8/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
On draught at the brewery, 11/26/2005. Pours a light pale-gold, little bit of hay colored yellow, clear, but not sparklingly so and a large white head sits atop it going nowhere fast. Lacing present as well. Aroma shows wonderful hallertauer grassiness, wet meadows, touches of herbs and a crisp, drying, almost lightly milky yeast and malt combo that evokes thoughts of dry, baked hay, light cheese and then finally touches of citrus. Flavor is full of dry straw-like graininess, more fresh cut grass and a strong yeast crispness that is very dry. Well-attenuated, with only a hint of honey, though not even as creamy as a straight up honey malt. Lightly crusty white bread and baguette with an expansive, but not too expansive carbonation and a smooth texture. No wateriness on end. Hops are fresh and clean, without the soily/nutty character that sometimes can bother the brightness of these beers.
Tried
from Can
on 01 Dec 2005
at 17:30
8/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
On draught at the brewery, 11/26/2005. Pours an amber-beige colored beer with some light cherry-red hues and a foamy, small white head, moderate retention, receding to a light cover and ring. The aroma has American hops right away, light orange and mostly floral notes, with a soft grassy/herbal undertone. Light toasted grains, plenty of medium-dry caramel and fresh yeast collect in the aroma. Almost a sprucey/woodsy sort of feel to it with the dry grains and floral hops. The flavor is hoppy up front as well, only lightly so, and just more herbal/grassy than floral. Round caramel and light nutty malts through the middle followed by a late bitterness and more floral hops, verging on a touch of citrus. The body is medium, with no thinning or wateriness and low carbonation. Texture is a touch lean, with the very dry malts and not as much sweetness to lend as creamy a texture. Strikingly similar, though to Bells 20th. Bret and Eric had never even heard of Bells 20th so it’s funny they produced a malty amber ale with fair hop flavor and aroma at almost the exact same ABV. Not quite as chewy and succulent as Bells, nor as sweetly malted, but this one has a more pronounced, crisper hop flavor and aroma.
Tried
from Can
on 01 Dec 2005
at 15:09
8.1/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
On draught at the brewery, 11/26/2005. Served in a tulip, muted olive-browns and light bronze-amber hues swirl about in an unfiltered array of dark colors. A light tan/beige head is rocky and well-sustained, receding over time to a half-finger of cover with light lacing left on the glass.
In the nose is a dry, earthy, lightly bready and moderately smoky-sweet malt. Woodsmoke, light saltiness and a touch of vanilla-cream and caramel. The smoke shoots right up the nose, but soon makes room for the sweet malt notes, lightly peppery yeast and a touch of acidity. Flavor begins with a lightly salty woodsmoke, adding a touch of salted meats and oily, woody acidic notes. A dry toffee, light caramel and fair yeast presence are woven about the palate. The true experience is attained when allowing the beer to warm to near room temp, with the smoke softening and the sweet malt, light vanilla and crisp yeast all coming to equilibrium. Soily, nutty, dry herb leaf-like hops even make their way in. Carbonation is smooth and minimal, while the texture ranges from slick and creamy to lightly gritty at points. Some acids linger on, as well as the salty smoke and a touch of bock-like breadiness. Very dry overall, though importantly, not too dry. No alcohol apparency.
In the nose is a dry, earthy, lightly bready and moderately smoky-sweet malt. Woodsmoke, light saltiness and a touch of vanilla-cream and caramel. The smoke shoots right up the nose, but soon makes room for the sweet malt notes, lightly peppery yeast and a touch of acidity. Flavor begins with a lightly salty woodsmoke, adding a touch of salted meats and oily, woody acidic notes. A dry toffee, light caramel and fair yeast presence are woven about the palate. The true experience is attained when allowing the beer to warm to near room temp, with the smoke softening and the sweet malt, light vanilla and crisp yeast all coming to equilibrium. Soily, nutty, dry herb leaf-like hops even make their way in. Carbonation is smooth and minimal, while the texture ranges from slick and creamy to lightly gritty at points. Some acids linger on, as well as the salty smoke and a touch of bock-like breadiness. Very dry overall, though importantly, not too dry. No alcohol apparency.
Tried
on 01 Dec 2005
at 09:42
8.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 9.5
[At RBSG 2005] A muddy brown beer with a small disappearing off-white head. The aroma is very spicy and with strong notes of raspberries, but also with lesser notes of oranges and caramel. The flavor is pretty much like the aroma with a strong accentuation of the raspberries and the spices, that I can’t pick apart. Lovely. Thanks Mike (eyedrinkale)
Tried
from Can
on 06 Nov 2005
at 14:59
8.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle Shared at the "Pitonka mini RB fest" poured a dark murky redish brown witha small off white head that had hints of pink in it and its lacing. Chocolate and raspbery were the aromas. Flavor had mostly the same componants. Cherry/Raspberry and chocolate. Very smooth and quite thick. Very nice but not quite up to the hype. Thanks Matt for sharing
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Oct 2005
at 21:51
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Slightly hazy copper body, dissipating carbonation at the surface creating no head. Butterscotchy caramel aroma with notes of toffee and earthy hops. Layered, complex body with a sweet fruity kick, opening with caramels and butterscotch, followed by hints of peach and apricot and caramel apples. Earthy, bitter finish. At least one fruit fly landed in my beer which is never a bad thing when it comes to a rating. That said, this had a rather harsh mouthfeel for the listed 8.5% ABV; my observation is that Kuhnhenn needs to work on the mouthfeel of their bottled beers, as all tend to be too sharp. Unhewn but complex, and worth a try.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Sep 2005
at 00:08
6.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Sampled at the Ohio Labor Day tasting, provided by Styles and pailhead. Hazy red body, thin/non-existant off-white head in an Orval glass. Butterscotch, plum, and caramel aroma. Flavor of sharp candies (butterscotch), cherries, prune, caramel, and Halloween candy corn. Decent complexity.
Tried
from Can
on 19 Sep 2005
at 17:52
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle pours a a very dark clear brown/black with some redish hues showning through. Very large fluffy light beige head. Aromas of dakr roasted barley and chocolate malts. Some candied sugar and other smokey swetness. Mild roasted flavors with a lively carbonation and a quite dry feel. Very littel bitter aftertaste. Just smaokey and mild.
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Sep 2005
at 23:01
6.5/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 4
Overall 7
Bottle Pours a murky redish brown with no head and only a trace of lacing. Aroma os appled cider, cinimon, apricots and alcohol. Flavor is a nice spicy musty combo. Some apple butter and cinimon. Moderately heavy feel and the alcohol comes through much more now on later sips. Darn near flat and a slightly bitter woody aftertaste. Thanks to Pailhead for this one
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Sep 2005
at 22:31
7/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 9
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle Pours a murky redish brown with hardly any head and thin sheeting lacing. Rich caramel, sweet woody and apple aromas with a slight hint of alcohol. I totally agree with Degarth. Meaty, carmely and not as sweet as I expected. Very much like a BW but not as hoppy. Thick heavy almost chewey and a healthy ABV taste is noticeable. A little spice but more soft old wood barrels and sweet carmelized sugars. Interesting. Thanks to Pailhead for this one.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Aug 2005
at 22:01