Nota Bene Abbey Ale - Ben Middlemiss Brewing

jgasparine

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled in 2010

A- Poured with a finger of offwhite foamy head, which was somewhat retained. Some traces of lacing down the sides of the glass. The orange-amber colored body was well-carbonated.

S- A big nose comprised of Begian yeasty esters, big crackerlike malts, and some impressions of non-descript spice. This leads me to anticipate some a dry and bold beer on the palate.

T- As expected, this beer is bursting with flavor. Some big Belgian yeast and crackerlike malt hit the palate first, revealing some light fruit esters, candi sugar, and some mild spiciness from the yeast. Some mild hop bitterness emerges in the finish, which lingers on the palate. Surprisingly, the EtOH does not seem to have an impact on the taste.

M- A medium body with a pervasive carbonation. I wouldn't call it a "soft" carbonation, but I wouldn't call it "bloating" either. The EtOH brings a mild warming sensation to the palate. Astringency is nonexistent.

D- Quite drinkable, and the alcohol is dangerously hidden in this brew. This is my first beer from New Zealand, and I great one at that. I look forward to having another!

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 23:44:59 | More by jgasparine

Tone

Missouri

3.55/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy, brown color. One inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and slight lacing. Smells of sweet malt, hint of biscuit, alcohol, slight dark citrus, yeast, hops, and a hint of floral aroma. Does not seem to fit the style of a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. It more closely resembles a Belgian Dark Ale. I'm going to review it as a Belgian Dark Ale instead of the current classification of a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, slight roasted malt, dark citrus, hops, alcohol, and hint of floral. Overall, decent aroma, body, but the blend is too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 17:48:27 | More by Tone

JAHMUR

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

06-26-2012 23:17:36 | More by JAHMUR

DoubleJ

California

2.55/5  rDev -25%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Even just a few years ago, seeing a Kiwi craft beer wash up the shores of Orange County was exciting. Today, a nnumber of brands are available to purcahse, perhaps dampening the anticipation. Okay, I'll confess, I'm usually excited to try a new beer. Another Belgian-styled Kiwi beer is on the way. Bottled in 2010 and coming out of the 330 ml bottle, it's on to the beer:

Despite the beer's classification, there's nothing pale about the color. It's a darker color, but it's not exactly dark. It's ugly, that's what it is. A muddy, light brownish color with hues that want to be paler colored, but don't know how to get there. There's no head at all, either on the pour or formed after the pour. The nose is better, but still messy. Old, melted chocolate, raisins, brown sugar, bozze. The balancing of the flavors just don't balance themselves.

There is some bit of Belgium in this beer, but even more of a beer that is underwhelming overall. The tastes just seem older and tired. Tired malt, tired cocoa, tired sugar, tired fruitiness. The alcohol is there, though it's not much of an obstruction to the overall beer, and it provides a zip of vague spiciness and bitterness. There is a bright spot however, and it's the mouthfeel. It's not quite full bodied, definately bigger than medium bodied, modest bubbly carbonation providing itself. The aftertaste lingers with a bittersweet (mostly bitter) flavor.

Less joy and more sorrow from this bottle. Not as appealing as the brewery's dubble, and certainly not as good as Moa's Belgian offerings. This beer can stay in Australasia.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 05:36:27 | More by DoubleJ

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A belgian strong ale from New Zealand? The times get stranger every day. And all for the better.

As a beer, it definitely works. But there is an alcohol burn to it that detracts a bit. Seems to be a high grain aftertaste or something? Creates a really deep flavor profile that seems a bit too much. But like I said, this works as a beer. I've certainly had a lot worse Belgian ales. Nice to see new styles coming out of countries that you don't normally see them.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 06:17:56 | More by RblWthACoz

lacqueredmouse

Australia

2.75/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours a very hazed golden brown colour, with an almost non-existent film of white for a head, which only forms a ring halfway around the glass. Thick body, extremely viscous and gooey. Carbonation is almost non-existent as well, which may explain the lack of head. Eh.

Nose is flat and a little oxidised by the smell of it. Some slight spicy clove characters, and a hint of dark fruit, but it's very subdued. Some boozy wafting characters, but I wonder if I only imagine them because I'm looking for something in the beer. Pretty weak.

Taste is harsh and slightly phenolic, with the booze definitely coming through strongly. This gives it an almost biting acidity, although the heat is enough to bring it back to the realm of booze. Rather lacking in sweetness, depth, spice and complexity, all the hallmarks of the style.

Big miss from me. This has the harsh, over-attenuated boozy one-dimensionality of malt liquor, the look and lack of carbonation suggest bad homebrew. Really not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 03:35:31 | More by lacqueredmouse

dgilks

Australia

3.58/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cloudy, dark amber colour with a foamy, small, light tan head. Poor head size and retention.

Bright tropical fruit aroma with notes of overripe mango. A distinctly hoppy Belgian style ale with the fruit and spice esters and phenols from the yeast also coming through. Fairly malty as well with some caramel notes.

Again, this is a hoppy Belgian style ale with that balance of tropical fruit from the Kiwi hops, mild phenolic clove notes and some other Belgian esters presenting. A little singular and lacking in depth and complexity.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Quite light and "digestible".

A nice New Zealand take on a Belgian ale. To my mind it is a bit ordinary as it lacks the brilliant malt complexity of a real Belgian ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 08:47:39 | More by dgilks

ADZA

Australia

3.58/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a murky orange hue which leaves a one finger head and nice clingy lacing,the smell is ripe peaches,belgian yeast,banannas and candy,the mouthfeel is light bodied and a let down for me and has tastes of funky esters,belgian yeast,doughy bread,apricots,peaches,light spice and finished with a raspberry tart finish with its high ABV very well hidden and overall the mouthfeel lacks for me but it is very drinkable cheers.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 05:26:22 | More by ADZA