Subsidiaries
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
A 750 ml bottle obtained from Rare Beer and cellared for a few years. Lost Abbey and a barley wine, my expectations are high. I like to use my Chimay glass for dark beers I expect to be top level, so I am this evening. I haven't removed a cage and cork in some time, this bottle takes me back. The body is dark caramel in color and only a small ring of very fine, taupe bubbles follows the pour. The scent is attractive with toffee, ripe fruit, grain and meadow. As good as the smell is, the drink is even better. I taste dark plums, baked bread, chocolate, figs perhaps, malt, red licorice and a nice woody background. Dense and chewy. Many attributes of a good Belgian dark ale in this one, high praise intended. Damn, this is a fine beer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Dec 2024
at 23:36
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
750ml bottle pours with a mahogany colored body that supports a thin tan head of foam. The modest aroma offers up earthy leather, thin molasses and then a bit of malts and crystal malts. The taste delivers smooth and subtle prunes, dates, brown sugar and molasses. It basically stays that way into a moderately boozy finish. It lacks a bit of depth and character but it's pretty damn near to-style. Nice offering.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Dec 2024
at 01:37
5.2/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 8
Flavor 4
Texture 6
Overall 4
Notes from May 2009 Bottle from Julio's in April, no BBD. Carolus goblet, right after drinking a half growler of Avery collabo. Nearing an inch of sediment on the bottom. I didn't trip on any furniture on my way to my desk. Inch of cream-colored, milky head over a weighed down murky orange/amber body. Layered lace as it falls. Smell is full of buttery toffee, intense nuttiness & grass clippings. Barleywine tenancies creep in as I feel the alcohol macerating my nostrils. Taste is of burnt toast & sugar, leaves, & irritating grapefruit rind. Maybe a twinge of orange to go with the dusty finish. Oxidation-like newspaper note in there too. Alcohol is every bit the 10%. Balance is just something I'd prefer, but since there's no real complexity here, it doesn't offer up much besides acidic bitterness & the comforting notion that you can endure it(which sadly seems commonplace now). Carbonation is strong & beaded though, helping you endure. Still quite syrupy. The alcohol doesn't make any friends. A tired beer. I drink it as a penance.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Nov 2024
at 22:01
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Can from Bine & Vine. Pours clear gold with a large transient white head. Aroma has a bit of citrus, but something else in the way of mixed pale stone fruits. Med body. It's very dry and very bitter. Flavor is a complex thing - citrus/pine, raspberry and watermelon?. Lots going on here. Bottom line - flavor is really nice. Finishes bitter earthy fruity.
Tried
from Can
on 14 Oct 2024
at 01:38
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
750 c&c from Bine & Vine. Pours clear, but very dark and the color is almost cherry against a strong light. Head is tan and moderate. Transient. Aroma of darkish caramel/toffee. Approaching full bodied. Flavor is darkish toffee, bourbon, a mix of light stone and dark stone fruits and some chocolate notes. Barest hint of wood astringency. Heat is not a problem. Neither dry nor bitter. Good flavor.
Tried
on 11 Oct 2024
at 23:46
7/10
Tried
on 18 Sep 2024
at 19:21
8/10
Tried
on 18 Sep 2024
at 19:20
7.3/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
9-13-24 Shelter
Tried
at
Shelter
on 14 Sep 2024
at 01:37
7/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
9-13-24, Shelter
Tried
at
Shelter
on 14 Sep 2024
at 01:01
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
473mL can. Pours murky dark orange with white head. Aroma has candied orange peel, orange juice, sweet malts. Flavour has bright citrus, bitter resin, lots of malts. Great balance between sweet malts and bitter hops.
Tried
from Can
on 01 Sep 2024
at 03:30