7

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Draught at the Park location, Summer 2014.
Glassy auburn-cranberry color with some deeper copper hues and a small but fairly well-retained white head atop.
Some peppery, lightly grassy hops in the nose provide dryness while crystal-like malts give light sourdough. This is light and easily balanced by a candi-like sweetness with bits of honey and dry toffee. Some minimal fruitiness (cherry skins, candied orange peel) with a touch of vanilla on the end. No alcohol or flaws.
Dry, hard crystal malts provide their typical iced tea-like flavor but soft and sweet enough base malts add balance while minimal red fruit esters and the same candied orange peel from the nose add complexity. The carbonation feels a bit tighter and while I do see the "not very Belgian" comments as rather true, I’m happier to have no messy/crude esters and be done with it.