excellent
Freshness: fresh
Personal Taste: loved
Notes: well done, great price, praiseworthy, fantastic
Glass: flute
Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJ
Price: $15.99
Size: 25.4 fl oz
ABV: 6%
IBU:n/a
Estimated Calories: 310C
RateBeer Rating: 99
Aural: interesting cork opening, high carbonation, simple pour
Aroma 10 out of 10
Intensity: strong
Balance: very sharp (incredibly sour)
Impression: nice
Malt Aroma: roast
Hops Aroma: marigolds peppers orange
Other Aroma: cherry
Notes: what an amazing aroma. overpowering with sour cherry content and context.
Appearance 5 out of 5
Color: brown
Clarity: deeply cloudy,
Head Retention: poor
Lace: poor
Notes: An absolutely stunning color, depth and presence. No head at all.
Flavor 10 out of 10
Intensity: strong
Balance: bitter
Impression: nice Malt Flavor: roast
Hops Flavor: grapefruit
Other: cherry
Notes: What an amazing, surprising and wholly sour flavor. Knocks you down with intent and determination. A beautiful flavor with dark intent. This beer wants to take a bough of arrows and send each of them deep into your heart, and you still love it so! It is a fruit based flavor that wants to convince you of IPAs. it’s phenomenal.
Palate 5 out of 5
Mouthfeel
Sensation: drying
Body: full
Carbonation: medium
Finish
Length: long
Intensity: strong
Balance: bitter
Notes: what an amazing palate and finish – great depth to the bitterness and sourness of the palate.
General Impression: 18 out of 20
Craftmanship: excellent
Freshness: quite fresh
Personal Taste: loved
Notes: It is dominated by sourness and acidity, but it is interesting to no end as a result. It is not sweet or cloying, but you are overwhelmed by the things we associate with sweetness — cherries, grapes, and melons (rinds). So nice.