8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 8
From my recent review at cvillebeergeek.blogspot.com.
Appearance: Pours a cloudy dark brown with a reddish tint to it. So cloudy and dark, in fact, that to get an accurate read on the color I had to shine a flashlight through the beer. A medium head disappears quickly and leaves an ever-present thin film on the surface of the beer, just like your finer Trappist ales. 3.5/5.0
Aroma: Quite different from the Reserva, this has a very malty aroma, with notes of toffee, brown sugar, banana and tropical fruits. They say this is a barleywine, but so far it seems like a Belgian dubbel to me. In any case, a very smooth and pleasant aroma. 4.0/5.0
Taste: Not what I expected given the aroma. The banana and tropical fruits are still there but the taste is much less sweet than the aroma, accompanied instead by a strong roasted malt character that lends coffee and smoky notes to the beer. If you know my drinking preferences, you know that I abhor smoked beers, but this level of smokiness is just enough to add complexity without being offensive to me. There is also a spicy, peppery bit that is showing up as I continue to drink this. 4.5/5.0
Mouthfeel: Very smooth texture. I can’t really detect any bitterness, but nevertheless this beer is very well balanced. 4.5/5.0
Drinkability: The Montegioco web site claims this beer is 10% abv, though other sources claim 8.5%. Either way, this is a sipping beer, and a damn pleasant one. Definitely a beer to sit back and enjoy the nuances. It just dawned on me that I rate a lot of "sipping beers." Especially since summer is upon us, I’ll try to turn my attention soon to something that is a bit less of an undertaking. Whatever the alcohol content is, it is hidden absurdly well. 4.5/5.0
Overall: A smooth, complex and luxurious beer from a region known for, well, not beer. If your wallet can absorb the cost (mine can’t, but I bought it anyway), this is well worth it. Savor it now or save it for a special occasion. Either way it will not disapppoint. 4.35/5.0
Appearance: Pours a cloudy dark brown with a reddish tint to it. So cloudy and dark, in fact, that to get an accurate read on the color I had to shine a flashlight through the beer. A medium head disappears quickly and leaves an ever-present thin film on the surface of the beer, just like your finer Trappist ales. 3.5/5.0
Aroma: Quite different from the Reserva, this has a very malty aroma, with notes of toffee, brown sugar, banana and tropical fruits. They say this is a barleywine, but so far it seems like a Belgian dubbel to me. In any case, a very smooth and pleasant aroma. 4.0/5.0
Taste: Not what I expected given the aroma. The banana and tropical fruits are still there but the taste is much less sweet than the aroma, accompanied instead by a strong roasted malt character that lends coffee and smoky notes to the beer. If you know my drinking preferences, you know that I abhor smoked beers, but this level of smokiness is just enough to add complexity without being offensive to me. There is also a spicy, peppery bit that is showing up as I continue to drink this. 4.5/5.0
Mouthfeel: Very smooth texture. I can’t really detect any bitterness, but nevertheless this beer is very well balanced. 4.5/5.0
Drinkability: The Montegioco web site claims this beer is 10% abv, though other sources claim 8.5%. Either way, this is a sipping beer, and a damn pleasant one. Definitely a beer to sit back and enjoy the nuances. It just dawned on me that I rate a lot of "sipping beers." Especially since summer is upon us, I’ll try to turn my attention soon to something that is a bit less of an undertaking. Whatever the alcohol content is, it is hidden absurdly well. 4.5/5.0
Overall: A smooth, complex and luxurious beer from a region known for, well, not beer. If your wallet can absorb the cost (mine can’t, but I bought it anyway), this is well worth it. Savor it now or save it for a special occasion. Either way it will not disapppoint. 4.35/5.0
Tried
from Can
on 23 Jun 2008
at 00:14
7.6/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
750 ml. bottle from Hi-Time. Very brown/black color with ruby notes. Decent tan head, but it left rapidly. Aromas of dark roasted malt, coffee and darker stone fruits. Medium body with frothy carbonation. Starts with dark roasted malt, moves to coffee, moves to dark fruit, moves back to coffe, and finishes with coffee over dark roasted malt. Finishes rather dry with near burnt bitter. Dangdest barley wine I’ve ever had. Really good taste and mouthfeel.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Jun 2008
at 19:40
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle, courtesy of Yespr
Cloudy amber color; creamy head. It’s a good Belgian Ale, with a balance between sweetness, malt, fruitness. Indeed the aroma is a bit vinous, and with very light vanilla too. Good mouthfeel, with a light astringency from the cask ageing. Very good.
Cloudy amber color; creamy head. It’s a good Belgian Ale, with a balance between sweetness, malt, fruitness. Indeed the aroma is a bit vinous, and with very light vanilla too. Good mouthfeel, with a light astringency from the cask ageing. Very good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Jun 2008
at 10:10
5.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
[Italian Blind tasting @ yespr, Bottle 14#] Hazy golden with medium white head. Sweet fruity aroma with yeasty notes. Sweet flavor with yeasty and ripe fruit notes.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Jun 2008
at 11:29
5.2/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 6
[Italian Blind tasting @ yespr, Bottle 13#] Hazy pale golden with medium off white head. Sweet aroma with yeasty and peach and wheaty notes. Sweet yeasty flavor with notes of wheat and peach notes.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Jun 2008
at 11:28
5.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
[Italian Blind tasting @ yespr, Bottle 12#] Hazy deep amber wih medium off white head. Sweet and spicy aroma with caramel notes. Sweet flavor with toasted malt, caramel, ripe fruits and floral hops. Ends bitter.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Jun 2008
at 11:27
5.2/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 6
[Italian Blind tasting @ yespr, Bottle 11#] Hazy golden with floatied and a medium white head. Sweet yeasty aroma with coriander and wheaty notes. Sweet wheaty flavor with coriander, yeast and orange peel notes. Ends sweet.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Jun 2008
at 11:26
6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
[Italian Blind tasting @ yespr, Bottle 10#] Black with medium off white head. Sweet aroma with roasted malt, coffee and liquerice notes. Sweet flavor with roasted malt, caramel and coffee notes. Ends sweet.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Jun 2008
at 11:20
5.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
[Italian Blind tasting @ yespr, Bottle 9#] Hazy golden with medium white head. Smoky aroma with fruity notes. Sweet flavor with smoky and yeasty notes. Ends smoked!
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Jun 2008
at 14:49
5.9/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
[Italian Blind tasting @ yespr, Bottle 8#] Hazy brown with floaties with medium off white head. Sweet fruity aroma with roasted malt, caramel and yeasty notes. Sweet flavor with roasted malt, caramel, plums and alcohol notes. Warming alcohol in the end.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Jun 2008
at 14:48