30th Anniversary - Fritz And Ken's Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 25oz high-shouldered brown bottle, corked and caged, with classy label. Cage says 2010; didn't know I'd had it that long. Split with my wife into two Chimay chalices.

Appearance: This pours a pitch black hue, capped with a substantial, thick mocha cap with really nice retention.

Smell: Dark and rich, with a bit of chocolate, lots of dark fruit and molasses, and just a hint of booze. Robust and pleasant, though I'd like a bit more roast.

Taste: Big, bold mix of roast (that I was missing in the aroma), fruity/earthy hops, and a bit of booze. This isn't hot, but it's fair to say that it tastes like 9.2% abv. Lots of dry chocolate malt, a bit of burnt malt, and some dark fruit.

Mouthfeel: Rich and full, quite nice.

Conclusion: After two plus years in the bottle, in admittely not perfect storage conditions, this is quite nice. I generally prefer English-style RISs to their American Double/Imperial couterparts, with a few exceptions. This is one of them. At around $10-12 for the 25oz bottle, this is one that I'd pick up again if it were ever available. Nicely done!

91-92

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 23:47:26 | More by BedetheVenerable

JayQue

Virginia

4.21/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Can't believe I held onto this one so long! The last of my 4 30th Anniversary beers. Poured from a corked and caged bottle into a pint glass. Big light tan head with excellent retention. Dense brown color with only a tiny bit of light at the bottom of the glass. Thick film of tan lacing down the opposite side of the glass from where I tilted it up. A good looking beer.

Nice aroma of toasted malts and a little vinuous (port wine) flavor. Taste is pretty similar, but there is an element of semi sweet chocolate that is missing in the nose. Really flavorful. The aging probably helped.

Mouthfeel is rich and creamy. There is a warming alcohol effect but no alcohol bite (probably because of the aging).

This is a great beer. I drank the whole bottle myelf and enjoued every sip.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 01:06:58 | More by JayQue

Busker

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +17.6%

05-22-2013 12:26:34 | More by Busker

megamass

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-18-2013 05:44:57 | More by megamass

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev 0%

05-15-2013 18:30:00 | More by twenty5

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-09-2013 00:08:17 | More by cadaugherty

GreesyFizeek

New York

4.75/5  rDev +11.8%

04-26-2013 03:53:08 | More by GreesyFizeek

LSx

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

04-25-2013 04:34:09 | More by LSx

chefduff2

New York

4.25/5  rDev 0%

04-21-2013 16:29:44 | More by chefduff2

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -5.9%

04-15-2013 05:56:49 | More by Kelp

DruRho

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev 0%

03-19-2013 00:05:35 | More by DruRho

ficklenicholas

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

03-14-2013 00:47:22 | More by ficklenicholas

jucifer1818

Florida

4/5  rDev -5.9%

02-28-2013 21:29:49 | More by jucifer1818

leprakhan

California

4/5  rDev -5.9%

02-27-2013 09:38:09 | More by leprakhan

emaciated

California

4.25/5  rDev 0%

02-23-2013 05:38:44 | More by emaciated

mecmd

Georgia

4/5  rDev -5.9%

02-18-2013 03:17:57 | More by mecmd

ROBSTARR

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

02-15-2013 15:03:38 | More by ROBSTARR

ste5venla

California

4.25/5  rDev 0%

02-02-2013 21:12:26 | More by ste5venla

DmanGTR

New York

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

01-30-2013 13:37:00 | More by DmanGTR

acurtis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -11.8%

01-27-2013 21:11:32 | More by acurtis

FLBeerGuy

Florida

4.25/5  rDev 0%

01-22-2013 01:57:56 | More by FLBeerGuy

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

4.09/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a corked and caged bottle into a Duvel tulip

A- pours black with a one finger dark brown head. The head is solid and sticks around for a decent bit of time, gorgeous looking beer

S- getting some light char, modest chocolate, solid roast. Not bad, just not overly pronounced

T- nice mix of both sweet and bitter chocolate coming through, with some solid roast and slight char. No heat or booze at all. Overall, pretty tame, but solid

M- pretty big body, very thick. Loving it

O- really solid imperial stout. Doesn't kick you in the face with huge flavors, but just very well-balanced and nice to drink

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 21:38:20 | More by bigfnjoe

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -5.9%

01-19-2013 23:36:53 | More by t0rin0

dcguitar

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

01-17-2013 22:58:20 | More by dcguitar

Budinetz

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +17.6%

01-16-2013 20:24:08 | More by Budinetz