Bestefar - HaandBryggeriet

IPA35

Netherlands

3.99/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled the 17th of February 2012, best before the same date in 2014. From the De Molen webshop. My second Norwegian beer.

A nearly black beer, some brown at the bottom of the glass, with a big brown head that fades quickly.

Smells interesting. An earthy sort of maltiness that reminds me of a British session stout or a schwarzbier like Köstritzer. Molasses for sure, liquorice, (dark fruity almost-) sweetness and a sort of smokiness. Alcohol is noticable.

Taste is interesting too, a bit of a hybrid beer in styles. The flavours are stout like, I do get dark malts, coffee, dark chocolate and all those darker notes. Also smokey, burnt notes as well but I expected it to be more of that. Some sweetness, not overly sweet though and it is not very fruity; the slightly sweet, chocolate-like, roasted malts form the backbone of this beer. Alcohol is pretty well hiden, it add a slight spiciness. The beer as a whole is pretty spicey as well.

The body on this dissapoints, it is a bit light for it's strengt and it is extremely well carbonated. This hampers the flavour experience in my opinion.

Overall a pretty tasty beer that could do with a little less carbonation.

EDIT:

As it sits in the glass (after adding the yeast) the carbonation becomes more toned down so you don't end up with a mouth full of foam and the sweetness comes out more.
It has a slight warming alcohol to it.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 21:06:53 | More by IPA35

rand

California

2.9/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75

From 510 mL bottle to nonic pint glass

Aged about 1 year

I knocked this beer over on my carpet the other day, and some beer escaped the cap, presumably from carb pressure as it was a gentle knock. Thought I'd crack this open and give it a review in case it was on its way to skunkville. Unfortunately, upon the first whiff I thought it might be off, but after reading other reviews I don't think that's it - it's just not that good.

A: Dark brown, soda-like carbonation with a head that dissipates quickly. No lacing to speak of.

S: Carob, molasses, a fair amount of booze. The nose was actually the best aspect and improved as the brew warmed.

T: Toasty, roasty, malts, yielding a burnt residue. Semi-sweet chocolate wrapped up in a phenolic overtone. A little too metallic, which accents the alcohol. Flavors are disjointed and seem to change from sip to sip.

M: Strangely thin mouthfeel, way too carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 04:00:05 | More by rand

bashiba

Iowa

2.6/5  rDev -33%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Poured a deep dark brown with a dark tan head, creamy and long lasting with nice lacing.

The smell has a heavy layer of anise with a light bit of dark cocoa and a touch of smoke.

The flavor starts with a big blast of bitter smokey dark malts leaving a heavy coating of dark roasted bitterness, a bit astringent and almost a bit to burnt tasting. A bit of leathery and slightly sweeter malt starts to eventually sneak through but still can't fight the heavy burnt taste.

The mouthfeel is thick and chewy.

Very one dimensional, I love smokey and burnt flavors normally, but this one is a bit too much.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 23:45:16 | More by bashiba

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.75

From: John's Grocery, Iowa City, IA
Date: None (batch 384)
Glass: Tulip

Haand's Bestefar is a good tasting and smelling stout-like beer that's a bit rough around the edges (appearance and feel) and demonstrates how important an appropriate mouthfeel is to the overall enjoyment of an ale or lager. The focus is on roasted, chocolate, and smoked malts, combining to give a more assertive stout-like flavor to the beer than what seems to be this one's relative, Nissefar. In general, solid enough to try once, but not sure I'd revisit given the ready availability of equally delicious stouts/porters at a more affordable price point.

Pours a 2.5cm tall head of dark tan foam, composed of medium and large-sized bubbles, which is unexpectedly effervescent as it rapidly burns down the glass. Retention is obviously below average, lasting less than a minute in its decline. Lacing is also fairly minimal, a few lines and dots haphazardly adorning the inside of the glass. The body is colored a very dark brown, light bringing out lighter orange-brown hues around the edges of the body. Carbonation is not visible through the opaque body.

Aroma is of roasted malt, dark chocolate, black licorice, roasted coffee beans, smoked malt, and ethanol, all smoothed-over by a touch of cream. The licorice and ethanol components make this a bit harsh, but the cream-like bit manages to tame them somewhat.

Front of palate finds semi-sweet chocolate with roasted and smoked malt components. This blends into a mid-palate mixture of roasted malt, dark chocolate, hints of smoke, slight prune and raisin-like esters, and faint roasted coffee beans. The malts are definitely in the caramel, chocolate, and roasted categories. The back of the palate notes roasted malt, dark chocolate mousse, modest vanilla and ethanol. Aftertaste is of smoked and lightly roasted malt, without significant chocolate or coffee components; the result is fairly delicious.

The beer is medium to medium-light in body, with aggressive, vigorous carbonation. The two are not well suited to each other, and the beer feels prickly and overly carbonated as a result. Though the carbonation foams the beer upon the palate, this happens too quickly, and substantial carbonation still remains, "burning" the palate. Ethanol can be marginally felt on the throat. Closes dry and with modest stickiness remaining on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 06:04:20 | More by falloutsnow

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

awesome beer, kind of style defying. pours like a real dark chocolate milk, creamy and rich, brown but not super dense, few fingers of bubbly dark brown lace. the nose is quite smokey to my surprise, and also heavily clad with notes of licorice and heavily toasted malt. almost comes off like a smoked porter, but its more woody and earthy and grandfatherly than that. flavor is big and unique, feels scandinavian to me in every way. its got some dark chocolate flavor, but almost no sweetness at all, its smokey, but quick, its also real tame for 9% abv, i cant hardly taste it at all. there is something holiday about this, but this is a whole new take on a winter warmer. there is no spice, no molassas, no honey, no candy sugar, its just a really nice fireside bottle of dark dark organic feeling beer that id be happy to drink around the calendar. a little thin in mouthfeel for a winter warmer, even though this is nothing like american warmers, id still like a little more body. carbonation is nice though and the finish is smooth and rich, yet drinkable too. the yeast puzzles me, as does the image on the bottle, but this was a really complex and gourmet beer without some of the frills usually associated with the style. i loved it.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 19:15:57 | More by StonedTrippin

CHADMC3

Connecticut

4.06/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 447

Pours a really deep, rich mahogany body beneath the creamy, dark tan head which very slowly dissolves to leave a consistent ring of lacing around the glass.

Great aromas rise from the glass including brown sugar, sweet nuttiness, hints of spice, and sweet malt.

The flavor offers sweet brown sugar and nuts as well as toffee and perhaps a hint of butterscotch with just a hint of winter spice. There may even be a touch of maple.

This is a pretty full bodied brew with medium carbonation and a coating, syrupy finish. An enormous mound of yeast is left at the bottom of the bottle after the pour.

This is a great winter ale and unique versus its counterparts in that it has eased off the spices and pulled more towards a hearty brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 01:24:37 | More by CHADMC3

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a dark clear brown color ale with a large foamy head with OK retention and some lacing. Aroma of dry fruits with some light residual sugar notes is quite nice. Taste is a nice mix between some dry fruits with some residual sugar notes and some caramel and light toffee notes. Light chocolate notes could also be detected. Body was about average with good carbonation and well hidden alcohol. Well made and quite enjoyable beer for those colder winter days.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 20:09:31 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Man, that dude on the bottle has an epic beard! If the beer inside this bottle, doesn't measure up the image on the label, then the'll re consequences and repercussions!

Aah, the pour looks promising as a deep mossy brown beer flows into the snifter with a heavy handed porter-like visual weight. Any darker, and the beer would be stout black. A creamy whipped froth builds upon the beer with sandy-tan froth, showing tremendous staying power, billowing growth, and sticky lace. Though its color speaks porter, the turbulent carbonation cries Belgian.

Strong smoky sweet scents of toast, chocolate, coffee, and campfire churn in the nose with a decorative bouquet of lavender, clove, rosemary, spruce, and peppery cinnamon. The strong malt presence keeps the beer's aromas grounded and keeps the focus on more beer-like characteristics with the spices adding a side note of intrigue.

Rich tawny flavors spear off in a lot of different directions. Starting off with a base taste that's reminescent of chocolaty porters, coffeeish stout, smoky Scottish ales, and nutty brown ales. The malty sweetness is sliced by a piercing tinge of berry-like tartness much like darker Belgian ales do. Light vinous acidity, peppercorn, and mild toast char pave the way for the perfumy taste of spices to rise in finish. All those aromatic compounds come to life in taste where the rosy, flowery, holiday spices to balance the taste in the timid presence of woodish hops.

Its moussey textures are an attribute to the deeply embedded carbonation into the malt compounds for a very creamy and starchy upstart. The beer lightens considerably as the acidic notes are felt with spring of carbonation off of the tongue. A late palate of fruit, spice, and tannin close the beer with a lingering taste of bittersweet chocolate and blackberry.

Bestafar is spectacular "winter warmer" that agrees with malt heavy trends for this time of year, but refuses to succumb to the syrupy sweet taste that lull many brewers during the holiday season.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 17:57:17 | More by BEERchitect

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 384

Pours mahogany with 4 fingers of fluffy mocha colored head. Good head retention & above average head retention

S: Smokeyness, dark fruit both fade a bit as this warms

T: Follows the nose, carob & black currants up front, also some bozzeyness & dryness. Chocolatey notes as this warms, a touch of pineyness & woody hops, plus figgyness & slight boozeyness. Dark fruitty finish with woody dryness, along with a bit of brown sugar & a touch of booze warmth. Almost pulled a 4.5

MF: Chewy, low carbonation, turns fairly creamy as this warms

This is a pretty heavy hitter, a bit pricey, but well worth a try

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 01:46:31 | More by russpowell

Mora2000

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a dark brown color with an off-white head. The aroma has quite a bit of menthol in it, as well as some roasted malt. The beer smells a bit like mouthwash. The flavor has a lot of mint and chocolate notes, as well as some roasted malt and a touch of alcohol. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 03:49:07 | More by Mora2000

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On a miserably wintry day in Sydney, I thought this was a suitable beer.

Pours a pleasant deep, deep ruby-black colour, with a fizzling and frothy head of pale brown. Body is really surprisingly light given the size of the beer itself. Looks pretty decent.

Nose is bright and extremely vinous, giving off direct characters of red wine cork and a little oak barrel. Spicy and a little fruity, with some musty tannic qualities coming through as well. There's a touch more sweetness than you'd get in say a big, aged Shiraz, and a hint of roast to it, but otherwise it's remarkably similar. Perhaps slightly lacking in complexity, but otherwise good.

Taste is much different, with a bold, roasted smoothness and a smoky back palate, which lends a comforting if somewhat unusual edge to the beer. Feel is a little light, but leaves a smoothness that mingles with the oak and smoke characters. On the back there is a touch of astringency, and a hint of heat to it, which detracts from the drinkability overall.

Overall, a very decent beer, but one I feel perhaps just lacks a little of Haand's usual esoteric charm. There are some interesting parts to it, but it doesn't draw you in and take you deeper what's there on the surface.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 07:06:18 | More by lacqueredmouse

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big roasted malt aroma. Very dark brown pour, with a small white head surviving. Richer sipping taste as warmed, easier drinking before room temperature reached. Good drinkability. Very silky smooth mouthfeel of chocolate and roasted malt, not much in the way of spices. Bottled August 2010 and aged well, with appropriate carbonation right there.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 05:12:24 | More by northyorksammy

danieelol

Australia

4.3/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black but with a thin looking body and a big substantial fizzy head. Head dies to nothing quickly (it gets reinvigorated with a refill).

Smell is very lightly smoked chocolate. Very, very chocolatey. Berry/quince notes which remind me of Redoak's (infected) Christmas Cheer. There is also a nice, fresh combination of milk and green apple underlying this. I cannot work out if this is imparted by yeast or hop. I also get some "coffee stout" in the nose, think Peche Mortel. Guessing this has coffee in it. There's also a cola/spicy element. Definite brandy and christmas cake notes. Finally a vinous, cherry character which thankfully cuts off before it gets to vinegar or "Flanders Red" levels. Also some almond and alcohol notes.

Taste is straight off prosciutto and parmesan. Definitely pick up smoked malt in this, although it's not overbearing. Definitely get some spicy bitterness from (I think) both roast malt and hops. Also get some very subtle and enjoyable alcohol on the back palate. These factors limit the beer to a sipper but also prevent it becoming cloying. There's also definite coffee in the taste.

While it looked thin, in the mouth the body feels about medium, because there is substantial residual sugar. You can taste the sugar but the roast and alcohol does keep it in check. Very high carb, particularly for the style and ABV. Works though.

Overall this is actually very good. Good candidate for busting out at a tasting. A 500mL bottle to oneself may be a bit ambitious but I think it has the complexity to keep you till the end. This is the sort of beer which I can see as being extremely in-demand if it happened to be limited release. Almost tastes like it's come out of a barrel already. Edit: Yes, personally I couldn't finish a whole bottle in a single session. Definitely recommended for sharing.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 07:34:26 | More by danieelol

BierStein711

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into pint glass

This is my second winter warmer. I have come to the conclusion that this style is not for me.

A: Looks good, like root beer but with a foam that looks more alive. Two finger dark soda head, this in turn crowns a jet black beer.

S: Cherries, malts, chocolate, coffee, and wood

T: Cherries and dark fruits

M: Chewy

Overall, I can't have this style of beer it seems. If you are into cherries go for it. I was expecting something of a stout, but I was completely disappointed. I won't have this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 19:28:19 | More by BierStein711

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled at a random Monday night tasting at Julio's.

A - Poured a deep brown slightly hazy hue with a nice, fat light tan head that faded rather quickly to leave minimal side lacing.

S - Smell is nice, fair amount of candi malts and fruits (cherries), along with some slight smoke. Would be nice in front of a fire.

T - Taste is rather similar to the nose, with lots of those dark fruits, roasted malts and chocolate. Theres a bit of alcohol on the back end.

M - Mouthfeel is a bit thin for me for a winter warmer with a tad too much carbonation.

O - Overall this isnt a bad offering from HaandBryggeriet. A bit too pricey for me but not a bad beer especially for a winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 22:20:00 | More by rudzud

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Batch 384.

Pours a dark chestnut brown color that appears black in the glass with a frothy, two finger beige head that slowly fades into a lasting ring. Spotty lacing left behind.

Spicy aroma with some smokey, roasted malt and dark fruit notes. Hints of pepper, juniper and licorice along with some toasted oak and deeply roasted dark malt.

Medium bodied and slightly oxidized with heavy carbonation that mellows out as I work through the bottle. Very dry and roasted with lots of dark malt flavor and wintry spices. Hints of burnt toast, smoke, coffee bean, dark chocolate and oatmeal along with some peppery spice and sweet fruit. Sweet hints of juniper, cranberry and dark cherry as well as some anise/licorice. The high ABV is well masked with no heat to speak of. As it warms the malts become more prominent but the tart fruit and spice notes are still there. A decent winter porter but not something I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 00:06:41 | More by corby112

beergoot

Colorado

4.13/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Black body; tan, thick head

Smell: Licorice. Sweet, prune and apricot.

Taste: Thick and chewy. Strong dark malt flavors. Alcohol warmth pretty noticeable (not a bad thing, but definitely a strong beer!).

Mouthfeel: Full and smooth.

Overall: This is a strong, robust northern European beer. Sweet, heavy fruitiness stands out. Alcohol strength/warmth is definitely noticeable. Strictly for lovers of strong, dark beers. Something different. In a good way. Count me in...!!

Bought this one partially because of the bearded gent on the label, mostly because I've generally enjoyed the boldness of northern European dark brews over the years.

Bottled August 03, 2010.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 01:39:36 | More by beergoot

kojevergas

California

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1 pint .9 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into De Molen stemware in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are very high; I love the style and country.

A: Pours a three finger head of fair cream, nice thickness, and good retention. Colour is a nontransparent solid black. Appealing - generally.

Sm: Musty chocolate, cream, nuts, bourbon, and light vanilla. Bourbon?

T: Bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, cream, and nuts. Fairly complex but far from amazing. I do like it but it's not exemplary. Flavorful but not exemplary. Good nut bot exceptional.

Mf: Smooth and wet, but dry and coarse enough to suit its demands, if that makes sense. Not too thick or thin. Suits the flavours generally.

Dr: Drinkable enough, and in the service of the flavours. Flavorful indeed, but inherently lacking. Not up to par per the quality. Good but over-indulgent.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 09:14:26 | More by kojevergas

dansmcd

Australia

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Huge, tan, foamy head fizzes away above a dark molasses body with golden edges adorned with big particles of sediment. Minimal lacing.

S - Smoke, yeast and cherry. Some boozy heat.

T - Coffee and dark bitter chocolate. Roasted malts and smokiness.

M - A touch thin for my liking, highly carbonated with a dry finish.

O - Yep, a top wintery ale. Perfect for a cold, rainy evening in front of the telly.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 06:56:58 | More by dansmcd

match1112

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a: two fingers of a dirty tan head sit atop a deep dark brown body.

s: smoke, dark candied fruits, general sweetness.

t: tasted like someone threw fruits still attached to the tree and smoked the whole thing at once, then tried to cover it up with more tree sap/ molasses.

m: good carbonation with a full body and a long burnt bitter finish.

o: truly disgusted by this beer, had to drain pour half of the bottle. if all winter warmers taste like this i dont think i will try many more.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 21:28:29 | More by match1112

Auror

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled in August of 2010, so this has been cellared for a year and a half or so. Had one of the same batch last year, so looking forward to seeing what happened to this.

Pours great and looks like an imperial stout. Dark brown almost black with a tan-ish head (hues of orange/amber in the head). OK lacing, with a 1/4in head that persists for a while.

The aroma is very fruity. Cherries, maybe some figs, very fragrant. Very slight chocolate hint too.

The taste is surprisingly similar to the nose. I remember more subtle flavors dominated by winter spices and malt last year, but this is all dark fruit, the same that I smelled in the nose, first and foremost. A little bitterness on the tip of the tongue and sides of the mouth, but not at the same levels of a stout. I picked out some more coffee as the beer warmed a bit. 1.5 years in, this actually reminds me more of a Belgian Strong Dark Ale than a Winter Warmer. There was a little alcohol at the end, as the beer did start at 9%.

The mouthfeel was nice. Full but not oily. The carbonation was still a good level and not faded.

Overall, this is a different beer than the one I remember, but very good. From how it held up, I could see it holding it up well for a while. That dark fruit flavor was striking.

Update:
Tried this same batch for the 3rd year in a row. This bottle had more spice presence. It balanced the dark fruit nicely. Flavors of anise and mint balanced the cherries. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 19:55:20 | More by Auror

redleaves

Maine

4.88/5  rDev +25.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Almost a year old. Creamy head, more than you would think with the age. Pitch black. Nice nose, roasty molasses and malty. Very roasty flavor, more molasses nice maltiness. Very full flavor nice carbonation. Dark fruits, cherries and plums. Once again more than expected. This beer would go a few more years and cut out the bite, but I don't think I want that. There is nice bitter at the end a dries slowly. Very complex. Wow unbelievable beer, I could drink this all night, awfully pricey but worth it. 2nd best winter warmer I've had.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 02:52:46 | More by redleaves

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

4.6/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle 9,0% Abv.
Served chilled in a tulip wine glass.
Batch 1 bottled 03/08/2010 *Note: this is the batch prior to the one pictured above - this bottle has a white label with a small picture.

I bought this beer because Hans Langseth is on the bottle - he is my idol - I would love to have his beard!!! I hope the beer lives up to the awesomeness of the man on the bottle!

Appearance: Wow, this looks like an imperial stout - pitch black body, topped by a massive, creamy, light mocha coloured head that displays great retention, but doesn't leave much in the way of lace. Light alcohol legs are visible on the glass.

Smell: Wow, I could smell this from the minute I cracked the cap. The initial aroma reminds me of mint laced dark chocolate!
A few more sniffs reveal one of the most complex noses I have encountered. I have no idea where to start.
It almost seems like every sniff yields something completely different.
Some of the most prominent notes include spruce, juniper, wild sage, mint, fresh coriander and strong spices (nutmeg and crystallized ginger). The base notes are dark chocolate, dark fruit (cherries and plums), dark caramel, peated malt, smoke and lots of molasses. As the beer warms the Imperial stout notes become stronger and some vanilla and oak character is also noted.

Taste: As with the nose, this is one of the most complex flavours I have come across. Deeply roasted malt, dark fruits and dark chocolate are overlaid with juniper, spruce, mint, nutmeg and an array of other spices. Wood, molasses, dark toffee, peat and smoke are also noted as the beer warms.

Mouthfeel: Full, slightly sticky body with velvety smooth carbonation - I could just gulp this stuff down!

Overall: Stunning! One of the most interesting and complex beers I have come across. If I ever see another bottle I will most certainly buy it.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 13:44:29 | More by Thehuntmaster

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

3.55/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

thanks to the many BAs who sent me this one. bottled 13 months ago, 2160 bottles.

A- Big dark dark brown body and a billowing big earthy brown head. Really good staying power and pretty heavy lacing. Nice in the glass.

S- Lots of molasses, kind of hard to pick out much else.

T- Lots of heavy sweet malt, briny, smoky, and sweet. Pine and juniper. Birch root and vanilla, orange peel too... hodgepodge of flavors. Interesting.

M- Thick, heavy, moderate but fitting carbonation.

O- Weird, but it grew on me. Flavor profile is very unique and uncompromising. Once it settles on the tongue/coats the mouth it tastes much better and softens a bit. Kind of reminds me of Bell's eccentric ale 2009 with a bit of smoke.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 01:47:55 | More by ShogoKawada

dgilks

Australia

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very dark brown colour with a smooth, creamy tan head. Very good head retention. No lacing.

Strange combination of tartness, roast and herbs. Mildly fruity and smoky. A strange combination that works oddly enough.

Slightly sweet malt with some nice fruity character. Mild acrid roast on the palate and some tartness. Good.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Decent.

A nicely crafted ale with a unique flavour profile. Good tart fruit profile which complements the roasty, dark malt profile.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 09:19:45 | More by dgilks