Sorcerer - Fat Heads Brewery & Saloon

jampics2

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap @ Fat Heads Cleveland. Served in a tulip for around $5.50.

The Sorcerer is a nice looking brew. It’s like some kind of supernatural forces are at work here. The beer isn’t cloudy – it’s mostly clear copper with some gold edges. Not as dark as some Belgians, but decent looking, especially with regards to the nice head retention & lace.

The nose is decisively Belgian – driven by a relatively expressive Belgian yeast strain and notes of dark fruit from the malt. There’s an abundance of fig, raisin, and Belgian candy sugar. I get a touch of bubblegum from the yeast. There could be a bit more distinction, as this smells much like other American attempts at the style. Still pleasant.

As is the taste – my taste buds are greeted by dark fruit, brown sugar and even a hint of plum, cherry and chocolate. The beer comes across as both sweet and tangy, and, unfortunately, the booze is very evident. In surmising how I feel, I would say this beer is just a bit too big for its shoes. A bit less booze or more expressive flavors would work much better for me.

The mouthfeel is back to an excellent score with nice carbonation enhancing the medium body. While the booze is evident, the beer feels good in my mouth. I liked this a bit more than some other Belgian offerings from Fat Heads, but, again, I find myself feeling like this beer isn’t quite delicate enough to hang with anything overseas or even the best of what America is offering. While the flavors work, I find the best Belgians have a:

1 (base) + 1 (yeast) = 3

equation going on. Here, we’re stuck at 2.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2011 16:52:54 | More by jampics2

barflybastard

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

05-12-2013 23:38:47 | More by barflybastard

Richie24CLE

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

03-18-2013 16:07:33 | More by Richie24CLE

Ryan011235

Ohio

2.83/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 1.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

On tap in a pint glass at Woodland's on 8/25/12

Dark brown appearance with a one finger head. Thin retention. Not much lace.

Dark bread and fruit aroma. Apple, banana, raisin, yeast, bubblegum. It has an upfront tangy flavor that tapers off quickly. Very bready. Moderate spice, clove and pepper. Earthy. Medium body with lively carbonation that dwindles after the beer opens up.

Overall impression: A decent beer, but nothing spectacular.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2013 05:26:50 | More by Ryan011235

kp29

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

01-26-2013 07:37:02 | More by kp29

primrose54

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

01-13-2013 02:10:51 | More by primrose54

speak72

Georgia

4/5  rDev +2%

11-12-2012 00:30:57 | More by speak72

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Light burgundy brown color with some murk. A patch of thin surface foam is all the head it wears.

Wine-y dark fruits like cherry, currant, blackberry, raisin, and grape. Almost a burlap aroma with a hint of tobacco. Quite nice and fruity.

Yeasty, fruity, and attenuated. Juggles between woody bitterness, dried fruit sap, and toast malt simplicity. Hanging with candi sugars and a sear of alcohol burn. A traditional Belgian yeast flavor complements without being showy. Too thin in the taste, however. Late cola finish with some herbals and spice coming through.

A tad flat. Body is pretty soppy, but close to medium. Not ideal, but okay.

Nothing killer in this representation of a Belgian dark. Enjoyably robust in the malts, however.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2012 03:43:24 | More by thecheapies

lisahope27

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%

10-23-2012 00:02:34 | More by lisahope27

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This poured out as a medium brown color with a cream colored head on top. The smell of the beer is on the sweeter side. There is some nice fruity notes as well as some bready yeast in there too. The taste of the beer is along the lines of a Quad but not quite as fruity or sweet. There is a nice element of Candi Sugar in there and some subtle yeast flavors. The mouthfeel is pretty smooth, lightly carbonated and dry in the finish. Overall this beer is pretty good.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2012 23:37:16 | More by Knapp85

Hyhat

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

08-18-2012 18:18:47 | More by Hyhat

wvsabbath

West Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

08-04-2012 20:03:56 | More by wvsabbath

IPAFrankieH

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

07-13-2012 10:25:23 | More by IPAFrankieH

brealbg

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

07-09-2012 12:05:24 | More by brealbg

Stinger80OH

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

07-05-2012 21:34:43 | More by Stinger80OH

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%

06-30-2012 02:37:53 | More by ejimhof

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma: Moderate dark fruit esters. Plum and cherries. Some spicy notes, black pepper.

Appearance: Dark brown, appears to be very clear, no visible particles floating about. Barely off-white head dissipates quickly leaving spotty foam.

Taste: Moderate dark fruit, dates, plum and raisin. Dark malt sweetness. Molasses. Mild dark citrus. Mild hops.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Tingles in the mouth, although very low carbonation. Finishes about neutral, not much drying, although hard to believe that's possible at 9% ABV.

Overall: Pretty good. A bit harsh at the malt bitterness, but a good brew overall. Glad I got the 12 ounce and not a 16 ounce.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2012 00:55:30 | More by soulfly1492

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

06-14-2012 22:55:07 | More by goblue3509

bentonquest

New York

4/5  rDev +2%

06-04-2012 14:35:23 | More by bentonquest

TheHoppiest

Ohio

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

Had on tap at Fat Head's in a snifter. Pours a hazy, darker brown, with a thin, almost non-existent head. Served colder than it should be.

Smell is fruity and sweet, with raisin, banana and spice notes.

Taste is mildly malty, with banana, raisin and fig notes, and hints of cloves. Improves as it warns.

Medium bodied, with a clean feel.

A decent brew, it is one you should order and let sit to warm to fully enjoy. Certainly a nice enough brew to sip on as my growler of Headhunter is being poured!

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2012 18:08:55 | More by TheHoppiest

nrbw23

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a clear dark reddish brown color with a solid tannish colored head. Head has pretty good retention and leaves quite a bit of spotty lacing.

S- Picking up quite a bit of darker fruits here. A good amount of spice from the yeast. Pretty sweet smelling too.

T- Taste is pretty sweet but also very good. Tons of dark fruits, raisins, plums and figs. Quite a bit of candie sugars. A hint of alcohol here too.

M- Fuller side of medium and carbonation was nice.

O- Very solid brew. I can also imagine this one would sneak up on you if you're not careful.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2012 22:21:00 | More by nrbw23

ckollias

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this on tap at Fat’s head.

A: Pours a dark brown color with a thin 1-finger head that quickly dissipates into a solid persistent lace.

S: Sweet fruity aroma with hints of raisins.

T: Fruity flavor with lots of complex flavors here. Raisins, plums, and candi sugar are present in the background.

M: Medium body and minimal carbonation.

O: Wow – great beer – super strong and delicious through and through.

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2011 23:59:01 | More by ckollias

jaidenjb

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2%

12-04-2011 21:52:17 | More by jaidenjb

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a hazy deep amber to brown-ish color with a small light tan head. In the aroma, dark fruit and licorice. In the taste, licorice, dark fruit, especially sweet plum. A smooth and medium to light bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry to clean aftertaste. Hides the alcohol, a bit thin and lacking flavor and nose.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2011 18:55:48 | More by OWSLEY069

IronCitySteve

Pennsylvania

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

On tap at Fat Heads Pgh.

A: Pours a dark amber color with a small off white foam head with no real lacing.

S: As it warms there are some scents of caramel, brown sugar, dark fruit and alcohol.

T: A nice amount of sweet brown candified sugar and caramel hit the palate first. The dark fruit esters are more prevalent on the back end. There is a slight alcohol taste as well, but it more of a sherry or port wine alcohol taste.

M: A nice medium body with sufficient carbonation. Leaves a nice candy flavor on the palate.

D: A nice sipper, where the alcohol is well hidden. A really nice Belgian Strong Dark Ale.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2011 16:22:11 | More by IronCitySteve