Grand Cru - North Coast Brewing Co.

artdob

California

4.73/5  rDev +31.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A 16 ounce bottle, topped with a cork kept in place with a wire cage. Surprised that the head was extremely minimal and disappeared entirely almost in a blink of an eye. That said, sure pours a very attractive, unique orange color.

This beer has a nose that hits you from a distance. Nice yeasty notes balanced with apricot esters. Can just about sense the agave that is noted as part of this brew on the bottle notes.

On the palate, oh wow. After seeing the pour, my expectations turned real low. But this is so unique. A very rich, fruity apricot, fruit compote in the glass. Warming and velvety on the mouthfeel.

This was a fairly pricy bottle, I think I paid about $14 bucks. Being a huge fan of North Coast, had to give this a try. Rare that I would do this would beers that are on this end of the price scale (per bottle), but tomorrow am going back to the store where I bought this to buy several more bottles. I could see laying this one down for awhile and popping open when feeling like indulging in something special.

Initial appearance disappointment was mire than made up with everything else that followed. Beer nectar baby. Kudos North Coast!

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 04:00:22 | More by artdob

SlothB77

Virginia

4.6/5  rDev +28.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured from 1 pint 9 ounce bottle into a snifter.

This is the champagne of beers. and by that i mean the beer tastes like champagne. Smell: floral aromas. Taste: like champagne. Very sweet. Mouthfeel: very acidic, very carbonated, light-bodied. As close as beer gets to champagne. $36 for a 1 pint 9 ounce bottle in NoVa,

Rave reviews.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

01-12-2013 04:17:39 | More by SlothB77

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.58/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a two finger, white head that fades quickly and leaving no lace. Clear light amber color. Good carbonation, medium bodied. Fruity yeast nose. Flavor is sweet, spicy fruit and yeast, high ABV is hidden, smooth finish. Pricey, but worth trying at $14.20 for a caged & corked 500ml bottle from Tully's Beer and Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 22:29:41 | More by jdhilt

Greywulfken

New York

4.48/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

First things first: beers reviews always come from biased sources, right? Everyone's got their idea about what they like, and how this style should be done, etc.
Second, let's consider North Coast Brewing. They brew the classic RIS, Old Rasputin. They brew a barleywine-esque old ale, the Old Stock Ale. These two beers are top flight. Their other major beers, Pranqster and Brother Thelonius, are respectably good beers.
When I see North Coast on a label, I expect good things. When I see Grand Cru on a label, I expect the best of the best. It is, after all, a grand cru.

A: Deep gold/pale amber body with slight haze from a center-pour unto a tulip kicked up a slim finger of tan head; the beer leaves the glass clean as you drink

S: orchard fruits, apricots and peaches soaked in bourbon

T: luxurious sugars from the malts and aromas from the hops create a tapestry of the lush orchard fruits and booze - a very sultry, heady flavor. Fresh and juicy.

M: brisk carbonation creates a warm fuzz to the medium-to-full bodied feel

O: ignore the mundane (so far) reviews, and just get it already.

Buyer beware: it's just a pint-and-change bottle, so you're not gonna get much of a second pour!

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 17:26:53 | More by Greywulfken

gigaknight

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours radiant gold with champagne-like carbonation, culminating in a finger of crisp white head which dissipates quickly. Little lacing is seen remaining on the glass. Plenty of good nucleation from the bottom of the chalice.

S- Light phenols and some tart Belgian yeast make up the bulk of the bouquet, supplemented by some toasted oak and vanilla sweetness. Some alcohol is also present.

T- Somewhat tinny malt sweetness opens the palate, followed by tart white wine grapes, ending with a very pleasant combination of farmhouse funk, clove, and musky agave sweetness. Bourbon flavors are hardly present, lending more toasted oak and vanilla notes as opposed to sour mash. Perhaps this is simply because the agave nectar possesses a similar character and thus masks some of the typical musk of bourbon. However, the warmth of the bourbon is noticed yet not unwelcome. There is no real "bite" to speak of, but a light alcoholic heat flashes in the back of the palate, highlighting the more carmelized notes of the barrel.

M- I found this to have just the right amount of carbonation, fizzy enough keep the alcohol and residual sugar from becoming cloying, though not at all lacking in substance. The sticky sweetness of the agave adds weight to the mouthfeel, and it seems that the oak helps to dry out the finish before the robust flavors linger for too long.

O- I got this beer for $3.99 a bottle on account of a pricing error, but I think I'd still gladly pay the $15.99 it was intended to cost. A very interesting beer from North Coast, and a superb counterpoint for the BA Old Rasputin which was equally graceful and bold.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 05:21:45 | More by gigaknight

diamondc

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Golden hue, not much head or lacing. Hazy.. can't expect much at this abv level.

S: Intense fruitiness... apricot & peaches mainly. Hard liquor, a bit of vinegar, caramel. Oak aroma becomes more noticeable the warmer the beer gets. Unique.

T: The initial taste is of intense syrupy cloyingness. Then there is a delicate mango/passion fruit/agave nector flavor after the initial sweetness. Not a lot of hop flavor on the aftertaste. I get vanilla and a bit of dry wood flavor instead.

M: Rivals Duvel in the way of hiding the high ABV. I can't detect any hotness here. A bit syrupy, but kind of refreshing.

O: A surprise, and a winner. Glad I shelled out the $16 bucks for the bottle and I might do it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 05:36:58 | More by diamondc

maximum12

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wanted to try this when it came out, but being a happy home-dad, decided I shouldn't drop the money on a little 500ML bottle. After relucatantly heading back to the salt mines, saw one languishing on a random shelf & liberated it. Time to try it. Split with my wife.

Cork is tough to budge, & when it moves, it dances a good half-inch. Lack of carbonation is no worry. The pour is an overcast yellow. The nose is, well, I don't know what agave smells like, but this beast smells like the Southwest - pears & cactus & dry heat. Distinct sharpness. Bourbon is so faint I have to try to pick it out. Nice.

North Coast Grand Cru has all sorts of tastes clamoring for attention. A sharp fruitiness - agave, I presume - mingles with a bite that toes, but doesn't quite cross, into sour. There's a surge of sweetness in the middle that gives way to a touch of barrel. An herbal pie completes the odd picture. No alcohol maybe, what, 4.5%? Nice sipper.

Original & strange if nothing else. With brewers desperately trying to find a Tibetan winter root that only grows on dead tiger carcasses to spice up their latest beer...what was I saying? Oh, the agave is a new touch, & a fine one at that. Great twist on the style & an excellent beer. Better have been for the price, eh?

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 02:49:04 | More by maximum12

UCLABrewN84

California

4.28/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Bier Academy in Canyon Country, CA.

Pours a murky honey orange with a 1/2 inch off-white head that fades to nothing. Absolutely zero lacing on this one. Smell is of spices, yeast, citrus, and a slight sour funk. Taste is of spices, minor Belgian yeast, citrus, cane sugar, and some slight funky flavors. There is a noticeable alcohol burn in the throat with each sip as well. A high level of carbonation with a crisp, bubbly, and slightly sticky mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer that is very tasty. I really liked the complex flavors, especially with the subdued Belgian yeast that let other tastes come out.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2011 20:48:17 | More by UCLABrewN84

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appears a transparent light gold with a tight white cap. Scattered bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of orange citrus, honey, vanilla, and bourbon. Perhaps some warmed peach, also.
Taste is of the aromas with a boozy, peach, apricots, poached pears, vanilla, delicious bourbon, and blast of citrus. Damn.
Mouthfeel is medium full bodied, boozy, up front, yet somehow enticing. A very, very interesting brew that I was glad to have enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 00:30:04 | More by weeare138

homebrewhawk

Kansas

4.22/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml corked and caged bottle served in a Blvd. Tank 7 tulip. Poured a pale gold with a couple of fingers of white head. Interesting aroma, the bourbon is subtle also some fruit. Lots of carbonation. Medium bodied. A little hot. More fruit, some Belgian spice. Oak and bourbon come through a little more in the finish. I really liked this, the barrel was not overpowering and very integrated. Very easy drinking for the abv. There's a lot going on here.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2011 00:46:15 | More by homebrewhawk

AmericanGothic

Iowa

4.22/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16.9 oz bottle into a Unibroue tulip.

A: Pours a translucent, golden color with 1/2 finger of off-white head. Good retention and lace, vigorous carbonation.

S: Tart apple and a bit of lactic funk.

T: Sweet nectar up front, with more of the agave coming through in the middle, then finishing with white wine and oak. Strong vinous character overall. Alcohol pretty well hidden. After a few sips, the malt starts to join in. Little if any hop flavor. A little later, some cider notes come forth. Still later, hints of watermelon?!?

M: Fairly light and quite smooth. Velvety carbonation.

O: This is an interesting beer. I would not categorize this as a BSPA, but then again, not sure what I would call it-- perhaps closer to a saison. It is very sweet and honestly pushes the boundaries of beer altogether. I wouldn't mind having another if I could find it within 100 miles. Yum!

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 01:59:26 | More by AmericanGothic

JayAre46

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a very transpartent golden color with a 1 finger spotty head that sits on top falls to a thin cancerous layer with a thin ring around the edges. im not going to lie im afraid after the big red 77 score popped up, the 12.9 abv and the fact that ive never heard of it, im afraid. the nose is of a clean hot alcohol, very yeasty and fruity. the taste. ah the taste, whats the problem guys? burst of pears comes through immediately, green grapes and more light fruits not much spice, lack of bubble gum bullshit which is great. it finishes very clean and the alcohol is very warming as is goes down the throat. big time white wine influence, it says it was bourbon barrel aged, which you have to really search for and its in the finish for a split section as the brewer just texted me they aged it for a whole week. yeah all seven days! i can't believe it either! the mouth feel is medium the carbonation is there but not prickly at all, its pretty smooth and easy to drink to me. overall this is not a bad brew at all, its not great and i will never drink it again but ill have no problem drinking all 50cl of it. if i would have had it a bit cooler i think i would have enjoyed it even more and it needs more hops to balance the sweetness. probably around 60 degrees because my girlfriend is in my fu#%ING EAR right now as it sits on the table. facepalm, go away. drink it, its good for the heart.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 03:25:21 | More by JayAre46

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

North Coast Grand Cru, 500 ml, Alc./Vol. 12.9% Ale brewed with agave nectar and aged in bourbon barrels.

Hazed, golden/amber-hued, skinny ring of snowy white forage.

Nose: alcohol is smelled first, then tequila…mmm, hmmm. Some oak effects, but not much from bourbon. Beneath, I don't get a whole lot. Some fruity ale esters.

Taste: Hell of a lot going on. Apple. Cider-y. White wine. Citrus zest. Bright lemons and limes. Lean, crisp, and swimming with flavor. Flavors of cactus fruit, definitely.

What's the base beer on this? No word on the label. A new invention, or was another NC brew used? These questions need answers.

Tasty, tasty stuff. Feels like a lighter quadruple, with the extra agave kick. The bourbon barrel aging? Didn't pick much up on that. Maybe the oak helped balance the agave. Not quite as sharp as you'd expect, rather smooth and mellow.
I'm not even feeling the 13% ABV…yet…(famous last words).

This high alcohol brew may doom my night, but it's muy deliciouos, that much cannot be denied. Actually…almost done, and I'm doing fine. Wait, here it comes…

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 06:18:06 | More by feloniousmonk

lonestar4lunch

Texas

4.15/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is one of the most beautiful Belgian pale ales I have ever seen, or beer for that matter. It just looks so damn clean and refreshing, just something about it. It is a light orange that is crystal clear and a light head on top. Aroma is of pear, peaches, yeast and a weak funk. This is deceptively carbonated on the first sip. The taste follows nose with the pears and other light fruits along with some alc warmth. This is very crisp just overall relatively easy to drink. Calling this a Grand Cru allows it to meander thru the Belgian Pale style and back. This is very good and just a bit different to really stand out. In all honesty, after every sip I think this is a lighter version of Avery's Beast. Well dang done.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 01:56:30 | More by lonestar4lunch

KajII

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

[Best served in a Snifter]

The pour was a murky medium golden orange with a large (2-3 finger) white fluffy head that lasted only a short while, reducing to a light film with a large collar and having some good streaky lacing.

The aroma was of a hay malt and a doughy yeast with notes of banana, apple, oak cask, white wine, apricot, agave nectar and a touch of alcohol.

The taste was sweet and a bit acidic with a hint of fruity esters early on and then became rather yeasty and a bit sour with a mild sweet wine undertone and a slight oak alcohol presence at the end. The flavor lingered for a good long while with a nice fruity sour sweet alcohol warming sensation left behind.

Mouthfeel was a little past light in body with a dry oily texture and a fizzy carbonation.

Overall this was a fantastic Strong Ale that had a great fruity presence, which along with the Belgian yeast hid the high ABV very nicely...

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 19:43:37 | More by KajII

charlzm

California

4.08/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Consumed at Blue Palms 3rd Anniversary event in Hollywood, CA.

Exceptionally clear (almost like a pilsener!) with a white head a finger thick.

Delicious smell: mild pepper, sweet pears, melonoidins.

Flavor is complex and unexpected: again pears, juicy white grapes, a dash of wood-style bitterness, a fleeting dash of powdery Belgian yeast. Interesting that I got no bubblegum aroma or flavor, as others who had the same beer from the same keg have noted it.

Mouthfeel is unremarkable: medium bodied with low carbonation.

Absolutely delicious and there is NO TRACE of the nearly 13% alcohol. A real winner.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2011 06:24:20 | More by charlzm

Immortale25

Florida

4.08/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured into a Saint Somewhere wine-style glass. No freshness date.

A- Pours a clean amber color with a ½ inch head that soon dissipates to an 1/8 inch ring around the edge of the glass and a healthy amount of surface foam. Somewhat resilient lacing.

S- Strong white wine immediately comes to mind with very similar effervescent fumes. Alcohol is certainly apparent and bears notes of vinegar.

T- There’s a Belgian character at first followed by the white wine notes. Kind of like a tripel on steroids. Booze makes itself known from beginning to end but doesn’t have an excessive sting or bite. As the palate begins to accommodate, tropical fruit flavors like pineapple and, naturally, white grapes arise.

M- Certainly has a punch to it from the alcohol but, as mentioned above, is easily bearable with slow sips. Medium-high carbonation and a relatively light body.

O- Complex while still not being all over the place. Definitely one that can stand the test of time, but make sure to cellar it properly due to its paleness.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 03:03:02 | More by Immortale25

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: hazy golden. Head is big off white and billowy (to type).
Smell: some sour, some spice, some candy.
Taste: this is better than the nose suggests. I thought from the reviews it would be a pale imitation of Duvel, but IMO it's a damn good amped up version of the style.
Nice and full bubbly carbonation. Amazingly smooth for the 12.9%. Thanks to my best pal for surprising me with this yesterday.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 23:19:32 | More by cindyjeffsmith

DCon

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Shared a 500 ML 1 PT 0.9 FL. OZ. bottle of this brew w/ GeoffTheAleMan from Schnucks in Frontenac, MO for $13.99. Poured from the Golden Bottle that weighs over 5 lbs into a Groupon Pint Glass and does not have a freshness date on the bottle.

Aroma- Has a ton of strength in the aroma. Starts with a huge grape juice and light sour aroma. Not much spice and not much fruit except this fake, Juicy Juice aroma meaning its very sweet and malty.

Appearance- Pours a 3 finger, frothy and dense head that stays for a long time! Has a golden body with good clarity. Leaves good lacing.

Flavor- The tastes going on in this one are very complexed! Can tell there was a strong citrus flavor and then aged in bourbon barrels (slightly). Very fruity and has a nice belgian style finish (Light-Medium). Only a hint of alcohol in here (even though its a close to 13% brew).

Mouthfeel- Medium-Full Bodied, Medium Carbonation, Effervescent, and has a slight alcohol taste on the tongue.

Overall Impression- This was a strong and nicely complexed Grand Cru! I was very excited to buy when it came out but now seeing it in a grocery store, I had to buy. Better than the reviews it got on BeerAdvocate also. I would suggest you getting a 500-750 mL bottle of this but sharing it with a friend. Very intense, strong, and could give you a nice buzz if your first brew of the evening.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 02:52:26 | More by DCon

rarbring

Sweden

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A clear golden brew with small bubbles, a white high head that settles rather quickly, leaving good lacing, and having some curtains.

The smell is sweet and fruity, grapes, vinegar and a whiff of stable.

The taste is sweet, grapes, elderberries, apples, vinegar and white whine.

Medium low carbonation, minimal bubbles, a fresh feeling, a warm and dry finish.

A very nice brew, very well with dinner, read meat.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 20:01:35 | More by rarbring

peacebone116

California

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured the 2011 vintage from 500-mL bottle into a snifter glass on 8-20-11.

A: Light, bright gold. Little head with wisps of lace at the sides and swirling in the middle. There is visible carbonation throughout.

N: Crisp belgian tartness mingles with a bready butterscotch flavor and a slight hint of booze.

T/M: Taste that follows the nose with defined apple tartness. A bit of oak flavor on the finish with a nice warming sensation. Not much of a bourbon flavor. Light carbonation but this seems appropriate for the style, with a light to medium body.

Overall, this is a very nice beer. Good flavors for a barrel-aged quad-style.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 05:08:53 | More by peacebone116

Pencible

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: This poured a hazy gold with moderate white head.
S: It smelled like vanilla and biscuit and wild honey, with some toasted coconut and lemon meringue and crisp apples.
T: It tasted like sweet orange and tart lemon meringue, with metallic hops and wild honey, and a little vanilla and toasted coconut and crisp apple. It had a sweet and tart aftertaste that was fairly hot but clean.
M: It was oily and smooth with fine natural carbonation. Very nice slick body.
D: This was not what I expected, but nevertheless a delicate and unique brew with good scent and taste. Body was excellent, but the finish had quite noticeable alcohol, so it must be sipped. Could probably stand some age, but not super long. A nice brew to try fresh, but not an instant classic (and probably not worth the cost).

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 21:19:29 | More by Pencible

SkeeterHawk

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have only had this beer for a couple months now. I kinda wish that I could let it sit for a couple years before trying it, but I want to know if I should buy some more since it is still pretty available right now. Let's give it a shot, but I am expecting it to be a bit "hot" like the Old Stock normally is when it is this green.

Appearance: Pours a mildly hazy yellow golden color with a solid 1/2" head of fluffy white bubbles after a very slow pour. There are lots of bubbles rising and since the beer isn't too cloudy, you can see that there is a vortex of bubbles rising. The head was >1/2 its height over a minute after the pour. Though the head hangs on forever (unusual for such a strong beer) there isn't a whole lot of lace left after drinking.

Aroma: The initial aroma was rather dry and woody like it was wood aged in a young barrel. There is also already a lot of spiciness present. Dry wood and some wheat notes seem to make their way to the top as the beer sits for a bit. Some mildly floral and herbal hops are starting to come out as the beer warms. The aroma is interesting, but a little weird for a "Grand Cru" whether I am going to judge it from American or Euro standards. It actually smells like it was aged in young American Oak barrels. I am going to have to read up on this one.

Taste: The flavor is bold with a mild medicinal component stemming from the alcohol. It is warming from the begging to the end, no doubt, so it doesn't hide the fact that it is a strong beer. In the finish there are some apricot flavors that I assume are mostly hop derived and rather nice. The flavor is an interesting ride, and every time I go back to it I am getting something different. There is definitely a fruity aspect that is coming out late, which is a little unusual. The beginning of the profile is led by the sweet and mildly toasty malt, but then the spice form the alcohol sets in and leads into the hops in the finish. Strangely, the hops come across more in the flavoring than bittering in the finish, so I guess this indicates how strong this beer actually is. The carbonation is adequate. It may be a bit high, but I think that will serve this beer well as it ages.

Opinion: As I suspected, I am pretty happy with this beer. It has a lot of character and has "age me" written all over it. I need to see if I can get a half-dozen more of these to set back for at least two years to come back and re-visit. Old Stock is one of my favorite beers to cellar, so I am sure that I can make some room for a few bottles of this one beside the OS vertical I am collecting. I would recommend this beer. Now, it is pretty good, but I am pretty confident that it will be outstanding in about 3 years...maybe 5.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 05:26:10 | More by SkeeterHawk

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

$15.95 at a bottle shop. Poured into a snifter. Beautiful soft glow of honey amber. Practically no head, but I can't say that I was springing for much with that big 12.9% ABV rocking here.

Smells of Belgian yeast esters and bourbon. Sweet agave note offers that tequila vibe and some of the citrusy and stone fruit elements from the yeast combines not terribly unlike a margarita. Whiffs of honey, apricot, and golden raisin also contribute.

Kind of sweet, but there's a tasty whiskey note that carries some of the barrel without being too woody. Belgian pale malts and ruffling yeast offer more stone fruits. Hints of citrus conjure up flavors of orange and grape and apricot and golden raisin. More of that honey from the nose. Has a strange imbalance, the way mixing bourbon and tequila into a fruity cocktail would clash. Very interesting how it still retains a lot of Belgian flair. Booziness is kind of big, but not 12.9% big, in my opinion. My girlfriend disagrees, but I think this drinks on the easy side. Carbonation is tuned way down, but that doesn't hurt the feel too much. It's a beastly Belgian Strong Pale, not too much can be done about that. The body has a great full-on mouth-coat. A little tacky and quite condensed. I feel pretty good about sipping on this, even though I might be taking it down a little too fast for my own good.

Very unique BSPA. Maybe the first bourbon barrel-aged version that I've had. Would totally have this again and would be intrigued to try this one aged. Buy one at a good price and give me your take on it.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 03:32:03 | More by thecheapies

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This brew poured out as a very nice sparkling gold color with a pretty nice white head on top. The head has a decent retention but not much lacing at all. The smell of the beer gives off a mix of champagne and bourbon. The aroma is a little sweet and has a big yeasty aroma too. The taste of the beer is a little tart upfront with some elements of vanilla and booze. The aftertaste is soft and light. Very palatable stuff here. The mouthfeel of the beer is light, fairly refreshIng and smooth. It's got plenty of carbonation at first but settles well on the tongue after swallowing. Overall I enjoyed the beer. I can't say that I'd buy it again because of the price tag on it but still it's not a bad brew at all.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 02:36:17 | More by Knapp85