12oz bottle. This is sort of as expected. For a style like this even some slightly slick and tick malts interfere. The alcohol could be particularly off putting. This beer is minimal in all these characteristics but that gets in the way of truly enjoying this beer.

12oz bottle poured into old school Hoegaarden tulip. Really dark brown color but not black. Small head, fades into nothing. Aroma is balanced with light fume and mineral. Light malt, not sugar, sweetness. Flavor is similarly light and balanced, short aftertaste and light body. Its full of flavor yet easily drinkable. Might seem simple but actually very special.

-- rated with beerbasher/winphone

Sample at the Big Tap In on 05/31/2014. Brownish-black color with a thin beige head that recedes steadily. Stringy lacing. Aroma of malt, chocolate and subtle hops. Light-bodied with flavors of toasted malt, nuts and coffee. The finish is roasty with a dark chocolate and coffee aftertaste. Decent overall.

Draft at Hopleaf, April 18. Sweet smelling ale. Once you get a sip of it (hard for me since I’m standing while juggling this beer, my phone for recording notes, and a cone of frites), the grape must comes out in the nose. Very similar to Dogfish Head’s 61. Orange color with a very thin head. Just a nice-drinking beer. This grape must thing seems to be an encouraging trend in fruit beers. A great idea that I hope more brewers add to their lineups.

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled in 2013. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy reddish orange color with a small fairly dense light khaki head with poor retention, that reduces to nothing very quickly. No glass lacing and some light streaming carbonation. Aromas of strawberry, pear, apple, white grape, honey, bread, candi sugar, light caramel, herbal, floral, light pepper, light ginger, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/earthy yeast, floral spices, and pale malt notes; with good strength. Taste of strawberry, pear, apple, white grape, honey, bread, candi sugar, light caramel, herbal, floral, light pepper, light ginger, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of strawberry, pear, apple, white grape, honey, bread, candi sugar, light caramel, herbal, floral, light pepper, light ginger, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity and balance of fruity/earthy yeast, floral spices, and pale malt flavors; with zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth and lightly slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with only a light warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very good Belgian Strong pale ale. All around good balance and complexity of fruity/earthy yeast, floral spices, and pale malt flavors; and very smooth to sip on for the ABV. A very enjoyable offering.

Bottle drunk 4/17/14
Light straw golden, small white head with moderate retention.
Dusty, grassy saaz in the nose are backed by some dry biscuit-like notes, touches of minerals and a fair amount of reserved fruitiness (apples, peaches, apricots). Some further white and black pepper notes, soft, grassy, bitterness and more baked bread.
Firm carbonation and peppery hops make this crisp and quite drinkable, with good attenuation and some sticky caramel flavors giving a touch of brown bread and sweetness. Well-balanced all around. I thought I tasted some tin-like notes at the start, but it’s mostly passing. Enjoyable, wish I would have tried some of their specialty beers.

Bottle @ home, courtesy of TheAlum. Thanks ! Pours a somewhat cloudy, dull yellow appearance with a thin white head. Aroma smells like tortillas with a bit of honey and toast. Pretty decent body. A bit twangy. Slightly metallic. Chewy toasted malty flavor. Cracker / doughy flavor. Slightly fruity. Somewhat lasting aftertaste. Ehhh, not horrible but I probably wouldn’t drink it again.