Descendant Dark Ale - Mystic Brewery

nas5755

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- black with some brown hues close to the bottom of the glass. A nice head with solid retention

S-some molasses and a bit of belgian yeast

T- not quite a Belgian, not quite a dry stout. An interesting take on the style. some roasted malts, some Belgian yeast, some molasses and peppery spice. Very dry and a little nutty on the finish.

M- dry and bit on the thin side, good carbonation levels

O- I enjoyed the take on this beer. I think the recipe needs to be dialed down and tweaked a bit. Either go bigger with more body or tone down the abv and make this session-able. Lots of potential and worth picking up and trying. My scores slightly reflect the style classification but this beer doesnt and cant fit into any category.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 00:03:24 | More by nas5755

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.14/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

From the caged, corked 750 ml. bottle marked Batch #006. Sampled on May 23, 2013.

It pours a very dark chocolate brown but looks darker once it is in the glass. Very heady with a puffy, fluffy tan colored head that lingers.

The aroma is full of coffee and dark fruit like cherry. Playing second fiddle are the chocolate and yeast esters.

The body was the weakest part of this one coming in at about medium with an astringency the made my tongue slick.

The taste also brought out the dark coffee notes and dark malts withe dark fruit more in the background. There is a mild hop bitterness that leads to a dry finish. I found it to be quite good.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 22:22:55 | More by puboflyons

Maxwell

Massachusetts

4.01/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

The beer pours a molasses color and sits in the glass as mahogany brown with a massive head of light khaki-colored bubbles of all shapes and sizes, which takes its time in dissipating. The head leaves a ringed lacing of fat soapy bubbles on the glass. In body, the beer appears too dark for light to penetrate it, though it did seem clean as the beer was being poured. That being said, the folks at Mystic are the wizards of yeast, and they don’t filter their beers, so I’m willing to bet there are a few floaties hanging out in this beer. On the nose, the beer smells initially like a metallic pear, but not in a bad way. As you shove your nose in this beer it opens up into soft cocoa scents with touches of earthy espresso and dark fruity notes. The smell is soft and subtle on the nose, much like an Irish dry stout is, but this smell is also deeply complex and interesting with yeast esters. On the tongue, the beer tastes sweet and then tart, and then slightly bitter with roast. In flavor it begins like a classic stout with dry roasty chocolate and coffee flavors and even a touch of coffee, but this is then blanketed as the taste moves forward and yeast esters plunge onto the tongue to suggest funky dark fruit flavors with a slightly metallic twinge. Pear and even slight peach flavors can also be tasted in the esters. The beer finishes closer to a dry stout with bitter roast, but with a nice tart dark fruit kick that adds complexity to the finish. The aftertaste is fairly soft and sweet with light fruit flavors and a faint reminder of dried roast malt with a touch of smoke. In the mouth the beer feels fluffy with medium carbonation and a slight pucker from the acid. In body the beer feels just about medium, and after the beer leaves the mouth is left slightly dry but puckering. Overall, this is a fantastically bizarre beer. It’s not an Irish dry stout at all, though it does show some qualities of a dry stout. It has amazing funky esters, and could quite well be the start of a new style. A New England Dark Ale! Or a Suffolk Dark Ale if we must call it that… Whatever it is, it is super drinkable and tasty, with amazing and flavorful yeast character. Try this beer! It is bizarre and tasty!

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 23:01:54 | More by Maxwell

Mike

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

05-16-2013 19:33:54 | More by Mike

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

05-15-2013 04:45:55 | More by Kelp

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

05-14-2013 21:27:45 | More by InspectorBob

SupremePie

Vermont

4/5  rDev +7.2%

05-14-2013 03:10:55 | More by SupremePie

TripelMark

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

05-08-2013 21:10:19 | More by TripelMark

dunix

Vermont

4/5  rDev +7.2%

05-07-2013 14:14:47 | More by dunix

JD4Cali

Rhode Island

4.75/5  rDev +27.3%

04-29-2013 11:36:22 | More by JD4Cali

In_Control_Mike

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7.2%

04-20-2013 02:06:02 | More by In_Control_Mike

DelicateDelirium

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

03-31-2013 23:27:09 | More by DelicateDelirium

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7.2%

02-18-2013 16:02:17 | More by jaasen64

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Thank you, Franklinn!!

Appearance. Pours a very deep dark brown with only a little reddish light coming through at the edges, topped with a massive, 3+ fingers of tan head.

Smell. Molasses, dark grainy malts and some dark fruits with just a little bit of herby spices.

Taste. Dark grainy malts again, some fruity yeast, some dark chocolate, maybe a little dark fruit. Fairly dry and a little bit of booze.

Mouthfeel. Medium+ body with strong, but smooth and soft carbonation.

Overall. Interesting beer that seems to border on a belgian strong ale. Glad to have tried it, thanks again Franklinn!

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 03:27:11 | More by Rutager

Anker13

District of Columbia

3.16/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

1/26/13- Mystic Brewery| Descendant | Suffolk Dark Ale 750mL 7%ABV

Appearance- in a chalice glass, off white cream colored lacy head that persists for about 1-2 minutes, deep deep mahogany brown, very opaque, little light getting through, slight haze

Aroma- malty upfront, roasted and toasty, bittersweet chocolate with a hint of coffee, yeasty and earthy, mocha, slight dark fruitiness… raisin? Plum? Molasses. Reminds me of a dunkel.

Mouthfeel- Interesting mouthfeel. Not really astringent, but not coating. Juicy is a good way to put it. Very light CO2, really lets the flavor take the lead. Slight puckering?

Taste- Almost like Raisinets (candy), the chocholate and mocha smells really take a backseat to the fruity profile of the beer. The alcohol is definitely a component- any more and this beer would be ruined. Definite molasses, slight cherry, also has winey characteristics

Residual- Weird aftertaste, lingers like a wine. Semi-sweet aftertaste

Overall- An acceptable beer. It’s not bad, probably wouldn’t get it again, but I’m not disappointed at all. Still a tasty beer, different from a lot of beers out there. There’s a lot going on and the flavors continue to get stronger as it warms

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 19:19:50 | More by Anker13

b2hogan

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

01-28-2013 14:02:14 | More by b2hogan

danmcg62

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

01-14-2013 02:07:04 | More by danmcg62

Devi0us

California

3/5  rDev -19.6%

01-12-2013 13:27:30 | More by Devi0us

mdfb79

New York

3.03/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

From 12/29/12 notes. Bottle shared by jslot38; thanks Justin.

a - Pours a dark mahogany brown color with a reddish tint, one inch of light tan head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of dark fruits, spice, yeast, roasted malts, toasted malts, earthy notes, raisins, and plums. Nice nose full of malts and dark fruits.

t - Tastes of dark fruits, raisins, plums, figs, Belgian style yeast, spices, roasted malts, earthy notes, burnt malts, and sugar. Something seems a little off or weird; reminds me slight of the smell of wet dog. Not the biggest fan of the taste.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Smooth and pretty easy to drink; no heat.

o - Overall an interesting beer and hybrid of styles, though I wasn't a huge fan of it. The nose was nice, but I didn't like the taste. Considering I like some of their other saisons, I'd rather grab those off the shelf than revisit this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 16:28:00 | More by mdfb79

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

11-22-2012 23:01:28 | More by t0rin0

cfh64

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

11-21-2012 21:29:44 | More by cfh64

snowmaggedon

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

11-09-2012 23:20:12 | More by snowmaggedon

gshackles

New York

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

10-22-2012 02:21:20 | More by gshackles

rab53

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

10-02-2012 02:21:27 | More by rab53

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle purchased as a single from somewhere localish. Corked and caged.

Poured into a Harpoon LE tulip, formed a 2" light brown head over the almost opaque dark brown/burgundy brew. Head lasts and lasts, with thick lasting lace. Aroma is tart cherries and coffee.

Taste is chocolate sweetness to start, light fruitiness in the center, and closes with a soft bitterness that leaves with a tart aftertaste. Mouthfeel is smooth, and drinkability is pretty good. Interesting brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 02:01:16 | More by ppoitras