Filed under: Abbaye Des Rocs, Belgian Strong Ale (trappist, tulip, tumbler), Uncategorized | Tags: brown, cherry, chocolate, chunky with sediment, gusher, low strength, medium craft, medium quality, moss, murky, nice label design and packaging, no hops, pure malt, sediment, short fruity finish, smooth texture, Syrupy, unbalanced, very nice, wine
ABV, Volume & Calories: 10 % in 25.4 fl oz. estimated at 400C
Purchased at: Canal’s Burlington, NJ
Aroma: very nice, cherry, chocolate, wine, sediment, moss. 9 out of 10.
Visuals: Gusher (like all Brasserie Des Rocs). nice label design and packaging, brown, murky, chunky with sediment, thin brown head, sticky lace. 5 out of 5.
Taste: unbalanced, pure malt, syrupy, no hops, low strength, medium craft. 8 out of 10.
Palate: medium quality, smooth texture, short fruity finish. 4 out of 5.
Overall: Very much like iced tea. Alcohol is almost unnoticable, not a repeat, not a favorite, low value, medium craft. 16 out of 20.
Filed under: Ellezelloise, Imperial Stout (snifter) | Tags: amazing, beautiful design, chocolate, deep brown, heather, little hops, little lace, low strength, lower quality, medium craft, mostly malt, mostly opaque, quick finish, smooth texture, syrup, thin white head, unbalanced
ABV, Volume & Calories:9 % in 11.2 fl oz. estimated at 200 C
Purchased at: Super Saver Pennington, NJ for $3.00
Aroma: amazing, chocolate, syrup, heather. 10 out of 10.
Visuals: beautiful design, deep brown, mostly opaque, thin white head, little lace. 3 out of 5.
Taste: unbalanced, mostly malt, little hops, low strength, medium craft. 6 out of 10.
Palate: lower quality, smooth texture, quick finish. 3 out of 5.
Overall: A real disappointment, more of a brown ale than an imperial stout, not a repeat, not a favorite, little value, medium craft. 15 out of 20.
Filed under: Barleywine Style Ale (snifter), Rogue | Tags: alcohol, amazing, black, cherries, grapes, hefty malt, high quality, layered, long lasting off white head, medium craft, oak, opaque, persistent lace, rough finish, smoother texture, some hops, sourness, tannins, thick, very strong, way off balance, well designed, wine
ABV, Volume & Calories: 11.5% in 12 fl oz. estimated at 200C
Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJ for $4.49
Aroma: amazing, tannins, oak, grapes, wine, alcohol, cherries, sourness. 10 out of 10.
Visuals: well designed, black, thick, opaque, long lasting off white head, persistent lace. 5 out of 5.
Taste: way off balance, hefty malt, some hops, layered, very strong, medium craft. 8 out of 10.
Palate: high quality, smoother texture, rough finish. 4 out of 5.
Overall: A mixed bag. Interesting, but very chemical, and lots of unmasked alcohol. Seems fruity, but also off. Nice to try, but not a repeat, not nearly a favorite, medium value, medium craft. 16 out of 20.
Filed under: Barleywine Style Ale (snifter), Weyerbacher | Tags: acetic finish, artificial, brilliant, chemical, grass, hay, label design poor, lagerish, light, little balance, long staying white head, lower quality, medium craft, nice hops, nice lace, notable strength, orange body, presentation is okay, rough texture, sweet, uninviting, weak
ABV, Volume & Calories: 10.2 % in 22 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $11.00
Aroma: weak, light, uninviting, lagerish, hay, grass. 4 out of 10.
Visuals: label design poor, presentation is okay, orange body, brilliant, long staying white head, nice lace. 4 out of 5.
Taste: sweet, artificial, chemical, nice hops, notable strength, medium craft, little balance. 8 out of 10.
Palate: lower quality, rough texture, chemical, acetic finish. 3 out of 5.
Overall: Not especially good, considering the price. I won’t have it again. Not a favorite. Not of high value. Okay craft. 13 out of 20.
Filed under: Belgian Strong Ale (trappist, tulip, tumbler), Browerij Het Anker | Tags: angry, bitter, bitter finish, brilliant, cherry, dark, dry, floaters, Fruity, long, long lasting white head, medium craft, red, roasted, sour, spongey, subtle, subtle lace, warm, washy, watery
ABV, Volume & Calories: 8% in 11.2 fl oz. estimated at 200 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $3.50 ($13.99 Belgian sampler)
Aroma: fruity, cherry, sour. 8 out of 10.
Visuals: floaters, brilliant, angry, red, long lasting white head, subtle lace. 5 out of 5.
Taste: cherry, sour, watery, warm, dark, roasted, bitter, medium craft. 7 out of 10.
Palate: washy, dry, spongey, long, subtle, bitter finish. 5 out of 5.
Overall: Seems like a kriek, but much less intense than something from Cantillion. I would not go out of my way to have it again. Craft seems strangely lacking. 16 out of 20.
Filed under: Belgian Strong Ale (trappist, tulip, tumbler), Stone | Tags: brilliant, clear, fruity overtones, golden, inviting, medium bitter finish, medium craft, mostly hops, short lived, smooth, some fruit, some hops, sticky, very little lace, wet, white head
ABV, Volume & Calories: 8.6% in 16.9 fl oz. estimated at 372 C
Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJ for $6.99
Aroma: inviting, fruity overtones, some hops. 8 out of 10.
Visuals: brilliant, clear, golden, white head, short lived, very little lace. 4 out of 5.
Taste: some fruit, mostly hops, smooth, medium craft. 8 out of 10.
Palate: wet, sticky, medium bitter finish. 4 out of 5.
Overall: Reminds me of a lighter version of Brooklyn’s Hopfen Weisse or Chouffe’s Belgian IPA mix. I’d have it again, but I wouldn’t wait until 2012 for it. A well crafted beer, but not a favorite. I like the style quite a bit. 17 out of 20.
Filed under: Doppelbock (mug, stein, stem glass), Troeg's | Tags: clear, crystal malt, disappointing, light bitterness, macro, Malty, maple syrup, medium craft, musky, off white, persistent head, quick finish, red, some light lace, sweet, washy, watery
ABV, Volume & Calories: 8.2 % in 12 fl oz. estimated at 180 C
Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJ for $2.25
Aroma: musky, sweet, malty. 7 out of 10.
Visuals: clear, red, off white, persistent head, some light lace. 4 out of 5.
Taste: maple syrup, crystal malt, light bitterness, medium craft. 6 out of 10.
Palate: washy, watery, quick finish. 2 out of 5.
Overall: disappointing for a double style. A generalized brown ale with a deeper finish. I would not seek it out again. It seems macro. 14 out of 20.
Filed under: North Coast, Saison [farmhouse ale] (tulip) | Tags: a bit wet, apple, best lace ever, bright white, bubbly, champagne, chemical finish, cherry, foamy, foamy lace, golden, grape, highly carbonated, licorice, medium craft, medium finish, persistent head, slightly cloudy, soapy, surf, thick
ABV, Volume & Calories: 7.3 % in 16.9 fl oz. estimated at 200 C
Purchased at: Canal’s in Burlington, NJ (thanks for the ladder walk, Mike) for $7.12
Aroma: champagne, apple, soapy, licorice. 8 out of 10.
Visuals: slightly cloudy, golden, bright white, persistent head, thick, foamy lace, best lace ever. 5 out of 5.
Taste: apple, cherry, grape, chemical finish, a bit wet, medium craft. 7 out of 10.
Palate: foamy, surf, bubbly, highly carbonated, medium finish. 4 out of 5.
Overall: Visually appealing. Rather chemical finish, and a bit soapy. I would not seek it out again, though it was not bad. It seemed a bit more commercial than craft. 16 out of 20.
