Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Bottled. A murky dark red-brown beer with a thin off-white head. The aroma is sweet and sour like a Flemmish sour ale with notes of berries, alcohol, and apples. The flavor is malty with notes of apples and berries, leading to a dry woodey end, and the body is thick. Interesting but a bit weird.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
750ml bottle; Nose of tart funk, caramel, and some purnes; Hazy rust with a few bubbles (not much in the way of carbonation); Flavor of an odd wine vinegar kind of tartness, caramel and alcohol, body thin for the style, with a tart alcohol finish (no hops evident). Is this a new style (says biere de garde on the label) a Barley Sour Imperial Ale? It will not displace my favorite barleywines.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 2 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 3
Hazy amber colour with big white head.Aroma like red wine taste sour and bitter a bad taste.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
330mL bottle drunk on 4/28/07
Is it pizza or is it beer? No, just kidding, I dont get the pizza thing at all, really. It’s a damned fine beer and the sage isn’t overdone. Sure, it’s well-present and you’re not going to miss it in the least, but it’s no different than using hops in beer, and I think there’s a pretty strong movement for those. Granted, hops are probably a bit more enjoyable than sage, but I’ve always enjoyed gruits and the like and this is a nice change of pace. The unfiltered texture and natural carbonation give it a creamy mouthfeel, while the pils malt is tremendously soft, chewy and full of flavorful, rich honey suggestions. Some doughy yeast inevitably gets in there too, but everything is smoothed out and balanced by the sage. And add to that some very lovely, reserved belgian yeast esters of apricot, peach and nectarine and you’ve got a fantastic blonde ale a la sage. Crisp on the finish, with appropriate attenuation. Very quenching, no sign of the alcohol, nor any flaws. Lightly hazy blonde body has plenty of off-white head that laces well and shows strong retention.
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Bottle courtesy of IMtheOptimator: Poured a medium amber color ale with a small foamy head with limited retention or lacing. Aroma of oak and tart is pretty enticing. Taste is a mix between some sweet malt, oak and some vinous character. Body was about medium full with some very low carbonation. I could not detect any alcohol which is quite a feat at 14% but could feel the effect afterward. Interesting combination between the malt presence of a Biere de Garde and a Flander Red oak presence.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 7.5
Opened when lightly chilled. The bottle exploded with carbonation and lots of escaping foam. Dry aroma of herbal hops, but it is quite nice. Dark brown color and lots of carbonation and a tall brown head. Some sweetness, but lots of herbal hops. Dry flavor and dry finish. Very expensive at $16.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5
Bottled. Nutbrown colour, big fluffy off-white head. Aroma is bitterness, some toffee and some malts. Flavour is toffee, hops, some acidicness and yeast. Harshly grassy notes in finish.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Bottled (BB 02/2008)
Dark orange-amber color, big foamy brownish head. Hayish hoppy aroma with hints of toffee. Medium-bodied, toffeish flavor which backed with grassy hops and alcoholic bite. Bitter aftertaste. Not very balanced, but interesting. If you are looking for your first "altbier", this is maybe not the first option.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Bottled, alc. 5.5 % (bottled 05/2006)
Hazy orange color, small firm white head. Sour fruity aroma, almost lambic-like. Wheaty, sourish brew with hints of honey and coriander. Fruity acidic aftertaste. Unique witbier.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Bottled (2006, 5.5%). Hazy yellow colour, mediumsized white foamy head. Lacing. Aroma is wheat, spices, sour and acidic fruits. Flavour is acidic fruits, wheat and some yeast.