La Bestia Aimable - Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling

DRyan

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured in Ranger Creek tulip at 50 degrees
Full review at http://lownobudgetreviews.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/ranger-creek-san-antonio-tx-small-batch-5-la-bestia-aimable/ (Ryan's Reviews)

Pours a medium brownish-red with a vigorous light-tan head that sticks around for a long time before slowly fading to a ring of bubbles that coat the inside of the glass and leave behind nice lacing. Held to the light, a deep burnt orange shines through the brown. The nose on LBA reveals its Belgian roots, as the Belgian yeast / ester scents dominate. Some dark fruits, cinnamon, and allspice follow.

The taste is much what one would expect from the smell: it opens with malt intermixed with fig and raisin flavors, and on the backend you get the honey that makes LBA a bit different than your average dark strong ale. These flavors are all pinned to the “standard” Belgian flavors, and if I had to place this in a style I would venture to call it a quadrupel. On the exit, there is a bit of alcohol, but not enough to be bad just enough to warm the belly in a pleasant way.

LBA has a medium body, and a very light mouthfeel that makes it easy to put back, despite it’s near 10% alcohol content. For its color and its strength, LBA is a very easy to drink, easy to enjoy beer, and I greatly enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 00:30:19 | More by DRyan

videofrog

Texas

3.83/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bomber into an Ommegang tulip. Bottled on 7/14/11. Served as close to label-suggested 48 degrees as possible.

A: Dark reddish brown body, cloudy. Head dissipates so rapidly that I didn't even get a good look. No lacing.

S: Sweet malts, figs, plums, also a tart berry that I can't identify other than to say it's not cherry. Subtle spices there as well.

T: Dark fruits in the beginning, spiciness & peppery alcohol in the middle, and then a very slight hop bitterness in the finish. The honey lingers in between sips.

M: Thick, almost syrupy. Low carbonation, honey coats the throat.

O: I need to get a fresh bottle of this to see how it compares. I liked this one, but so many other great BSDA's are readily available on the shelf. This was unintentionally aged as I picked it up at a store that had nothing from Ranger Creek under a year old. Holds up well enough after 17 months, though. Worth a try fresh or with a little age on it.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 07:24:10 | More by videofrog

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.78/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750 mL bottle tried 28 Feb 2011. Served in the 0.4 L Herren Pils snifter.

Large lacy yellow-tan head. Medium to light carbonation. Clear dark reddish brown in color. Aroma is sweet and sour cherries, apples and cola. Starts fairly sweet. Burnt sugars and apple fruitiness. Some figs. Warming ethanol, medium body is a touch flat. Very slight bitterness in the finish. Lingering cola and cinnamon aftertaste.

A didn't like this one quite as much as I did.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 00:39:45 | More by htomsirveaux

elNopalero

Texas

3.58/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Batch LB 007, bottled on 2/21/2012 and enjoyed June 23, 2012.

This pours a caramel amber in color, almost like a dark (oxidized) peach or the color of pureed raisins. There’s a light plum and raisiny aroma with a bit of the raisin/dried fruit notes coming across on the palate as well. I pick up some prunes along with a slight phenolic note. It finishes sweet but slightly off balanced. I pick up a dubble-like sweetness and some bubblegummy notes to it as well as nutmeg, cinnamon, and fig on the aroma. Ultimately it doesn’t do it for me, whether it’s the beer itself or the style I found this one I’ll end up skipping in the future. Sorry guys.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 18:43:47 | More by elNopalero

harrymel

Washington

3.38/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Vintage 2011, I believe.

Pours 2oz with three fingers of light caramel head that falls in a few minutes to a quilt of the same. Spotty lace. Cloudy and dark amber. Smells of cola, sugar, dark malts, belgian yeast, hints of wood and a little bit of plum. Some sugar, some yeast, some good juicy dark stone fruits. Medium bodied with low carb after the head falls. I think this beer is above average for domestic attempts, but falls short of the greats out of the homeland over the pond. Perhaps as they refine and develop the yeast, the beer will take on an outstanding structure.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 09:17:17 | More by harrymel

zander4dawin

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

An dark amber color Belgian dark strong ale. Light fruit notes on the nose like banana. Earthy and almost cheesy in taste with dark fruit notes upfront (fig, raspberry) and cinnamon and spices lingering in the background. Overall a decent Belgian Dark Strong but not better then a lot of the imported ones on the shelf already.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 16:14:13 | More by zander4dawin

bmwats

Louisiana

3.58/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 750 ml bottle into tasting snifter.

A: Dark brown, no head, but does leave a small ring of brown-white foam, and rim of the glass. No real lacing.

S: Earthy malt, with butterscotch, raspberry, and wine grapes.

T: Slightly sweet and pungent malt with caramel and raspberry. Tastes pretty much like it smells.

M: Hearty feel, pungency fills and coats the palette. Comes across as a little washed out. Slightly dry, bitter finish.

D: Easy drinking.

Atmosphere is ok. Nothing special in terms of appearance, nose is earthy and fruity. Flavor is a sweet and pungent fruit, sweet, and malt combination. Overall, this is a pretty good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 05:09:37 | More by bmwats

vickersspitfire

Texas

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter and it looked awesome: it’s a dark murky brown color that pretty much resembles apple butter, has some decent carbonation and is topped with a thin, tan head that quickly turns into a thin ring around the glass. Lots of fruity aromas come through, figs, prunes and grapes are all there along with some spices, cinnamon to be exact. Its got a medium body that just wraps you mouth with a dark fruit flavors some peach and pear is detectable. The honey is only noticeable in its aftertaste which is also mildly bitter and has no hint of alcohol. This is my first Ranger Creek taste and I am very impressed so far.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 00:20:27 | More by vickersspitfire

Atlas1

Texas

3.58/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

My first Ranger Creek beer. Picked it up at Central Market in SA two weeks ago on a visit up there. Has a hand-written label on the side which says "Bottle Conditioned, Batch # LB-005, Date: 5-01-11." Good to know when it was bottled.

Poured into a barrel pint glass, this beer is a dull mahogany color with a light head and no lace. The nose is nice and fruity. Fig and prune scents with dark berries and pear. Various spices. The taste is sweet up front, again heavy on the dark fruits; plum, fig, prune, maybe some apple and pear. It says it's brewed with honey, and I notice that flavor only when I really focus on it. If not called to my attention, I might not catch it. Sort of a dull herbal aftertaste. Mouthfeel is a bit thin for what I was expecting, but it finishes with a nice dryness.

On the whole, this is a decent but unspectacular beer. Nothing here really grabs me and demands my attention, but it's completely fine and would, as the bottle says, accompany a number of dishes quite nicely. Nothing too fancy here, but a solid effort from Ranger Creek.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 00:59:42 | More by Atlas1

TexasBrewSlinger

Texas

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

dark brown/reddish color with decent head

smells sweet, a little boozy, dark fruit and honey, not hugely complex but nice

taste roasted figs, honey, cola spice, sweet malt, hint of toffee.

overall very nice. the dark rich notes are counterbalanced with a spicy lift. I like it more and more each sip.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 00:39:23 | More by TexasBrewSlinger

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to lnashsig for sending me this one as an extra in a past trade! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller oversized wine glass. Poured a massively dark red brown with a two finger light tan head that subsided to one finger slowly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, Coca-Cola, banana, bread, dark fruit, and alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, bread, banana, alcohol, and caramel. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew. The Coca-Cola aroma I got on this one was a little strange if I am completely honest. However, the aroma was very nice and quite complex. The flavor on this one was also quite complex and enjoyable. I just wish that some of the alcohol would have been cut out of the flavor to allow some more subtle notes to come through. Worth trying at least once for sure if you get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 14:48:01 | More by thagr81us

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Duvel tulip glass.

Thanks to jl28r1 for this bottle!

Review #1700. So far, the only other offering I've had from this brewery has been great. Here's hoping for 2-for-2. It pours a murky cocoa-ruby topped by a sparse gathering of dirty soap bubbles. Methinks the carbonation may be a tad lacking here... The nose comprises black cherry, dusty cocoa powder, toffee, figs, clove, nutmeg, light watermelon, and biscuits. The taste holds notes of red wine, figs, cocoa, toasted biscuits, black cherries, a touch of roasted malts, and a small swig of oak. The body is a smarmy medium, with a light carbonation and a slightly oily feel. Overall, a decent brew, but one that seems to be suffering from young age (beer-wise) and a slight undercarbonation. Something tells me a few batches down the road this thing will be pretty damn good, but right now it's just okay.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2011 05:35:19 | More by TMoney2591

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to JLindros for sharing this bottle. Poured into a Samuel Adams perfect pint glass.

A - Pours a crystal clear almost garnet colour with a nice creamy one finger head that fades at the usual rate to live a nice halo.

S - Wow, really nice honey notes to match with malt sweetness. Good belgian yeast notes along with the typical dark fruit esters.

T - Jared and I both said upon tasting this that there was some definate "sugar daddy" candy flavours. Really good smooth honey notes along with dark fruit esters and a touch of chocolate. Good honey sweetness and malt along with dark fruits. Nice and smooth.

M - Typical belgian strong dark ale mouthfeel here. Slightly heavy, decent carbonation, ABV definately noticeable.

O - Overall, glad I got to enjoy this beer. Not a bad BSDA. Loved the strong honey aspect of this beer. Nice big beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 03:44:19 | More by rudzud

jlindros

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to redredwino(Reddit) for this interesting guy.

Light fluffy head, super dark molasses brown colored beer.

Nose of sweet brown malts, light candi sugar, brown sugar,light nutty malts, hint of honey candy, light creamy soft aged malts.

Taste had soft aged brown malts, some darker Belgian malts, light brown sugar, honey, candy, semi sweet, light cinnamon and nutty malts, light bitterness, touch of fruit, crystal malts and caramel. Light sticky sweet finish, lingering nutty sweet brown malts, light bitterness, long sweet honey and syrupy malt finish.

Mouth is a bit heavier bodied, lighter carb, light booze.

Overall decent, nice dark soft malts, sugars, honey, sweet syrups but not heavy, light booze, decent bigger beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 03:32:38 | More by jlindros

AgentZero

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Brownish red color beer with a brown head that bubbled up about two fingers. Didn't have great retention but left tons of small spots and a couple big lines along the side.

S - Honey, belgian yeast, dark fruit. Smells fairly tasty with a bit of sweet sugar.

T - Taste is likethe nose with a little bit more phenolic yeast. Sweet with some dry notes that cut into it a little for a bit of an edge. Some dark fruit with a touch of honey.

M - Active carbonation and medium bodied.

O - Good beer, would like to try the barrel treatments of it as it has a nice flavor profile and is easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2011 01:46:59 | More by AgentZero

annawees

Texas

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

A dark, cloudy and not your typical flavored Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Although I did not notice a strong aroma on the first wiff, the beer itself has a lovely fig flavor that I enjoyed and complemented the roasted malts. The beer itself was very creamy, and had a pleasant mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2011 09:29:15 | More by annawees

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.48/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Muddy red/brown color, with a tan two finger head that leaves nice lacing. Some citrus hops on the nose, oak, vanilla, ample dark fruits, malty sweets, and a touch of chocolate as well. Tastes of dark fruits, so woodiness, roasted malts, some chocolate and and slightly sweet linger. Body is medium, good carbonation, with a slight creamy texture.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 16:49:16 | More by EgadBananas

joefuzz

New York

3.48/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Batch 005 bottled 5-1-11 sent to me as an extra by jefferz5000 in a recent trade. 750ml bottle poured into my sierra nevada xxx globe.

Pours dark redish brown with a very small thin head.
Smells of belgian yeast with honey and a small amount of dark cherries.
Tastes of sweet dark fruits like plums and cherries...very sweet honey character as well.
Mouthfeel seems a little light not all that much carbonation either.
Overall good beer, glad I had the chance to try. Thanks jeff

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 04:41:59 | More by joefuzz

armock

New York

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to turfy for hooking this bottle up in a trade.

A - Poured a brownish copper color with a huge tan head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of sweet sugar with dark fruits and spiced Belgian yeast

T - Like the nose starts off with sweet malt with dark fruit flavors and finishes with spiced yeast notes

M - This beer has a fuller body with higher carbonation to it

O - I'm very pleased with this beer it's good to see something like this being brewed in Texas it has a good taste that leaves you wanting more worth getting your hands on a bottle to try sometime

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2011 00:26:06 | More by armock

claytong

Vermont

3.65/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one was hard to rate as it's very different from a typical belgian dark and from most beers in general. I also served this way to warm but was on the patio locked out of a house.

Appearance - Not what I was expecting. A murky brown with a bit of amber in there. Decent head, lacing stays.

Aroma - A lot of things going on, hard to get much out of this. Nothing strong though to the nose. Got some belgian yeast and fruit, that was about it.

Taste - All is very mild, belgian yeast, some fig, banana bread. My tastebuds weren't excited but they weren't displeased, like some sort of limbo.

Mouthfeel - light body, medium carbonation. refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 03:30:21 | More by claytong

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.75/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured an amber-red/brown color, somewhat hazy, with a decent head that pretty quickly dissipated into a nice off-white sheen, leaving sheets of lacing when you sip that quickly rejoin the brew.

Smells of spicy dark fruits, Belgian yeast, a bit of sweetness, lots of spices. Great smelling brew!

Taste is of funky, pungent malts, dark fruits again, plenty of yeast, spices. Pretty strange stuff but enjoyable anyway.

Feel is pretty smoothly carbonated, medium bodied, with a semi-sweet, lightly bitter fruity aftertaste.

Overall it's pretty good. An interesting premium beer from Ranger Creek.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 19:34:23 | More by AlCaponeJunior

gnemesis

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into snifter on 05/09/2011.
Pours dark red topped by a dirty-white creamy head. Dissipates quickly but leaves decent lace. Smells of Belgian yeast, cider, and sweet honey- strange brew indeed. These flavors appear in the taste but add some earthy notes, dark fruit, raisin, and maybe a touch of vanilla. Again strange but the taste is pretty good. Medium Body and low/medium carbonation. Weird beer, average, but drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 18:45:10 | More by gnemesis

brew3crew

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-very red with a little white lace around the edges

S-Nice funk with a little bit of tartness

T-nice and crisp. Little bit of.honey and fruit. Very nice.finish... nice funk and little bit of tartness.

M-medium body and oh so smooth

O-decent brew. Ok overall and would drink again

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2011 23:51:56 | More by brew3crew

Urbancaver

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks cfh64 for this one... Very interesting brew

Pours a fairly clear orangish brown. A bit of white head. Dissipates quickly. Smells Sweet and funky. Lots of yeasty belgian goodness. Tastes sweet and tart. A nice yeasty flavour that is really floral as well. Vry interesting and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2011 23:46:35 | More by Urbancaver

JayAre46

Texas

2.15/5  rDev -42.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

750 ml poured into a DFH snifter producing a 1 1/2 of large bubbled head which quickly faded into a thin sheet and ring circling the brew. spotted lacing

A - Im getting the belgian yeast, maybe a touch of honey light floral notes and the everlasting sweet cardboard notes...what is this noise. moving on

T - Sweet caramel and a liquor flavoing maybe a hint of fresh dr. pepper, again not a lot of honey influence, at this point im not a fan at all. the alcohol is in visible

M - Medium body and minimal carbonation that leaves a decent mouthfeel.

O - honestly i had i high hope for this beer, gave it as a bday present and it turned out to be a drain pour and my parting ways with la bestia. You and i will never meet again, fuck you.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 18:30:54 | More by JayAre46