[At RBSG 2005] An orange beer with no head. The aroma is very alcholic combined with notes of ginger and spices - especially cinnamon - a very complex aroma. The flavor is fruity with lots of peaches and ginger, but also lots of alcohol - so much, that it burn the throat. The end is alcohol dry. Too alcoholic to really be me.

Sampled from a 12 oz brown bottle this beer poured a mahogany color with only a trace of a tan head. The aroma is strong and sweet with a grapefruity element. The mouthfeel is moderately thick. The flavor is sweet with strong ripe fruits, molasses, raising, caramel and cinnamon elements. There is a mild alcohol burn towards the finish. A nice offering. We also discovered that it pairs quite nicely with chocolate.

Clear copper pour with absolutely no head - very potent aroma of alcohol, ginger, nutmeg, honey, heather - minimal carbonation - oily mouthfeel - highly spiced, but still not enough to balance out the cloying sweetness from the honey - very evident alcohol - some lavender, clove - very clumsy and palate-bludgeoning (did I spell that right?) - with some aging maybe this will get better, but I doubt by much.

2005 bomber sampled July 8th 2005. Lucid, yellow and white-gold pour, thick and viscous looking, images of mead come to mind. There are some large bubbles lazily making their way to the surface, however, and a whispy, thin cover of white bubbles, not long retained. Little specks of lace along the glass. Mostly clear is the liquid. Aroma of thistles, honey, coriander, white pepper, sage and who knows what else! Slight grassy edge shows some faint hops of a low-alpha acid variety. A bit of milky-vanilla sweetness and then a lasting touch of doughy caramel, rather light. Aroma is quite strong, but the spices really dominate. Flavor begins with a big shot of overly chewy yeast and wheat, meaty and rather unrefined. Clovers, light ginger and coriander butt their way to the front and are plastered all over the palate by means of a thick, syrupy honeyish malt. Alcohol is quite present on the end, with a huge warming sensation and a phenolic character that burns through the malt and even the spice. Heavy mouthfeel, sharp but tight carbonation and definitely a full body. Sticky honey, heavy yeast and ginger-coriander stick to the palate. Not sure why so many breweries feel the need to make these high abv, kitchen sink monster beers for their anniversaries. Overspiced, underattenuated, too much alcohol and meaty yeast apparency. Why not make something elegant and drinkable?? I suppose I’m curious to see how this ages, though I’m not expecting a lot.