Descendant Dark Ale - Mystic Brewery

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

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

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

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml into a duvel glass

A: settles almost completely black... Just a little light around the edges when held to the light. Ferocious two finger head even after a gentle pour.... Dissapates slowly and leaves virtually no lacing. Good lookin beer dispute the no lacing thing... Oh yeah and the head has a touch of mocha color to it.

S: light roast and coco... Blending with light belgian yeast aromas.... Begins to remind me of a hot coco like aroma with a touch of black coffee... The aroma is very pleasing and well balanced.... The Belgian yeast seems to blend in nicley and not overwhelm the malts and grains here.

T: much like the nose... I get yeasty breadiness up front melting into banna and fruity hints of rasin and dark cherries. over roastyness and chocolate.... Again the yeast blends very nicley here not overwhelimg the other flavors bit adding a nice accent and complexity. Different and enjoyable. As the brew warms some nice caramel notes start to show.. This brew is really growing on me the more I drink and it warms.

M: light/medium body with medium/high aggressive carbonation... Giving the body an fluffy creamy mouthfeel... It's almost to much carbonation... And I think I wish it was a tad thicker And with slightly less carbonation... Pretty easy drinking. Deffinatly dry.

O: a very interesting and complex brew... A lot going on here between the malts and yeast notes.... And deffinatly a more carbonated mouthfeel then I am used to... Overall I enjoyed this brew and would deffinatly drink it again. It just seems to grow on me more and more as I drink it.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 00:38:01 | More by PeterIngemi

u2carew

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle
A) Pours with a big tan colored head, settles slightly but not much - good retention. Tight and creamy. Opaque body.
S) Roasted malts. Hints of coffee and chocolate.
T) A spicy opening to this brew - pepper, alcohol. Earthy, chalky. Hints of molasses. A bitter bite in the finish.
M) Medium to full body. Dry finish.
O) A very good brew. I'd definitely have another. A diverse flavor profile with a lot of good things going on.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 00:55:38 | More by u2carew

jondeelee

Massachusetts

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

Descendant Dark Ale opens with a spicy, peppery, malty nose. The aromas here bear witness to the “dark” part of the beer’s name, focusing heavily on chocolate, whole wheat toast crust, molasses and brown sugar, fig, anise, and dark caramels. Smatterings of peppery spice punctuate the nose, joined by kola nut. There’s also a lighter layer here, though, with candi sugar-like notes and touches of vanilla, lending the beer a sweet-shop like undertone, which provides strange, but lovely interplay with the darker tones. Hops are present in just enough quantity to add a grapefruit and light pine edge to the aromas. As a whole, the nose is quite interesting, being varied and nuanced, and is very inviting. My only qualm is that the nose is lighter than expected, likely a side effect of the lower 7% ABV, and I wanted a greater sugary malt presence.

On the tongue, the beer opens with dark ashy notes, bringing coffee and tobacco, but these are quickly joined by an excellent series of fruity esters, bringing fig, orange, apricot, berry, and touches of banana. Hops add a smidgen of citrusy grapefruit and lemon. The sugars die off after a little while, and the ashy notes rise again, with black malt and tobacco present in good quantity. The aftertaste is almost entirely ashy notes, and fades with moderate quickness. Mouthfeel is medium-light to medium, and carbonation is very high, almost champagne-like, and burns the tongue and soft palate.

Overall, there are excellent flavors in this brew, and the combination of ash and lovely fruit esters was delightful. However, the flavors ultimately come across as quite light and airy in presence, fading quickly and never quite reaching a decent strength even at their zenith, giving the brew a watery feel. And the high levels of carbonation add a strange mouthfeel, and quickly fill the stomach with air. Tone down the bubbly and boost the amount of ingredients by a few notches—say, make it 10% ABV—and this will be great beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 18:08:39 | More by jondeelee

YouSkeete

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very dark brown with a black appearance, two-finger thick light khaki head. Big smoky booziness with a complex arrangement of molasses, heavy cream, ground coffee, bittersweet chocolates, and dark fruits such as figs, cherries and dates come off the aroma. First sip is heavy on the dark fruits, moving into the creamy richness of coffee, bittersweet chocolates and molasses. Hints of smoke and bourbon make their way through into it's medium-sized body. Mildly bitter, rich and complex mouthfeel. Smooth and dry, boozy finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 23:51:24 | More by YouSkeete

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Will pour a five+ finger cream head that fades very slowly to a thin layer leaving a thick lace. Black color, no highlights. Strong carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Roasted malt nose and flavor is malty, bready, fairly smooth. The 7% ABV is totally hidden. $9.99 for a 750ml bottle from Julio's Liquors Westborough, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 22:49:38 | More by jdhilt

SABERG

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle (batch 004) into an HFB belgian glass.

A - Dark color, not much activity, very little head and no lacing.

S - Quite a bit going on here, figs, sugar, young bread dough and a splash of coffee.

T - Sweet up front with some boozy heat. The finish is long and fruity. No bitterness here.

M - Smooth and oily, sweetness but not sickley sweet. A linger on the tongue persists.

O - A tough read, this is strong, sweet, and intriuging. I read on prior reviews that the carbonation was strong, I could see that as a plus for the this brew, however not my experience.
All in all a solid effort.

SABERG

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 23:49:21 | More by SABERG

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

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

750ml bottle from batch 3.

Pours nearly opaque and very dark brown. Two-plus inches of tan foam settled slowly into a solid skim coat and dots of lacing.

Aromatics lead off with roasted malts, brown sugar, bubblegum, chocolate, and apples. Hints of coffee, char, and dark rum follow through.

Medium to fuller bodied with a velvety mouthfeel. A bit lush.

Dark chocolate, Kahlua, espresso, and bananas start the palate. Shades of dark rum, raisins, and oreo shells follow through.

Finishes with lingering roast, chocolate, and a hint of grape jam.

Tasty brew, somewhere between a stout, dubble, and quad.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 01:18:43 | More by brewandbbq

grannaniwa

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 ml, Batch 001

Left out of the fridge for about 20 mins, which seemed about right. Pours very dark with a strong head. Chocolately aromas. The taste starts out with the same chocolate flavors, then the sour and tart flavors slide under the strong malt. Went great with molasses baked beans!

“Renaud yeast, refermented with Rockpile. A dry Irish stout meets an English porter and is then fermented in the fermentorium with our saison yeast with a touch of the ubiquitous ingredient from the area's past: molasses.”

Overall: B+, fun if you can find the right time to drink it.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 02:29:07 | More by grannaniwa

ksimons

New York

3.93/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-very dark brown with no visible highlights seen and a nice creamy looking head that sticks around for the glass

S-dark malt, dark fruits, molasses, a nice hint of chocolate and coffee, and then some Saison yeastyness. Very interesting

T-taste is similar to the smell, dark fruit comes up dominant, followed by dark bread, very light dry coffee, and chocolate. Not picking up as much yeast in the taste.

M-Descendant just reaches a medium body, medium carbonation. Wish there was just a little more body in this one

Overall a very interesting, complex beer. I really enjoyed it and will definitely try it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 00:19:19 | More by ksimons

05Harley

New Hampshire

3.6/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled on 10/4/11
Batch# 001

Purchased @ Julio's Liquors, Westborough Ma

Price -$9.99/bomber

A dry Irish stout meets an English porter and is then fermented with a saison yeast with a touch of the ubiquitous ingredient from the area's past: molasses.

ok, based on my experience this example should be labeled more as a saison than a stout or porter, but I'll play..

Pour this one to the side like a saison because it foams quickly (through out the whole experience) revealing a long lasting soapy light tan head and a deep brown color. Thick heavy lacing adorns the glassware, Wow the Belgian yeast is more than evident.

The aroma is unmistakeable with spicey saison yeast, brown sugar, clove, pepper and molasses. Somewhat soft like a summer breeze.

The flavor is light and a little misleading. The nearly complete absence of funk, noticeable malt sweetness, molasses and nutty finish leads one down the path of something other than a saison.

The mouthfeel is not surprisingly light for a saison style. Thin and somewhat dry with a ton of carbonation this beer is refreshing.

Overall I really dig this as a unique style and look forward to more throughout the New England seasons. I'm not sure it's listed correctly, so therefore I need to experience this in all three seasons. Me thinks it will work well in spring and fall.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 22:32:05 | More by 05Harley

Cord018

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- jet black with a big frothy head.

S- coffee and a little chocolate. First off you can pick up the smell of a Belgian dark ale with the coffee and chocolate coming in after reminding you of a stout.

T- raisins, dates, coffee and a little chocolate. Very interesting. I can taste the belgian dark ale followed by a stout and porter. You pick a bit of the alcohol but it is far from overwhelming.

M- carbonation, yet smooth. Not heavy at all, very drinkable.

O- this is a very interesting beer. I am a big fan of the darker beers so this appealed to me. The Belgian dark ale, stout and porter mix is done very well. You can taste and smell each one. Very drinkable beer as well. A bit too carbonated but once it settles it is a winner. I will definitely look out for other Mystic brews.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 22:17:32 | More by Cord018

taez555

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a dark black body with an off-white head.

Taste is surprisingly thick and full bodied with a very slick, almost oily mouthfeel. Taste is interesting. Ripe dark fruits, raisins, dates but with an old coffee and oddly fruity funk espresso flavor. On top of that there's a rather large coffee bean type bitterness and a very earthy fungal sort of taste. Not in a bad way at all, more like a very natural earth flavor. Very dirt and grass sort of flavor. Actually you know what it is, it's more of a licorice flavor. Definitely a beer that gets much better as it warms

Interesting beer, it's sort of middle ground between english stout and belgian dubbel. A nice and different beer from a MA brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 01:14:11 | More by taez555

smcolw

Massachusetts

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

Large, beige head that recedes steadily to minimal level of bubbles. Ultimately, there is no lace. The color is dark ruby, brown. Light does pass lightly.

Smells a bit milky with light burnt toast in the background.

Mostly malty (of the darker variety), some near-burnt toast flavors. Thin bodied with higher level of carbonation. The swallow has an element of alcohol warmth along with mild hop.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 00:58:49 | More by smcolw

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Descendant pours a very dark brown/near black into the glass, with a massive creamy off white head on top. The foam dissolves very slowly and leaves the glass coated in lace as it descends to the surface of the beer.

The aroma is not too strong and is malty with a sour twang mixed in. Notes of molasses, roast malt, yeast, clove, pepper and flowers. Almost reminds me of a Belgian beer.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is smooth with an oily feel on the palate and soft effervescent carbonation. The flavor is malty and sweet with some spice and flowers at the end. It begins with roast malt and chocolate. In the middle some dark fruit notes (raisin or fig?) and molasses appear. It finishes dry with a touch of clove and hint of flowers. Once gone the chocolate, dark fruit and clove lingers on the palate.

This is an interesting, complex beer. There's a lot of different flavors in each sip that work in harmony together. No one flavor dominates.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 21:53:57 | More by WanderingFool

capeannbass36

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle...Batch 001. Bought in October, sat on for 2 months, perhaps should have drank this one "fresh"??

A- After an uncorking...champagne like "POP"...pours a clear very, very dark brown molasses color....red highlights up against a very bright light. Light tan/beige never ending head. Clumpy lacing throughout. Looks great!

S-Really sort of bland. Some dark fruit. Hint of molasses. Slightly bitter on end.

T- More or less follows the nose. Bittersweet finish. A little malt and yeast?

M- A little light for how it looks. Very light carbonation towards the end. Light filmy coating to mouth. Kind of dry.

O- First taste of this style. Nothing to compare it to. Not bad. But, nothing I can say that I would rush out for again.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 21:39:34 | More by capeannbass36

elNopalero

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review #200!

I picked up a bottle of this and their saison on a recent Boston outing. The saison was excellent but this beer is the one that I really shows Mystic’s unique voice coming through. The Descendant is a hybrid stout/porter fermented with a proprietary house saison yeast, brewed “in homage to our immigrant ancestors.” Now that’s a philosophy I can get behind!

This is from Batch 001. It pours a malty cola color with a nice creamy head. Smell is reminiscent of a solid stout—roasty malts dominate, with some dark coffee and toffee in the mix. A sprinkling of dark chocolate rounds it out.

The roasty notes carry over to the taste, with a clear dry finish. Light in body for a stout. Starts off sweet, in the manner of a darker English mild-style beer (aged in cabernet Sauvignon barrels, perhaps? Seems like it strikes a similar flavor profile and mouthfeel to some of the things I’ve tried from Austin’s Jester King) but in a stout-porter hybrid form. Simply wonderful, a great find!

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 20:59:29 | More by elNopalero

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.47/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours the darkest of browns with very faint brown highlights when held to light, a spirited level of carbonation produces a head that fills half the glass no matter how it is poured. Smells of caramel, brown sugar, roasted grains, burnt sugar, dark fruits, yeasty phenols, there's a lot going on here and so far its all good. Taste is dark malts, chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, raisins, prunes, plums. This is very complex lots of stuff going on here. Medium to thick body, quite a bit of carbonation, maybe too much, sweet saison-esque mouthfeel. I really enjoyed this beer. The carbonation might be a touch on the high side, but the flavors and aromas are fantastic. I would say this is more of a Belgian strong dark than a stout, but when a beer is done this well who needs labels really?

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 01:04:54 | More by johnnnniee

Jason

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml brown corked and caged bottle. Batch #1

LOOK: Not short of head, towering over the top of the glass. Shade or two from opaque ... full on black.

SMELL: Carob, chicory, nougat, faint yeast, toasted dark bread, ripe plums, green peppercorn, herbal, charcoal.

TASTE: Medium body, smooth, over-toasted bread, unsweetened chocolate, muted blueberries, burnt raisins, kiss of fig sugar, mild char, yeast, mellow herbal hop, estery, dry finish.

This beer is starting to grow on my, love the tri-hybrid style going on here. Stout & porter with a Belgian flare. A lot of flavor to take in here, a clear sipper as it ends up being super complex. I definitely will be revisiting this beer / future batches.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 03:01:13 | More by Jason

mlazzaro

Massachusetts

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

750 ml Bottle, cork and cage
Completely opaque black as black can be. No light can be seen though any part of the body. Creamy tan head that holds up nicely. Impeccable head retention and lacing. Really nice looking. Smell is kind of off putting. I can pick up on some dark malts, and light Belgian yeast. Almost has a wine character to the smell. Roasted barley really pulls through on the sip. Much thicker than I expected (which is relieving). Tastes like a stout, just Belgiany. Nice malty aftertaste. Molasses is mild competing against the malt bill. Pretty interesting beer. Oak in hitting the end of the sip. Bitterness in pleasant and suiting. I like it more as I sip on, but this has some odd conflicting flavors in my humble opinion. Interesting concept. Excellent presentation. Look forward to more future beer from Mystic.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 13:43:00 | More by mlazzaro

Gushue3

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A Even with a gentle pour theres a gigantic head 3-4 times the size of the boy. Very foamy and thick head with lots of retention. The body is a very dark brown that can be seen through right around the edges.

S Brown sugar and molasses sweetness come out along with a subtle alcohol scent.

T much like the nose with molasses and some sweetness. Some roastiness and a slight bitterness on the finish. Reminds me of a brown ale with a little more sweetness.

M Lighter side of medium with lots of bubbly carbonation.

O Nice beer here. A combination of nice flavors but nothing really stood out to me. Slightly over carbonated I felt but not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 00:45:33 | More by Gushue3

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

loud pop of the cork and a huge head hints at some aggressive bottle conditioning. a muddy brown body with a light tan head that fills more than half of my duvel tulip. the head sticks around for a while letting the beer warm a bit and laces a ton when it finally decides to recede.

lots of dark fruits, some roasted malts, no hops detected. molasses, yeah, but its not dark molasses. caramel toffee cocoa dried figs raisins and a slight funk can all be detected.

dried fruits come first, then roast comes in bringing behind it some bitter cocoa and caramel sweetness. a slight woody hoppiness and maybe some roasted nuts come in as well and a slight funk comes in for a quick visit. some spice from the belgian yeast comes on the finish and lingers with some fruity sweetness for a while. somewhat metallic at times, which detracts a bit. a lot going on, but nothing grabs for your attention.

a bit light and with a thin finish but a sweet coating left behind.

It's good. not as good as their saison, but one I enjoyed. I wouldn't be opposed to trying subsequent batches of this beer as it has underlying potential that it seems to fail to cash in on.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 03:18:44 | More by silentjay