4 Calling Birds - The Bruery

kevanb

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This Belgian style dark ale pours a very dark brown color that borders on black with hints of red when held to the light. The color is unlike most Belgian Style dark ales as the black is so predominant it appears to be more porter or stout like than Belgian. The head is a really thick dense light caramel color that has very nice retention and great lacing. It has a very pleasant holiday aroma, lots of gingerbread and nutmeg spices as well as some darker fruits, reminiscent of plums or dates. The flavors are a bit different, not as spice laden as the nose, a bit darker and less explosive. The gingerbread is certainly apparent, but the dark fruits really show their stuff, but the balance is interesting. The resulting flavor reminds me of tobacco, and not in a bad way. The finish is heavier on the spices and adds that burst to the flavors. The beer does have a really nice smooth body that is a bit creamier than other darker Belgian style ales, which I find adds a nice touch to the holiday spices

Verdict: I found this to be a really interesting and enjoyable beer to drink. Definitely put me in the mood for the holidays, mostly the delicious deserts that the holidays provide. I’ll be interested to see how this beer fares after a year in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 04:02:37 | More by kevanb

beernads

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

05-17-2013 08:03:11 | More by beernads

moonknight31

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

05-14-2013 22:07:54 | More by moonknight31

drlovemd87

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

05-10-2013 16:59:58 | More by drlovemd87

blknikon

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.7%

05-08-2013 19:00:00 | More by blknikon

IPAyForHops

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

05-03-2013 01:01:33 | More by IPAyForHops

Etan

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

750ml into a snifter.

A: Pours a blackish-brown with a small head of coarse light tan bubbles.

S: Charred ginger, heavy all-spice, licorice, dark bread. Smells like a slightly burnt gingerbread cookie.

T: Cola, gingerbread, cinnamon, slightly astringent roasted grain, molasses, warming booze (slightly fusel), dark chocolate, banana-like esters.

M: Thick-bodied with very light carbonation. Very syrupy.

O: Definitely reminiscent of gingerbread, but the roasted malt could be toned down a bit. This beer is just too syrupy, sweet, and spiced to handle more than a few ounces of.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 01:07:21 | More by Etan

CheapBeerBuzz

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

04-17-2013 06:35:48 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

Hugonaut13

Illinois

2/5  rDev -47.6%

04-12-2013 16:42:00 | More by Hugonaut13

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.53/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a solid dark brown with faint garnet highlights at the edges and a huge fluffy tan head that recedes to lace on the sides of the glass. Aroma's of holiday spices, thick caramel and molasses with a slight fruity twang. The spice character for me is quite strong and overpowers most of the nose, but I actually think it is starting to tame a bit from the first time I had this brew. The flavor is sweet and malty up front with lots of thick sugar, caramel, and molasses. The spices and yeasty flavors provide a nice balance midway through before a shot of ethanol hits that I can trace moving down my throat. Sweet lingering sugary gingerbread house sits on the palette like gum drops long after every sip. Thick body with a sweet somewhat syrupy mouthfeel, and a light to moderate level of carbonation. I think I enjoyed this a lot better than when this was fresher, I think the flavors have come together a little bit better. This is no two turtle doves, but I enjoyed sipping on it for a while.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 23:40:49 | More by johnnnniee

gpawned

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

04-03-2013 22:02:39 | More by gpawned

aranton

New York

4/5  rDev +4.7%

03-27-2013 00:55:13 | More by aranton

brheuer

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.7%

03-25-2013 00:28:32 | More by brheuer

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +24.3%

03-24-2013 19:01:22 | More by wisrarebeer

Sparky44

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

03-23-2013 22:29:47 | More by Sparky44

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

03-20-2013 01:03:24 | More by orangesol

DruRho

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +17.8%

03-19-2013 00:56:37 | More by DruRho

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a very dark russet amber with a one finger fine tan head with great retention and lacing. Inviting aroma of molasses, dark fruit, bready malt and cinnamon. Flavor of dark fresh and dried fruit, molasses, nuts, sweet and a touch of toasted malt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Medium bodied with some creaminess. I did not review this fresh, but now it has taken on a mellow, well integrated flavor that is very nice. The spicing is very winter holiday, but done witghh the rit touch. I liked the balance of dark fruit and malts. This Is my favorite so far of this series, and of course I only got one bottle this time. Figures.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 03:30:52 | More by LiquidAmber

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.81/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

The beer is chestnut brown with a thin beige collar. The aroma offers brown bread, yeast, holiday spices, cinnamon. Thinner than I expected. Slightly sweet with notes of molasses, hints of dark fruit. A touch of alcohol in the finish. Lingering bready yeast. Pretty tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 00:53:25 | More by Huhzubendah

wmobley

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

03-15-2013 18:15:36 | More by wmobley

sludgegnome

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

03-10-2013 03:51:54 | More by sludgegnome

Hopbrizio

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

03-08-2013 18:21:40 | More by Hopbrizio

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.7%

03-04-2013 02:42:55 | More by rab53

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

03-01-2013 15:09:57 | More by t0rin0

yamar68

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pretty damn dark for the style - a frothy finger of pale brown head retains well, leaving its mark above and beneath.

Root beer, ginger, birch syrup, caramel spice, molasses, brown sugar... meh...

Tastes like an xmas beer. Figs or dates with some of that root beer and molasses. Belgian yeast buried in here somewhere. Nutmeg... cardamom... shit like that.

I'm all for the long term vertical idea but why not release tried and true cellar beers instead of awkward spiced Belgians - Stone, Bruery, let's do BA stouts or sours or something from now on.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 21:50:26 | More by yamar68