5.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5.5
Dark amber colour. Some malt aroma, but it’s sweet and it has a bit too much of alcohol flavour. It’s a Christmas tradition and I’m happy for that, but it’s really not a great beer.
7 years and 5500 beers later. And I don’t disagree with historical me. The malt aroma is very caramel-ly, with a touch of DMS. The sweetness and alcohol heat balance each other to some degree. And it’s possible to imagine a bit of cinnemon in the flavour, probably as a combination of the alcohol, lager yeast and crystal and black malts.
7 years and 5500 beers later. And I don’t disagree with historical me. The malt aroma is very caramel-ly, with a touch of DMS. The sweetness and alcohol heat balance each other to some degree. And it’s possible to imagine a bit of cinnemon in the flavour, probably as a combination of the alcohol, lager yeast and crystal and black malts.
Tried
on 20 Nov 2003
at 14:49
3.6/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 3
Texture 4
Overall 3.5
Bottled(330ml). -not so good malt liquor, little white head, malty with not so plaesant alcohol hints
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Oct 2003
at 13:13
5.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 5
Looks inviting with it’s dark red colour, and initially it has the bitterness and malty aroma I expected. But then a second later it was really watery. Rather disappointing.
Tried
on 08 Oct 2003
at 08:26
2/10
—
Appearance 2
Aroma 2
Flavor 2
Texture 2
Overall 2
The label says it is made by the "Giraf Brewery". You know a beer is good when the brewery doesn't even want to admit that they make it. Perhaps it is the unbalanced alcohol taste, or maybe the sweet apple. But it could be the prominent gasoline nose. I have to admit that I would not take credit for this either
Tried
on 03 Sep 2003
at 14:05
4.6/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 4.5
In the style I would call European Strong Lager, this has a balanced malt character and smooth palate. Far better than the awful Elephant.
Tried
on 03 Sep 2003
at 13:57
4.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 5
Golden with short lived bubbly head. Strong alcohol aroma, quite sweet with only a little malt. Nothing to rave about.
Tried
on 27 Aug 2003
at 13:03
5.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 8
Overall 4.5
Golden with short lived head. Malt aroma with a bit of maize and alcohol. Very malty finish, almost bread-like.
Tried
on 27 Aug 2003
at 11:16
4.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 6
Overall 4.5
Yellow with a good but short lived head. Bland lager taste, with some metallic notes and a flat aftertaste.
Tried
on 15 Jul 2003
at 13:21
4.2/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 2
Overall 5
Gold with large quickly dissipating white head. Faintly astringent light malt nose. Faint green apple flavor, but I don't really detect much of an alcohol kick
Tried
on 27 May 2003
at 18:00
5.5/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 8
Overall 5
A yellow beer with a small fast disappearing head. The aroma is a very powerful alcoholic one. The flavor is of an OK maltblend - not especially sweet for a barley wine. Which makes it an OK barley wine - but since it is not my type of beer it ends up an average beer.
Tried
on 13 May 2003
at 11:40