6.4

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

7th International Pre Brugge Beer Festival Bottle Swap (in De Bierboom); Friday 1st Feb 2019. Fairly large sample from a bottle that was passed to me during the mega tasting. Amber body, off-white crown. Light malty nose with a mild yeastiness. Taste has a decent malt/hop blend with some bitterness to temper the semi-sweet biscuity malt flavours. Not really an ESB to this Brit, but a fine beer all round.

6.2

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 5

Hazy, I'll give it that. Also sweet. Very sweet. Surprisingly sweet, like a shot of simple syrup has been added to an otherwise decent NEIPA. Earth, lemon zest, passion fruit, a little resin, and a little pine are present--all good--but the sweetness takes me right out. Not sure where the sugar's coming from--didn't see any mention of lactose--but it grows too strong as the pint warms, in dire need of some serious West Coast bitterness to offset the candy base. Seems to score higher than it should, but it's a pretty pint, and the nose is a nice mix of dragonfruit, earth, and chive. Otherwise, not for me.

5.9

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Cardboard, tea nose. Cloudy amber, full of silt, medium head, good lace. Bread crust, tea. Medium body, easy carbonation.

6.9

Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Peppery lemongrass nose. Hazy yellow, huge head, gusher. Grass, pepper, tea, meyer lemons. Medium body, soft carbonation, somewhat resinous. I didn't like this at first, but it grows on you. The spiciness is pretty neat once you become acclimated to it.

5.3

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6

Can from Midtown. Pours a clear gold with a finger of foam that lingers. Lots of overripe orange and lemon notes on the nose. Some wet cardboard notes as it warms. More old malt flavors. Quite watery and thin on the palate. Unbalanced and really not good at all. Likely an old can.

5

Tangy lemon and orange aromas, old malt. Slightly thin on the palate. Watery caramel and dried citrus. Probably an old can.

7.6

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8.5

Raspberry color with pink foam. Aroma is berries. Flavor is sweet tart, not overly acidic, with raspberry sour finish

6.8

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

Pour is a black with a large creamy tan head. Aroma is a decent enough roast and char malt combo. Flavor is more roasted malt with a cola like sweetness bringing up the rear. Finish is quite dry and chalky. Adequate dry stout.

6.8

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

Copper color with creamy tan head that lasts. Bread aroma. Nice balance of toasted malt, caramel sweetness, and crisp hop bitterness. Not overly hoppy, sweet at the end.

8.1

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

2017 bottle from Bruisin' Ales. Pours opaque brown (or clear dark ruby against strong light) with a creamy tan head. Aroma of treacle, dark fruits, hint of chocolate. Full bodied indeed. Very malty - not at all towards dry. Dark treacle. Darkish fruits. A bit earthy/woody/yeasty. Could be/seems to be some chocolate coating the tongue in the finish. Heat is barely detectable. Belongs in the family of Fuller's Old Vintage Ales, perhaps as the malty uncle. Really quite delicious.