Cask pint at Alchemist, 7/8/2005, with CQuiroga and TAR. A haz(ier than it should be) red-brown auburn colored beer, with some bright strawberry tinges and a fair amount of yellow-tinged white head. Moderate retention and fair lacing. Aroma is full of b. lambicus. Smells like sour cherry pie, with a hint of orange rind and some grainy, almost bready malt in the background. Flavor shows too much meaty, thick, chewy yeastiness, typical of American brewers brewing Belgian styles. You aint gonna mistake this one for Temptation or Supplication (Vinnie’s got it down pat). I really don’t think the lightly sour, bready munich malts complement the lambic tartness. Would have liked to have seen just some sweet, clean, honeyish smooth pils malt, though maybe I’m just lame and unadventurous. Body is medium, and the palate dosent go limp or watery, but this is a prime example of meaty yeast, which I hate (meaty sacch yeast, not the b. lambicus). It’s well-done other than that, though.

On draught at the brewpub 4/16/05. Dark milky brown colored beer, hazy and very unfiltered, with a small but fairly well-lasting light beige head. Aroma of cardamon, ginger, light earthiness, brown sugar, Belgian yeast, and light dough. Flavor is lightly spiced up front, transitioning in to a creamy malt and yeast profile that sticks to the palate. Perhaps more simple than some from the motherland, but no alcohol is noted, little to no astringency and just a fantastic body that gives a wonderful mouthfeel and solid medium-full body. Light nuttiness, hints of dark fruits and more spice round out the finish. Much like Watch City Biere de Bordel was on tap (though more dry and phenolic).

On draught, 4/16/05 at the brewpub. Dark chocolate colored beer, with some lighter mahogany notes on the edges, not altogether transluscent (nowhere near opaque). Light tan head quickly dissipates to a ring. Aroma of hazelnuts, dark chocolate and light blackberries. Flavors of cinnamon, chocolate fudge, roasted nuts and light caramel/toffee. Not enough body to make it distinctly American, not enough yeast mustiness to make it distinctly English. It kind of suffers because I don’t know what they are really aiming for and I taste way too much wateriness. Finishes rather quickly, with light chocolate lingering on. Medium body at first, but growing quickly thin. A very low amount of roast compared to most porters I have had. Bordering a brown ale.6/3/6/3/12
On cask later the same night Believe it or not, the cask version had more body, a long lasting head, and more pronounced flavors. Sticky chocolate sits on the palate, while a very light roast adds pleasant depth. Light notes of cola and toffee, with less thinning on the end and even a light carbonation which added more pleasant texture. Low yeast apparency still, but I like the lack of wateriness on cask. 6/4/7/4/14

On draught, 4/16/05 at the brewpub. Light golden beer with just a hint of light amber. Light chill-haze, small white head, decent retention/lacing. Aroma has only a light amount of bitterness, though a good deal of dryness on the end. But it is mainly a sweet caramel and honey mix. Flavor is honey, vanilla, sugar, light caramel up front, only growing bitter towards the end, and with not that much hops flavor, just drying bitterness. Some citrus, but nothing here really gets me overly excited. As Barry says, this one gets lost amidst a sea of similar IPAs. Though it is certainly not bad, nothing stands out as being particularly excellent. Medium body, somewhat chewy/sticky. At least it’s not overhopped. . .

On draught at the brewpub 4/16/05. Hazy pale-golden, but with enough light copper tones to give it a well-colored body. Small white head is gone quickly, with light lacing left behind. Some haziness, though nowhere near that of the witbier. Aroma is full of coriander, wet grass, white pepper and white sugar. Hints of bubble gum and vanilla as well. At first sip, "WOW" they didn’t hold back the coriander. Juicy, fresh and green, this is a full-out coriander assault of the palate. There is some sweet malt that adds some balance, but the flavor stays mainly tart/dry and quite like a mouthfull of coriander stalks. Very juicy. Light Belgian yeast and white pepper on the end, with hints of vanilla and light dough. Plenty of tart, unripened peaches, and nectarines. Medium body. Very interesting and unique, though I would prefer a good deal less coriander.

On draught 4/16/05 at the brewpub. Medium-cherry-auburn red body, with a light tinge of brown. Light beige head is moderately well-retained and the beer has a light chill-haze. Aroma of brown bread, sweet and doughy, with light hints of cherries, wood, cream and fruity hops. Flavor begins with a well pronounced malt, light creamy-vanilla/honey with some light vienna malt huskiness, caramel on the finish and flavorful, fruity hops to add complexity and balance. Only lightly bitter. Smooth, slick mouthfeel does get a touch thin and lightly astringent from a drying graininess, on the end, but the flavor starts out wonderfully full, so I am not so concerned by the light astringency on the finish. Medium body overall and quite drinkable.

On draught 4/16/05 at the brewpub. Golden colored body with a strong amber tint to it and a small white head, low retention. Clear, but not horribly so. Aroma of sweet malt and dough, light hops juiciness and some light German-like helles yeast. Flavor is of a solid maltiness, light honey and white bread, but then a soft, flavorful hops becomes apparent along with a wonderful lightly sour yeast finish. Very smooth, almost oily mouthfeel, low carbonation and almost no wateriness, relative to style. A very good brewpub light beer, one of the best I have had.

On draught at the brewpub, 4/16/2005. A lovely white-gold color with plenty of straw yellow highlights, quite hazy with a one-finger white head, low retention. Aroma of oranges, chewy malt and bubblegum, light sugar and angel food cake. Flavor of vanilla, lemon-poppyseed muffins and light curacao. Soft, but evident carbonation adds a pleasant texture, while the malt sweetness stays strong to the end. Not exactly a delicate example of the style (not that it’s supposed to be). Ample yeast flavor definitely signifies that these guys can make a real Belgian ale, but when comparing this to T’Ij Schaarel Wit (which I can not help but do), this one comes off as very juvenile and undignified. Could stand a bit more tangerine-like flavors and a finer-bubbled carbonation could add a more delicate feel to it. Still, a wonderful beer, especially considering its American descent.

Red copper ale with light white head. Light malt and caramel aroma. Good nutty malt and light hops. Nice bitter finish with oily mouthfeel. Like Hophead siad, a good session!. Dec. 2004.

Golden ale with nice light malt aroma . Nice little malty number with light hops in finish. Pleasant light beer.