Figgy Pudding - Block 15 Brewery & Restaurant

billshmeinke

California

4.18/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reiew from notes:

Murky brown color. Ring of foam around the edge of the glass. No lacing, some legs that recede into the glass after being swirled. 3
Smells of candied dried fruits. Some buttery brandy, touch of vanilla oak, hints of alcohol. The fig candied dried fruits steal the show in the nose. 4
The taste follows nose, but much more barrel butter brandy notes than in the nose. I almost get a touch of pineapple as well (brett?) 4.5
The mouthfeel is smooth creamy and finishes dry though it has a round and sweet body mid palate. 4
A challenging and tasty beer. Quite nice. 4

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 21:47:18 | More by billshmeinke

djbreezy

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this one at Belmont Station in Portland, OR.

appearance - dark cherry and brown in appearance, short white head, streaks of lacing

smell - spice, fig, brandy

taste - fig and brandy intertwined with aromatic spices, very complex

mouthfeel - medium/full bodied, quite warm

drinkability - such a complex feat of delicious brew, a sipper's beer

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2010 18:25:57 | More by djbreezy

kscaldef

Oregon

4.23/5  rDev +6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Counter-pressure growler filled 2 days ago

A: Chestnut colored, slightly cloudy. Not much head.

S: Even straight from the fridge, this is pretty intense with figs, brown sugar, cake-y malt, and gingerbread.

T: Taste follows up the smell with Christmas spices and molasses, moderate sweetness, and a hint of bitter chocolate on the tail end.

M: Low carbonation, but enough.

O: Maybe the best vintage of this beer yet -- definitely better than last year -- and a pity that they weren't able to bottle any this time around.

Serving type: growler

11-20-2012 03:17:32 | More by kscaldef

squaremile

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Lucky to try this elusive brew. Pours a ruby/dark brown, head stays around the edge with no lacing. Smell is vanilla, figs, tobacco, and booze. Taste is excellent. Figs, apricot, vanilla, maple syrup, and leather dominate, with some alcohol bite and mild bitterness to balance an enduring sweetness. The mouthfeel is where this shines, exceptional medium body and smoothness. Drinkability is good with the booziness and the abv preventing more consumption. I would love to have a bottle of this aged. The best Block 15 beer I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2010 03:37:48 | More by squaremile

robbrandes

Oregon

4.4/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml poured into a tulip.

pours a hazy deep brown, amber hints. minimal, tan head, recedes to a thin film. nose is dark fruit, plenty of woodsy-brandy, just a whiff of spice.
taste - big malts upfront, the figs come through in perfect balance with the warm alcohol. reminds me of a well-done belgian dark.

i'm always nervous about spiced beers, but this is exceptionally well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 05:34:24 | More by robbrandes

bbb099

California

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a deep mahogany brown color. Nice and foamy mocha-colored head.

S - Sweet and fruity aroma. Figs, molasses, and toffee.

T - Syrupy sweet taste of dark fruits. A little amount of bourbon and licorice.

M - Small amount of carbonation, medium to full bodied.

O - Incredibly sweet beer. Great taste for the high amount of abv.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 01:55:51 | More by bbb099

mjyoung

California

3.93/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to bbb099. Split w/ scottfrie and bbb099

A: Pours a dark brown with a thin off-white head.

S: Whoa. Sweet sweet beer. A lot of molasses and dark fruit. There may be a bit of spice there as well (cinnamon?) but not getting too much of it. A tad too sweet for me, but other than that it was good.

T: Molasses and dark fruit, which I'm presuming are the figs. Quite good, but a little overwhelmingly malty for me.

M: Syrupy but with appropriate carb. Nothing special, but good.

O: Good, but it caught me a bit off guard.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 01:52:30 | More by mjyoung

RocPorterFanatic

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours dark red, almost like craberry juice when held to the light. Alot of off white sticky head, almost 3 fingers worth.

S - Caramel, charred figs, burnt marshmallow.

T - Sticky sweet with marshmallow and fig all up front. A brandy like alcohol warmth is very present and complements the beer nicely. Sugary sweetness chases the beer down the palate as I swallow.

M - Cloying sweetness broken up by ginger ale/Champagne like carbonation.

O - Perfect beer for the holiday season. Might need to stock up on this one. I'm afraid of what would happen once the alcohol and carbonation were to fade. This beer would become a sticky mess.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 21:38:27 | More by RocPorterFanatic

MBrausen

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Dougofthefuture for holding this tasting!

Poured from a bomber into a snifter.

A. Pours a deep red pearl, very rich color, has a 3mm foam. Even after sitting for a few minutes, it retained a nice thick head.

S. Smells of toffee, chocolate, sugary and fruit

T. Tastes of light toffee, a chocolatey sugar, very noticable lactose, a strong overtone of figs, and almost no taste of the brandy barrel.

M. Medium-thin body, wet initially, with a wet finish that is slightly dry

O. A okay beer, nothing mind blowing or impressive. I really wish you could taste the barrel or the brandy. There was no hint of being a BA beer. A simple, thin beer, just not what you would expect. Something I would try if it was sitting around, but not something I would ever go out of my way to trade for.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 06:33:18 | More by MBrausen

oregone

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Side by side draft comparison of 2010 to 2011.

Note: I have high hopes (and expect) that some of the currently stronger spice notes, predominantly cinnamon, in the '11 will mellow with some time leaving the greater fruit presence in that year to shine as it does, albeit to a lesser extent, in the '10.

A: '11 visibly darker and running towards molasses
'10: Caramel or dark honey. Good clarity.
Both pour with a solid finger+ of creamy off-white head that recedes to persistent broken tufts of cloudy foam. Excellent lacing.

S: '11: Cinnamon and baking spice up front with a big push of candied fruit and fig preserves. Light hint of alcohol enhances the spiciness. Some rich oak/vanilla notes apparent.
'10: Subdued spiciness from cinnamon and nutmeg with a lift again from the light alcohol note. Fruit is less caramelized/preserved and more simply along the lies of 'ripe.' Malt backbone more apparent in a reticent bready character. Hints of spicy barrel treatment.

T: '11: Spicy up front. Cinnamon dominant with a light sharpness balanced by the strong fruit again. Buckwheat honey, dried fig, very dark caramel or molasses, and some brandy-soaked raisin apparent. Soft oaken notes with hints of vanilla again.
'10: Subtle spice. More along a vague hint of pumpkin pie spice than anything distinctive. Ripe to over-ripe figs, some dark caramel, hints again of a dark honey. Golden raisin and some molasses..

M: '11: Moderately viscous with a good medium/full body. Carbonation is more creamy in appreciation than crisp. Very smooth, and stears away from sticky in favor of rich.
'10: Very similar.

O: I found the current spiciness of the '11 to detract from the experience to some extent, as did some others in our group. However, others next to us, including brewery/pub staff seemed to disagree. Obviously tolerance of it is a matter of taste largely. There is a very nice richer fruit and altogether 'darker' fruit and caramel character to the '11 that bodes well for it's development. Not having had the '10 at the time of it's release, I can't say whether they both will follow similar evolutionary paths in regards to the spice, but they are quite visibly different beers otherwise.
I've averaged my impressions for the two, and if reviewing the '10 alone would have given a higher score, but again, my expectation is that the '11 will evolve nicely and ultimately end up as the better brew. I hope. ;)

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2011 08:38:46 | More by oregone

nmbr0ne

Florida

3.93/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into snifter from bottle.

Appearance: Mahogany color with a lot of creamy, off-white head. Excellent amount of lacing as well.

Smell: Smells pretty spicy including hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Doesn't smell a lot like brandy. Smells sweet with fruits dipped in caramel. There was also a strong metallic smell that went away while the beer sat for a little bit. The metallic smell was very off-putting.

Taste: Pretty sweet with not a lot of brandy present from the barrels. Fruity flavor overall.

Mouthfeel: Excellent amount of carbonation. Light to medium-bodied. Has drinkability, but definitely not a lawn-mower beer. I still consider it a dessert beer, but not as delicious as I expected.

Overall: Really nice strong ale, but I can't help but feel a little disappointed about the weak brandy presence.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 03:19:12 | More by nmbr0ne

corylew

Oregon

4.47/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had the '11 on tap

Pours muddy brown with a thin tan head that forms into a ring around the tulip glass halfway down.

Smells fruity with a malty toasty nose that swims amongst molasses and spice.

Tastes malty foremost. Lots of spice and fruit characteristics. A slight sweetness but only in a flavor aspects not in density.

Mouthfeel follows Belgian guidelines. Spritzy.

Overall this beer was a crowd favorite. Packed with flavor yet light. Absolutely wonderful.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2011 03:43:22 | More by corylew

Siggy125

California

3.53/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks oregone for this one.
2010 vintage poured form its 750ml bottle, shared with a group of buddies while doing a Christmas and winter warmer bottle share.

Mirky caramel brown in color, almost no carbonation, maybe a few lonely bubbles.

Smells of dried fruits, mainly figs, baking spices and a subtle brandy booziness on the nose. Pleasand aromas.

The palate presence very similar to the nose but the figs and heavy malt sweetness are very prominent. Flavors of fruitcake, cookie dough and brandy follow. The abv is noticeable but not as heavy as the abv may indicate.

This is a very unique brew and serves well as a winter warmer on the right occasion. Not sure it lived up to the hype for me but very glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 20:55:48 | More by Siggy125

Gobigvt7

Oregon

5/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Part of 8-Tap Block 15 Takeover (+Imagine, 2 years of Pappy's Dark, Caves Saison, Pale Ale, Super Nebula, and La Ferme De Demons) 12oz tulip at The Hop & Vine (Portland, OR)

Pours a gorgeous figgy (go figg-ure) brown, chestnut around the curves. Fine frothy head, reduces fairly quickly to a thin, off-white cap.

Sweet caramels on the nose, raisin, plum, bread. Faint cinnamon, allspice. Hops a non-player.

Wow. Wow. This tastes SO good. Exactly like a dark raisin bread, dessertlike and rich. Sugared dates, cinnamon and a little barrelly nougat. I could drink this every day of my life and die happy.

11% but hides it well. Tastes like cake but, somehow, not cloying. Big, robust body but not filling. I should have let this warm up (i'd drink this hot in a mug in a heartbeat) but didn't have the patience. Strong carbonation from first to last.

We're edging up on hyperbole here, but I freaking love this beer. The 5 I'm about to give it puts all the recent 4.5's I've rated to shame, and that includes Pliny the Younger. I wish I could afford to drown in it. Please, mommy, can I?

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2012 00:36:43 | More by Gobigvt7

boMD

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

8oz pour at The Hop & Vine. As far as I know, one of the only, if not only few kegs to hit Portland.

Poured hazy/cloudy amber-honey with a thin white head that kept a consistent ring around the edge of the glass.

Nose was bready, well spiced, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and light fruits. The initial flavors started out malty, very sweet, toasty and nutty, but really turned boozy and hot towards the finish. Definitely a brandy kick to it. One to two years would do wonders for this brew. Other notes of vanilla, apples, bitter-sweet molasses, and ripe fruits. The yeast played like champagne, creating a very dry finish and a bit of carbonation on the tongue.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2010 17:41:53 | More by boMD

dwaz

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Robbrandes for sending this, 2011 vintage.

A: Pours a dark reddish brown with small white head

S: Strong smell of sweet cherry and figs with slight whiff of brandy that becomes more pronounced as the beer warms

T: Just like the smell, strong taste of sweet cherry and figs upfront with a nice brandy flavor on the back end, a nice sipper. Didn't really pick up any cinnamon or nutmeg flavors

M: Medium carbonation and body

O: A really nice treat for Xmas morning, gave to my wife as a present and she wanted to open it immediately. Fortunately for me, she shared the bottle and it didn't disappoint, great Christmas beer. Again, thanks Rob for making this happen.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 18:27:29 | More by dwaz