7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Looks very dark brown in the glass with reddish hints if seen through light. About one finger of rather large bubbled off-white head, good enough retention and lacing. Average intensity in the aroma: dark malts with notes of dark bread, nuttiness, light roasted notes with hints of coffee, a soft underlying cola-like feel, perhaps the slightest fruity hint. In the taste: dark malts upfront with notes as per aroma, just a hint of cola, hints of fruitiness (red/dried fruits), slightly astringent floral hop notes in finish/aftertaste. In terms of sweetness/bitterness this is perfectly balanced in the mouth and has a quite firm bitter edge (at least per style) in the finish. Good flavour definition. Light to medium bodied with average carbonation, higher than usual per style in carbonation. Feels rather dense for its abv, mainly due to carbonation. If i must find a flaw, this one drinks a little less easy than most czech lagers, though it still feels fine. Still a very good and nicely polished true to style interpretation, well done.
Tried
on 02 Jan 2024
at 17:13
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
@ Baldi's Capodanno 2024
Tried
on 01 Jan 2024
at 12:22
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Pours almost black, shows some reddish hints if seen through light. About one finger of greyish, relatively large bubbled head. Recedes quite quickly, leaves little lacing. Aroma: strong roasted malts with notes of fresh-made espresso coffe and the slightest hint of fruitiness, dark chocolate, a lighter soft feel (kinda milk-stout like) underneath that doesn't take away from the strong roasted character. Overall a clean and pretty intense aroma. Taste notes follow the aroma closely, again with very good intensity and precision. Could have maybe used a bit more depth. Medium sweetness, medium to high bitterness with a bit of roasted malts acidity. Overall quite on the bitter side in both taste and aftertaste with a dry, slightly astringent finish. Medium bodied (feels rather dense for the abv) with quite light carbonation; half-thick, half-silky mouthfeel. Very nice.
Tried
on 21 Dec 2023
at 15:00
7.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Dark golden with a bit of haziness. Low to medium sized white head, recedes relatively quickly but still leaves some lacing. Quite good intensity in the aroma: cerealy, slightly crackery malts with the slightest hint of (honeyish) sweetness underneath, a pretty strong (at least per style) grassiness and a slight hint of fruitiness (appleish?). Taste notes show vivid grassiness at the smell suggested, backed up by malty notes as per aroma. Simple and clean. Light to medium sweetness, medium bitterness; balanced in the mouth, slightest bitter edge in the finish. Light to medium bodied, light to medium carbonation. Overall: brings more grassy bitterness than your usual kellerbier but still delivers balance and drinkability. Nice.
Tried
on 14 Dec 2023
at 20:33
6.5/10
—
Appearance 5
Aroma 7
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Pours dark red, very slightly murky. Doesn't get much head and it disappears quite quickly, leaving almost no lacing. Good enough intensity in the aroma: malty as obvious with caramel and nuttiness taking the main stage, plus notes of chocolate and hints of fruitiness (red fruits). Taste shows a bit more hop character: malty notes as per aroma, with caramel taking the main stage; a herbal/flowery hops hint gets a bit more vivid in the a slightly astringent finish/aftertaste. Overall on the sweet side in the mouth with a slight bitter edge in the finish (maybe a tad more sweet/bitter contrast than i'd like). Medium to dense bodied with quite light carbonation, feels slightly full in the mouth but still pretty smooth. Not fully convinced by this interpretation, but still an enjoyable drink.
Tried
on 04 Dec 2023
at 21:59
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Pours slightly paler than golden, with about one finger of slightly fluffy white head. Good enough retention, nice lacing. A very assertive aroma: the slightest cereal/hay base, with very light hints of honey and chamomille, followed by strong/expressive saaz hoppiness (lemon, cedar, lighter notes of fresh cut grass). Nice. Very good intensity in the taste too. Strong and vivid hoppy notes as per aroma, a light cereal/hay background. Light to medium sweetness, medium bitterness. A balanced mouth and the slightest bittering edge in a semi-dry finish/aftertaste. Feels very fresh and nicely clean, but maybe lacks the well-rounded/refined accomplishment that the best examples of style have. Light to medium bodied, average carbonation, quite lively in the mouth (at least per style) but still a very easy drinker. Good job.
Tried
on 27 Nov 2023
at 17:19
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Halloween Night - Shire Tap Takeover @ Barley Wine
Tried
from Draft
on 03 Nov 2023
at 23:36
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Halloween Night - Shire Tap Takeover @ Barley Wine
Tried
from Draft
on 03 Nov 2023
at 23:35
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Halloween Night - Shire Tap Takeover @ Barley Wine
Tried
from Draft
on 03 Nov 2023
at 23:35
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Tried
on 27 Oct 2023
at 22:08