Bottle (101505). Strong floral aroma accompanied by noticeable malt and hints of ripe, perhaps dark, fruit. Translucent dark ripe apricot color with a minimal head that minimally attempts to lace. Medium mouthfeel. Starts with ripe stone fruit, a touch of raisin, the effect of alcohol in the nose, and a finish that is surprisingly dry with a slight touch of bitter. Forgot to mention the caramel malt that rises after the start, which is why the dryish finish was surprising.

12 oz brown twist off bottle from Vintage Estate for $1.50. Even before I open it I’m thinken this stuff has some good competition. Also, Goose Island really makes a lot of beers! Chicago must be full of beer drinkers. This is my first goose. Twist off the cap and you get roast chocolate smells. It’s like very desirable sweet chocolate milk. The look is dark brownish black but I do see some rootbeerish colored hints around the edge of the glass. Not truly opaque. There is no head but I do see a couple of fine bubbles gathering on the top, this is even less than a tea froth. Taste comes on like a burned piece of wood in the back of your throat but it is not overwhelmingly bitter like an imp stout. Nice taste and texture that is chewy to an extent. Roasty milky texture. Very little carbonation but I do detect a slight tingle when I press the liquid between the tongue and the roof of my mouth. Overall, I really like this beer and this style, one of my favorites. Not quite as good as Mackeson xxx because it lacks that thickness. Almost as chocolately smelling as Wild Goose. As a matter of record, I almost didn’t buy this because I got it confused with Wild Goose. Not quite as smooth as Sammy Smith’s stuff. Much more enjoyable than Bell’s cherry but here again I think the Bell’s cherry should be under the fruit beer style. The finish of this brew is rasty and smooth, no offensive bitterness on the back of your throat. An easy to enjoy brew that is a good representation of this style. Likeable and friendly.

Bottle. Hazy deep amber, copper pour. Frothy, mostly diminishing off-white head. Heavy aroma of caramel and pear with hints of dough, earthiness, toasted grain, raisin, plum and prune. Some industrial, plasticy notes. The flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly acidic and lightly bitter. It finishes moderately sweet, lightly to moderately bitter and lightly to moderately acidic. Mild tartness and lots of alcohol. Medium body, creamy texture, soft carbonation. The combination of alcohol, intense sweetness, fruits and leathery mustiness leave a slight medicinal aftertaste. Not bad, but better to buy a real Abbey beer than this.

Süß-würziger, vor allem aber lecker hopfiger Geruch. Herber Antrunk, ein grasiger Ton ist ebenfalls vorhanden. Im Mittelteil ist das Bier etwas wässrig, der würzige Teil entschädigt dafür. Dabei kommt ein malziges Aroma nur kurz zum Tragen, auch im Nachgeschmack spielt es nur eine kleine Rolle, denn hier wird die Würzigkeit verstärkt, am Ende bleibt ein bitteres Aroma hängen. Insgesamt zu mild. Test vom 18.3.2007, Gebinde: Glasflasche Noten: 7,8,9,8,9,8 - 8,10

2006 bottle from Pantanap; Nose was yeast, spices, and caramel maly; hazy copper with a big beige, light lacing, head, flavor was light fruitiness, pepperiness, spices, with a bit of hops in the finish. A good belgian.

Bottle. Pour is reddish with a nice two finger dirty white head. Aroma is malt and spice, with a background of hops. Taste is just as advertised, with nice full malt taste and a hop bitterness highlighted by spices. Overall a very drinkable beer.

EBF draught 2/9/07
Dark, milk-chocolate brown body has a slight, slight auburn/chestnut tinge. Greyish-beige head is small but well-formed and retained moderately well. Clarity is medium to medium-low, with light lacing.
Extremely deceptive and smooth aroma. Wow, this smell like a vanilla-brown sugar milk shake with some light bourbon hints. Strong chocolate sweetness sets the base as streaks of chewy caramel and lightly bittersweet toffee come through with warming. Vanilla, very light cola hints, followed by some splashes of alcohol and bourbon spiciness. I don’t remember the X-mas ale being this smooth and chocolatey-brown sugar-like. I thought it was fruitier. But this is lovely, the lack of fruitiness really accentuates the choco-caramel character and straight bourbon notes. Medium-high strength.
LOTS of brown sugar and milk chocolate up front, gaining alcohol heat and woody dryness as it carries on and warms. Bourbon spiciness is strong on the finish, with a touch of loose texture. Vanillin and chewy raisin sweetness starts to overwhelm the more it breathes. However, I don’t think the malt profile is weak at all, it just has too loose a texture in the end and not enough chewiness. The barrel is overdone in flavor as well, though what’s there would be rather enjoyable in small doses. Interesting, especially the aroma, but the flavors and barrel-aging aspect need alot of work.