4 Calling Birds - The Bruery

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

750ml bottle - $10.49 at Olde Crabapple Bottle Shoppe in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours out a very dark brown, roasted walnut-toned body with a medium-sized, khaki-colored head.

Smell: Roast and a heavy scent of toasted pumpernickel bread dosed with star anise, burnt almonds, fennel seed, and ground mace. And a further hint like they snuck in a small splash of Jäger. For a second, it makes me think of a bigger, emboldened Anchor OSA at an exorbitant cost.

Taste: Sweetish roasted malts, toasted malts, and with an unforgiving, and good on it dark breadiness all the while. Slight bitterish chocolate. As with the nose, it's got me thinking of that perennial favorite, Anchor Christmas ale, just decidedly bigger and with a noticed Belgian kick to it. Rich blend of spice character pairing with some slight dark fruits and larger touch of bruised, brown bananas. Picks up some black pepper alongside the heated, belly-warming alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium carbonation. Smooth mouthfeel.

Overall: Pumpergingernana bread! Would prefer a little less heat and a little more carbonation to keep things moving along, but 4CB is fairly decent all around. As it is, it's a beer that has me ready for a looonng winter's nap.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 19:24:09 | More by ChainGangGuy

mltobin

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in Putnam County, NY.

Appearance is dark brown, a very small head. Its` nose nutmeg, cinnamon, raisin and cloves. 4 CB tastes of some roasted malts, along with more of those winter spices. Mouthfeel is rich, booze certainly hit in the finish. A good strong dark ale, but not placing it in the top section of this category. Curious to see how the bottles of this age.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2012 02:26:13 | More by mltobin

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The Bruery 4 Calling Birds, Dark Ale Brewed With Spices. Alc 11% by Vol.
"The fourth verse of our "Twelve Beers of Christmas" saga incorporates gingerbread-like spice into a a rich and robust dark ale. Happy Holidays!"

wait, there's more! "4 Calling Birds is suitable for aging up to eight years (soon after the release of Twelve Drummers Drumming") when cellared properly…and blah, blah, blah…I'm not waiting 8 years, I'm drinking it now. Eight years. Never done that. Maybe someday. But, not now.

Pours a dark brown, with a bustling tan head that zips down to nada in no time.

Nicely spiced aromatics, some cinnamon, clove, ginger a little. Okay, maybe a lot. With sweet malt, lightly roasted, below. Lovely, lovely stuff.

Tasting it, spice notes rank highest on the palate, ring loudest, and start out hot. Fairly bristling in the mouth, some pepper playing around, clove ginger, etc. Solid malt holds steady below. Mighty malt, thick in the mouth, turning cool and mellow. Mmmm, I'm liking this one better. Seeming one-dimensional and blase at first, it's growing in complexity now. Not quite as rich as an Imperial Stout, but lots of molasses, dark rum, cocoa. Malt and spice mix well, now.

Alcohol is hidden for the time being, but it won't be long before it comes ring-ding-dinging on down. …yep, it's happening. We're down to the last couple ounces, and the clanging chimes of doom are ringing.

Beautiful birds, these, dark and spicy. Very satisfying. Not sure if I could, or would…or anyone should, sit on this for eight years. Go for it, though, guys. Sit on it like hens. Wait, that was the last one, right?

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 09:56:27 | More by feloniousmonk

Drinkerofales

California

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown with red highlights. The light brown head is small and bubbly and dissipates rather quickly.

Smell is dark spice bread, molasses, and booze.

Taste is big spice, clove, allspice, brown sugar, roasted malt, and alcohol.

The medium body is bubbly and has an alcoholic burn. Definitely a sipper.

My first Breuery experience, bold and strong, I definitely liked the huge spice flavor. Though there is a big alcohol aspect, it doesn't feel like the 11% that it is...

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 03:07:24 | More by Drinkerofales

UCLABrewN84

California

3.8/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at The Bruery Provisions in Orange, CA.

Pours a clear dark reddish brown with a khaki head that fades to a film on the top of the beer. Small dots of lace slide back down into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of malt, dark fruits, and some spice aromas. Taste is of malt, dark fruits, and the spices with ginger coming out as a main flavor. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a prickly mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with lots of spices. Nothing too great though.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2012 21:09:28 | More by UCLABrewN84

Heatwave33

Florida

3.7/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle to my custom Duffy Pint Glass.

Color: Black with a brown head.

Smell: Allspice, Ginger, caramel malts, coffee, sugar and pine.

Taste: Caramel malts, Ginger, allspice, coffee, pine and sugar.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation, coarse and dry.

Overall: reminds me a little bit of a Gingerbread cookie. They definitely captured a little bit of Christmas in a bottle. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 01:48:04 | More by Heatwave33

Murrhey

Montana

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had on location. 5 oz in a tulip glass. Reviewed from notes.

A- Transparent dark brown color with watery legs on the lacing. Good carbonation throughout though.

S- Wine notes. Some light coffee and vanilla.

T- Wine and brandy sort of flavors. Has vanilla and coffee that hide the booziness.

M- Heavier, syrupy texture and a bitter linger. No real carbonation in feel.

O- Nice, boozy winter beer. I like it, but might not splurge again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2012 01:25:25 | More by Murrhey

rtaps

California

3.83/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

pitch black about a half finger khaki head with decent retention leaving spotty lacing around the glass.

ginger bread like aroma. all spice and some dark fruits

the flavor is nice and it does remind me of the holidays. really get all spice with some dark fruits but it leaves a ginger bread like after taste

viscous, mildly creamy, medium bodied and carbonation.

overall it's a nice beer in moderation glad i tried it and glad i had people around to share it with.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 22:18:51 | More by rtaps

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 750 mL capped bottle I picked up across the border in Massachusetts this week. Served in a Cigar City tulip glass and enjoyed at just below cellar temperature over the course of about an hour.

Appearance: Dark brown with a nice fizzy beige head that recedes quickly. Almost resembles a more syrupy coke.

Aroma: Fresh cut ginger notes upfront. Molasses, brown sugar, and dark fruits all provide a nice sweetness. A touch or rum and heat, but nicely balanced overall.

Taste: Again, ginger and some holiday spices add a nice spice note upfront. Lots of molasses and dark fruit notes some in after and provide a good balancing sweet note that doesn't become cloying. Touches of rum, roasted pecans and coffee beans in there as well. Some heat, but for the most part really balanced. Drinks very easily.

Mouthfeel: Really full bodied, but the carbonation keeps it light enough tocontinue drinking.

Overall, a really great holiday type beer. The ginger and spices don't overwhelm the base beer, but compliment it nicely. Really warming, complex, yet easy to drink. I am glad to have another bottle to let sit for a bit.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 13:28:06 | More by Gosox8787

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Bruery Tasting Room. Light brown coloured body with generous 3/4" retained head. Dry, average mouthfeel. Astringent and dangerous kick of alcohol not felt by the spice. Smell is like a sour brown Belgian.cola,Licorice, ginger. Sour and spice and nice, a sipper.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2012 04:20:36 | More by northyorksammy

MrVonzipper

California

3.05/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Rtaps for sharing this bottle.
Pitch black with a 1cm tan bubbly head. Short retention. Spotty lacing. 

Big spice on the nose. Predominantly allspice and a touch of ginger. That's pretty much it. 

Flavor is again full of spice. Allspice mostly. Very spice dominated. Dark malt and Belgian candy sugar show up a little bit too.

Medium bodied and high carb.

Overall ok. IMO too Heavy on the spice. Just one note.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 03:09:10 | More by MrVonzipper

ocelot2500

Arizona

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep garnet color with a cascading, tight tan head that leaves a ring of lacing.

Smells of molasses and dark fruits. While I don't find it offensive, I do not particularly enjoy molasses.

Tastes of the deep roasted notes with some fruit and spice layered on top. Molasses notes accompanied with chocolate and a bit of acidic coffee come through. The acidity in the coffee blends well into the fruits that come through and complement the figs and raisins quite nicely. Sweetness feels quite restrained and I would like a bit more presence to cut the molasses notes. Ends with light spice notes of cinnamon and clove. Alcohol is only slightly noticeable with a little warming of the palate.

Mouthfeel is full with a creamy amount of carbonation.

Overall, I do find this to be quite enjoyable, but it does not earn a 4 because I feel the molasses is too prominent.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 02:22:47 | More by ocelot2500

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

2.88/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Deep dark mahogany. Dark red/brown. Head is fluffy with a loose structure. Solid ring and thin cap at edges. Stronger carbonation than expected. Slightly hazed.

Smell: Bruery Belgian yeast. Candi sugar and gingerbread cookies. Ginger is actually nice and slightly earthy and used in good measure. Sine hints of caramel, but it really smells like a cookies. Sweet and gingery. Other spices from the yeast, clove and allspice, round it out. Malts are on the sweet side.

Taste: Oh hi, candi sugar. Ginger assault. Yeast is spicy and drops some clove. Very yeasty. So much ginger and yeast. Complete lack of balance. It's all spice and candi sugar. Not cloyingly sweet, but super clean sweet. Almost no aftertaste. Definite lack of depth.

Mouthfeel: Full body and a touch dry on the finish. Carbonation is definitely too high.

Overall: I'm really curious to see where this goes in the next 8 years. Maybe it will develop some depth. Maybe.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 00:31:43 | More by Goblinmunkey7

DovaliHops

California

4.18/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brownish-black color that has a hint of ruby-red when held up to the light. Large, creamy tan head that takes some time to go down. Scent is heavy with figs and other dark fruits. Hints of gingerbread and other spices. Some cinnamon. I'm digging the aroma on this. Taste is very winter-ish. Immediately my tongue is attacked by winter spices and roasted malt flavors. Much more roasted than I was expecting. Nutty, spicy, and rich. A bit of booze as well. Mouthfeel is full-bodied with creamy finish. Drinkability is fairly high for such a big, bold beer. Overall, this is a damn tasty beer for a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 06:10:49 | More by DovaliHops

kojevergas

California

3.1/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served on-draught into a beerflute at The Bruery's tasting room in Placentia. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a half finger head of nice cream, good thickness, and bad retention. Colour is a solid black.

Sm: Heavy wood and spice. Bretts and yeast. Chocolate. A mild strength aroma. Not as good as it sounds to describe.

T: Spice. Badly handled caramel. Some chocolate. An awful wood undertone corrupts it. The spice feels very muted, making it bland and boring. Some licorice is present, especially on the finish. Balanced but restrained, like it's held back.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Pretty thick.

Dr: An easy to drink high ABV beer that falls short of its potential. I wouldn't have it again. I feel bad for anyone that pays the bottle price for this.

C+

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2012 04:34:07 | More by kojevergas

BigB415

California

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours black with huge head into my Bruery snifter. Heavy retention when I swirl and tiny white bubbles climbing the side of the glass sticking to it like if they fall off they'll drown when the beer is perfectly still.

S: Spice, figs, alcohol.

T: More spices, figs, and alcohol. Dark fruit like dark oranges. This pretty much reminds me of what a holiday themed beer should taste like.

MF: Lingering notes of what I described in the T above except for the alcohol. I do not taste any alcohol after. This is a very smooth beer.

O: This is my first 12 Days of Bruery Christmas and I didn't know what to expect but it didn't disappoint. It's very smooth and the spice goes very well since it is well balanced. This is actually the one of those 12 beers that I've seen in my area. I would love to get my hands on the previous 3 so I can compare.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 03:20:17 | More by BigB415

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Damn this beer looks amazing. Color is the abyss where black and darkest brown fight it out. The head is a foamy, creamy toasty tan color. It doesn't last long, no doubt in part because it's an 11-percenter, but it sure looks good while it's there.

Interesting aroma, a tough one to call. Some generic holiday spicing that defies easy description, it's herbal, a bit minty, kind of candy-like, and doesn't offer much in the way of the big malt presence that surely has to be here (given color and ABV).

While the aroma seems a bit elusive, 4 Calling Birds lays down a decisive flavor. Not a normal one, but a decisive one. There are definitely elements of gingerbread here, as promised on the label, and a wide variety of spices emerge too, including anise, clove, and allspice. Candied fruit and honey are detected in the sweet layer that dominates this beer, but thankfully it just escapes being overly sweet. Definite chocolate vibe throughout. Overall this beer is like a liquid interpretation of the German holiday dessert bread, Lebkuchen.

Luscious in feel. Absolutely luscious. A smooth, velvety, totally fantastic texture that I'd rather sink into and enjoy than try and describe further. It just IS. Oh yeah.

I've liked all the Bruery holiday beers...too much to cellar them for a decade or so, as the series is designed. C'mon, seriously, who's got that kind of time? I'm no believer in Mayan prophecy or other such nonsense, but seriously, it's about the present tense, and this one tastes really good, right now.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 00:08:39 | More by Metalmonk

claspada

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out a dark, dark burgundy color with a one inch tan head of bubbly foam. It had nice retention and left thin rings of lace on the glass.

Aromas begin with nutmeg, ginger and a great deal of dried fruits. Throughout there is a strong backbone of toasty, biscuity maltiness.

The tastes begin with a great deal of Belgian estery, yeast flavors.. Clove, nutmeg, and lesser cinnamon. Nice bready malt backbones with a touch of dried fruit flavors. Spicy yeast flavors are quite dominant and really overpower any other complementary flavors. Unfortunately the tastes aren't as nice or blended as the aromas led you to believe. Unbalanced spice from the added additions, plus the normal Belgian yeasty spice become a bit rough on the palate.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium to high carbonation; appropriate for the style. The finish is crisp, yet sharp and smooth.

Overall this is a nice addition to the Days of Christmas series but bu no means my favorite. Spices are a little too dominant at this stage, so cellaring until next year may be a good idea for this beer. done. This series is more of a novelty if you ask me but this beer is another drinkable, tasty offerIng. Nothing revolutIonary here, just a good Belgian style ale from a reliable American brewery who is quite talented at making any and all beer styles in my experience.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 02:32:22 | More by claspada

BeerDawgs

Georgia

2.98/5  rDev -22%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark brown with a tan head. 1 finger of lace.

A - Spices, and lots of them. Alot of sweet fruit flavors. Brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, etc.

T - Like it smells, lots of sugar and spices going on here. Very sweet.

M - Medium bodied, and not too carbonated.

O - Too sweet for me. Maybe I just don't like the style, but too sweet and strong for my preference

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 00:19:26 | More by BeerDawgs

CharlieMurphy

New York

4.18/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Black w/ brown trim. light caramel head that is retained at 1/2" the whole way down.

S: Peat, figs, whiskey, port, cardamom, wine alcohol. uncommon aromas.

T: Candied figs, chocolate, port wine, licorice hard candy.

M: a little sweet, not really cloying, carbonation is silky low.

O: Pretty much a homerun for a holiday beer. It's actually significantly less sweet than other holiday beers, I like that.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 03:56:37 | More by CharlieMurphy

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.15/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up in North Carolina in Hickory or Asheville... Drank this about a week ago, review from notes

Pours mahogany with a thumb of mocha colored head. Some lacing &head retention

S: Plums, cherries, cinnamon & ginger bread

T: Follows the nose up front along with dryness. Dryness, gingerbread & molasses as this warms. Finishes with gingerbread sweetness, a touch of herbal hops & molasses

MF: Chewy with restrained carbonation

I love gingerbread, so I really enjoyed this one

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 02:31:21 | More by russpowell

mdaschaf

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes. Thanks to Scott for this one!

A: Pours a dark brown with some ruby highlights. A one finger, tan head forms upon pouring with decent retention. Some lacing forms briefly, but does not last.

S: Lots of holiday spices, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and a lot of gingerbread. There is a little bit of Belgian yeast and some bready malt.

T: The gingerbread comes through on the flavor profile, not really cookie like, as some people had described it, but more like actual gingerbread. A little bit of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and chocolate.

M: Medium bodied with active carbonation, rather bubbly.

O: I was hoping for gingerbread cookies, and was slightly disappointed. I liked 4CB a good bit, but am fine drinking a bottle and saving the other. Not something I am going to run out and get more of. Will be interesting to see how it holds up.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 15:01:15 | More by mdaschaf

DoubleJ

California

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the source itself, on to the beer:

Dark brown colored and closing in on black with ruby brown hues. Immediately, the spice notes of 4 Calling Birds are noted. It's like a gingerbread note, whipped with raisins, dates, and plums.

As expected from The Bruery's strong beers, the high alcohol content is hidden well in 4 Calling Birds. Strong spiced gingerbread is reflected all around, the additional notes of raisins, dates, figs, and The Bruery's house yeast make this a dandy and very Belgian in character. It's full bodied, and has a texture that nearly syrupy.

A bit spicy, yet still a fun beer to drink. If you can wait, ddding a little age to the beer may make a more rounded beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2012 18:30:12 | More by DoubleJ

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle, allowed to warm some before being poured into my Brooklyn Brewery tulip.

4 Calling Birds pours stout like in its appearance. It's full on black, with about two fingers of caramel foam stting atop the beer. Head retention is OK, but there's just about no lacing left along the inside of the glass. It takes a bit to suss everything out, but there's a lot going on in the nose. Molasses and a blend of winter spices that features ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon are what's readily appreciable. A bit more buried the background are some light raisin and caramel aromas. The flavor sticks mostly to the outline laid out in the nose, although everything does seem to pop a bit more here. There's also a faint note of anise creeping in. That's not always my favorite flavor, but it's such a small amount here hat it works nicely with the rest of the beer. There's also no trace of alcohol present anywhere in the taste profile, which is always nice/impressive for an 11% beer. It's on the dry side for a beer of it's size, there's still a little bit of body to it. The carbonation is definitely too dull though, and the result is a mouthfeel that occasionally leans towards being syrupy. 4 Calling Birds is a nice beer, and gets the 12 Beers of Christmas series back on track after a bit of a misfire last year.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 06:27:37 | More by axeman9182

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a snifter, the beer is a very dark, very crisp looking brown coloring with very deep auburn highlights around the edges. The foamy head that first appears upon the pour quickly disperses before you can even get the bottle down. It does leave ring of bright, yellow-tan head around the edge of the glass. Aromas are very enticing, with a rich blend of banana bread, dark fruits, such as dark cherry and fig, and some earthy notes. Very complex, and delicious at the same time. The flavors are roasty toasty, with a good chocolate backbone, and a sour tang at the end of the palate. There are some coffee and alcohol highlights throughout, as well, and the dark, old world fruit sweetness shines throughout in overtones amongst all the other flavors. Almost to the point of wine characteristics at some points. The aftertaste is more to the dark fruit and wine palate, with a richness that is earthy and smooth. The finish is rich and smooth, with a slight sour tang at the very end of the palate. The alcohol makes only slight appearances throughout the brew, and it is surprisingly drinkable despite the hefty ABV. Good flavors on a smooth body makes for an easy drinker. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 23:35:46 | More by GarthDanielson