He'Brew Jewbelation Fifteen - Shmaltz Brewing Company

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of drabmuh. Served in a snifter.

Pours a dark brown color with a thin off white head and a bit of a collar throughout. The nose h some chocolate and dark fruits with a bit of booze. Flavor is retry smooth with a nice dark fruit presence along with coffee and a touch of roast. Some warming booze is around in the background. Body is medium to full with a bit too much heat. Pretty good, but there's too much heat on the backend to be super enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 19:29:09 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

4.15/5  rDev +3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours an almost opaque super dark brown with a 1 inch puffy dark khaki head that fizzles down to nothing. Random spots of lace drip back into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of lots of malt, dark fruits, alcohol. Taste is of toasty/roasty/sweet malt, candied fruit, cocoa, and an alcohol bite. There is a bit of a soy sauce flavor on the aftertaste. This beer is pretty hearty and thick with a sticky and chewy mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty great beer based on the smell alone and the taste is good but it seems a bit muddled right now. I bet this one will age into something awesome compared to some of the other Jewbelations I have tried.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 07:38:35 | More by UCLABrewN84

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.43/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours out a very, very dark brown body with a large-sized, toasted khaki-colored head.

Smell: Layers of sugar, dark syrup, sugar, and more sugar over roasted fruits with a spritz of swelling liquor. Over the years, their anniversary brews have gone from bold and big to now morbid and despondent.

Taste: Sharply sweet Coca-Cola soda syrup and chilled molasses glazed figs, dates, and prunes. Sweet enough that I cringed a bit, and it's well-known I likes'm sweet. Remains notably fruity throughout, maybe even kicking up a notch. Also super sweet throughout. Faint, ineffective flutterings of citrus, spice, and leafy hops trying to shine through the heavy malts and residual sweetness. Some bitterness felt. Some ethanol felt, too. Very sweet, highly fruity finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium carbonation. Some sticky syrupiness here.

Overall: I thought last year's Fourteen needed some time to settle and smooth out, and I most certainly feel the same for Fifteen (plus a tall glass of water to help wash it down). It's all quite decent (for a 15% brew), but I'm really beginning to long for the big, bold, but more well-rounded anniversary brews of past years.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 20:01:27 | More by ChainGangGuy

metter98

New York

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is essentially jet black in color—only a few traces of amber are visible near the edge of the glass when it is held up to the light. It poured with a thin, dense tan head that quickly faded away, leaving only a bit of lacing on the surface and a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of dark fruits in the nose—prunes seem to stand out in particular—along with some hints of brown sugar.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste is quite malty and has flavors of dark fruits along with hints of chocolate.
M: It feels full-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. Not much stickiness is noticeable. Little, if any warming from the alcohol is perceptible.
O: This beer is definitely a slow sipper given its strength but the alcohol is surprisingly well masked from the taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 01:52:18 | More by metter98

drabmuh

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a Jewbelation glass. This is something that happens in my house.

Beer is dark brown and visibly thick as it leaves a coating and legs on the walls of the glass, big tan / brown head, small bubbles, some lacing, low carbonation, decent retention.

Aroma is sweet and boozy, mild roast.

Beer is very thick, very sweet, a little dry and bitter on the end from a grainy roastiness. An interesting beer but it is a lot to take in. This bomber put me to bed last night, this is an unlikely repeat.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 18:54:06 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to jjfoodie for sharing this bottle. Drank alongside Genesis 15:15 and Funky Jewbelation.

The beer pours a brownish color with a tan head. The aroma is exactly like most of other beers in this series. I get a ton of booze as well as a big dose of molasses. The flavor is similar. There is a ton of brown sugar/molasses, as well as some chocolate and caramel malt. The alcohol is also very noticeable. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. While I do like this beer, I really wonder how much longer Schmaltz can keep going with this series because all of the beers are beginning to be very similar - huge, boozy brown ales.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 15:42:14 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaque, dark, dark brown color with a one-finger brown head of light foam. It left very minimal lacing.

S - It smelled of chocolate, burnt molasses and boozy notes.

T - It tasted of chocolate, toffee and caramel. Subtle booziness - for 15% its hidden pretty well. Just enough bitterness for some balance.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A full bodied ale with a warm alcohol presence and dry finish.

O - This is good. Not as boozy as you'd expect for 15% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 02:17:15 | More by zeff80

MasterSki

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this with Jason back in December, and then picked up a bottle on my own at Binny's. Served in a FFF/Intelligentsia snifter.

A - Quick-dissolving white foam settles to a very thin ring and not much else. Dark brown body with some ruby highlights. Pretty consistent with what you'd expect for the style and alcohol content.

S - A massive amount of malt presence. Big cherry and candied fruit flavors, cola, grapes, molasses, dark fruits, a touch of leather, burnt sugars, and perhaps a touch of cough syrup and alcohol.

T - The taste is pretty much on point with the aroma. There's less leather and burnt flavors and the hops finally make an appearance lending some bitterness to the finish. Tons of dark fruits, candied cherries, and other sweet things. Gets a tad rough when it reaches room temperature, but you should be sharing this with friends!

M - Low carbonation, sticky texture, medium-full body, and mild alcohol warmth.

D - I liked this one more than Fourteen but less than Thirteen. Still, the alcohol per dollar ratio can't be beat, and these He'Brew offerings continue to pleasantly surprise me. Far more drinkable than other beers with the same ABV for some reason.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 15:17:58 | More by MasterSki

Halcyondays

California

3.9/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bomber,

A: Pours mahogany with a small off-white head, fair retention, light lace.

S: Lots of brown sugar, dates, molasses.

T: Sweet malt dominates. Dark fruit, caramelized brown sugar. Sweet and to the point. Not really boozy.

M: Full-bodied, never really cloying for how sweet it is. Soft carbonation. Elegant finish.

O: Great QPR, something this big for only $8 a bomber. I miss it at $5, but what are you going to do. This could age forever, so much sugar and ethanol.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 05:39:36 | More by Halcyondays

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle. Well, Hanukkah starts today, or so says my multicultural, realtor-sponsored calendar, and this Golem of a beer just seems like a spiffy accompaniment, poured into my Jewbelation glass from last year's vertical gift pack.

This beer appears a solid brown abyss, until you check the edges, and find some relatively bright cola-hued inroads. It gives up two fingers of foamy, frothy mocha head, which settles at a leisurely pace, eventually exposing a sloppy paint job coating of shoreline lace around the glass.

It smells of warm brown sugar, molasses, caramel/toffee, mild oily leather, some chocolaty cereal grain, and citrusy, leafy hops. Any booze is not surprisingly sly - I've seen this trick before, in this very offering's predecessors.

Jumping into this headfirst, the initial gulp explodes my mind, and blurs any attempt at dissection. Upon picking up the pieces, and going back in for a more tempered, and now somewhat acclimatized sup, I get some big, big (big) dark chocolate, earthy molasses, sauced black fruit, taffy, mildly toasted grain, subtle citrus cream, and bitter leafy, almost herbal, hops, which weirdly, and admirably, suppress a weakly rising alcohol warming.

Somewhere in there, I suppose there's a nod to some seriously oppressed bubbles, but that's really just a minor concern to the here and now. The body is one big ball of smooth, heavy, unctuous, and syrupy, well, potential, one that steadies the pace to thankful degree. It feels like something has got to give (up or out), and the finish kind of disappoints in that matter, as it more or less just hums with further anticipation - sweet and malty, you bet your ass - but also more assertively hoppy and simmeringly warm than anything up to this point in the game.

They've sure and well done it again, another proverbial notch in He'brew's belt. An insane numbers-based beer that would easily moisten the average accountant's pants, with the less than common bonus caveat of stellar big boy beer goodness. It kind of seems like a disservice to describe this beast as drinkable, if not quite totally balanced, but lo and behold, it just seems that way. And crazily so, eight nights' worth, even!

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 01:00:58 | More by biboergosum

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a very dark brown with good carbonation leaving a dirty white cap and some bubbles

S: Nose was chocolate, dark fruits, light bourbon and booze sting

T: Big chocolate, dates, figs, raisins with a light booze feel. Some Earthy notes, toffee and caramel. Pine and fruits are noticable but pretty masked.

M: Hefty, a bit sticky, well carbonated, lots of flavor. The palate feels like a chocolate covered fig.

O: Very good. Lots of flavor, booze is well masked

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2011 15:17:10 | More by barleywinefiend

mactrail

California

3.65/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown in the Stella chalice. Looks, and tastes, like melted brown sugar. Toasted marshmallows on top. Viscous and syrupy. The aroma of hot caramel is nice.

This is more of an after dinner liqueur. Really, it's better than Benedictine and that kind of stuff. Every shade of roasted malt and burnt barley seems to make an appearance, like some kind of variety show. Bitter hops create a little disturbance, and the sweet and bitter flavor is not so great. But the show goes on with molasses and some sharp fruity notes. Thoroughly interesting and nuclear powered.

You either like this kind of stuff or you don't. Shmaltz excels at the ridiculous malt bomb kind of beer, and this one sets a new high, or low.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 05:55:29 | More by mactrail

smakawhat

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

And time to finally finish off Hanukkah gift pack. Poured into a nonic pint glass for review.

A real nice colored light chocolate head, kind of creamy and foamy in appearance. Head though is barely a finger tall but manages it seems a thick puck for some time while drinking. Keeps a good collar. Body color is a dark reddish brown can't quite see through it.

Nose feels very barleywine like. Sweet malts and fruit, a little bit of vinous sense, hints of sour cherry and juicy.

Very creamy mouthfeel with a big juicy palate. Cherry juice fruit bomb on the palate, with an almost syrupy sweetness. Rich tasting and big. Alcohol stomach warming, luckily not boozy tasting. Bursting sweet red cherries.

Overall quite enjoyable. Probably the best beer in the gift pack. Not sure if this has meant that I am up for more Shmaltz but who knows.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 22:18:48 | More by smakawhat

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

355ml bottle poured into tulip 23/12/11

A dark brown with cola at the edges, didn't expect much head with something this strong but is whips two fingers of dark mocha head that quickly falls to a thin film leaving no lace

S chocolate covered raisins and prunes, some others dark fruits both dried and fresh, molasses and brown sugar with some booze but nowhere near what you would expect at 15%, just a little licorice

T some hops on top of what I smell but I can't really pick out anything specific, much like the smell but just a little more intense, there's a little nutty toffee in there too, tastes great and the booze is there but I'd never guess it's as strong as it is

M thick and silky with just enough bubbles too give it some life, some heat but again not as much as one would expect, a little sticky on the lips

O lots of flavors with great complexity, well concealed booze with all things considered, pretty solid stuff

this would be great with a couple years on it, its drinking well now but after the already mellow booze mellows out completely it would be just awesome. I'll be buying a few bombers of this stuff but this single isn't going to make up for the price of the Gift Pack it came in

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 02:13:52 | More by wordemupg

AgentZero

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

If you want a bargain, this 15% brew was a steal at a mere $5.99 at Whole Foods.

A - Super dark beer, almost black. There's a nice brown head with some decent lace.

S - Smells exceptionally sweet. Lots of caramel, some syrup, brown sugar, lots of dark fruit. A bit like a sweet quad in some aspects.

T - This is very sweet. At 15% there is some booze present, but nearly what you would expect as the brown sugar and dark fruits tone it down considerably. Too sweet for me, but not bad.

M - Full bodied, thick, moderate carbonation.

O - Nice beer, great bank for the buck. Probably won't buy it again as it's too sweet, but it's solid.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 16:26:52 | More by AgentZero

champ103

Texas

3.33/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a near opaque black. Just a hint of ruby/brown around the edges. A bubbly tan head is slow to rise, but eventually reaches to a finger. The foam gently recedes with some patchy lace.
S: Not much in the nose. Roasted malt, light coffee and chocolate.
T: Really big and really sweet. Way under attenuated, but still not bad. The roast tries to balance that out. Big alcohol punch as well.
M/D: A full, sticky, and syrupy body. Of coarse there is lots of alcohol, which makes this hard for me to sip on and finish.

I am stating the obvious, but this is really big. Lots of sweetness, lots of alcohol, and just to much right now. For me anyway. This needs to sit for a few years to be enjoyable and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 00:41:49 | More by champ103

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Mikro.

A: Pours a clear, deep ruby-brown body with a thin cap of dense light-brown head; good retention and lace for such a big beer. Very nice.

S: Pungent: brown sugar, cherries, dark fruits, light acetone, and a hint of smoke. Very sweet and boozy, but thoroughly enjoyable all the same.

T: Follows the nose: huge malty and fruity sweetness up front, with some sweet and spicy alcohol building in on the finish. Hot, but more like 12% hot than 15% hot - quite smooth for what it is. Tasty.

M: Very smooth, medium-full body with moderate, creamy carbonation and only light stickiness. Excellent.

O: I enjoyed trying this one, and it's certainly a good value, but I really think that it would have been better if the ABV were less astronomical. It's not as solventy as some beers of similalry strength (cough DFH cough), but it could be better.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2011 01:45:27 | More by woosterbill

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got the 15 as part of the mixed pack which was mixed and matched.

A - Much more head in the bottle pour, same dark body and tan head.

S - Caramel, toffee, raisins, (no bourbon) smells overall sweet.

T - My god this might be the single best beer over 14% I had! Over Samichlaus in fact! Smooth caramel and dark fruit flavors clash with a perfect balance of hops and malt. Could it be that I had some sort of different beer on tap?

M - With no ABV burn and balanced taste this one drinks around 8 or 9. So smooth and dangerously drinkable.

Overall man I have no idea what I was served on tap. Maybe it was that bourbon barrel aged barleywine, but my old review still stands since I am not sure. I would easily kill a bomber to myself no problem but these 12oz bottles are perfect for one a sitting. Maybe I will go back and mix/match the last two...

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 06:50:51 | More by DrDemento456

tdm168

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very dark black with a thin lacing of cappuccino head that has good retention. The nose dark fruit, chocolate malt, and woody, earthy tones. The nose is so complex it's hard to identify all of the aromas. The flavor is chocolate, caramel, barley, pine, dark fruit, rich, sweet, sugary, cherries, oak, wood, maple...oh the list goes on. This is so complex. This is a full bodied, well carbonated, rich, smooth beer.

I'm so impressed that out of 15 malts and 15 hops would come something so balanced and so rich and smooth. I can't say enough about it, it's so delicious. At 15% though this could be a very dangerous beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 04:32:25 | More by tdm168

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been intrigued by the idea of this beer, and finally found a bottle at Bottle Caps in Daytona Beach.

The beer was black in color with a medium-sized tan head. There was a fair amount of lace.

Interesting aroma of dark fruit, brown sugar, and some herbal hops.

Big brown sugar/caramel taste. Also a lot of raisins and plums. Plus a little bit of piney hops.

This was a very malt-forward beer. I didn't get a very large hop presence. The alcohol was very well hidden (at least until I finished the bomber).

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 19:38:04 | More by lordofthewiens

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark black with a touch of brown around the edges with a thin finger of frothy khaki-chocolate head. The head fades at a normal pace leaving behind some light lacing.

S - Aroma is roasted dark caramel malts, chocolate malts, dark fruits, molasses, black licorice, coffee, with a bit of citrus and pine hops and some booze.

T - Starts off with some dark caramel malts, chocolate malts, raisin and other dark fruits, and some black licorice with a bit of grapefruit. Through the middle, pine hops, coffee and more dark chocolate malts come through. The finish is a mix of dark chocolate malts, dark fruits, molasses, a bit of pine hops and some booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. Good complex malty profile with enough body and booze to balance.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 06:09:25 | More by ngeunit1

maximum12

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I am growing fonder of this brewery by the beer, so another big anniversary brew? Bring it on. 15/15/15. Put the car keys under the porch.

Pour is very dark with an inkling of amber around the periphery; plenty of jazz for a big steroid-infused beer. Nose is very sweet, muddled, maybe molasses? The sheer number of malts might be confusing my olfactory factory.

Jewbelation Fifteen richer than Robert Murdoch & not a tenth as offensive. Rich, & deep. Lovely sweet malts that mimic molasses on the tongue, sweet raisins, apple/grape juice, scorched sugars. Alcohol free, except for the heat leaking into my belly. Thicker than roof tar, this sticks to every vital it encounters. Tasty enough to be dangerous; this should have a bright warning label attached to it.

Wickedly excellent beer. Jewbelation might have a good shtick going on, but behind it they make really good beers. Here's another. Just don't drink it & try to operate a bulldozer.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 02:43:56 | More by maximum12

billab914

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle into my CBS snifter. It poured pretty close to black in color with a thin, frothy, tan head clinging to the edges of the glass.

The aroma has sweeter, malty profile to it with some notes of brown sugar, toffee and molasses all coming through. A little bit of a hoppy citrusness is there as well as a hint of cinnamon like spice.

The taste also highlights a lot of the malty flavors throughout it. Toffee, brown sugar and molasses are again all things that come to mind. Some dry, roasty qualities come out in the finish and mix with just a hint of hoppy citrus.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side with carbonation being low. Overall it was a pretty nice beer. The malty flavors really had a nice range of flavors to it. Relatively easy drinking and balanced for the style and size of it as well. Very enjoyable beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 03:05:34 | More by billab914

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From a 650 ml brown bottle. Pours out an intense deep opaque brown hue, capped by a creamy mocha head that quickly settles to a thin dense layer that retains.

Intense boozy sweet notes on the nose: figs, dates, molasses, raisins, Concord grapes, black cherries, rummy brown sugar, toffee, mocha, mild leafy hop. Complex.

The flavour ensures that we have a return of the calibre of the amazing Jewbelation 13. Purple grapes, black cherries, guava and papaya up front in the flavour, followed with treacle and rummy raisins. A dryness sets in of cocoa, dark grains and spicy, leafy hops. Sticky, boozy, vinous finish and aftertaste with a lingering alcohol warmth.

Mouthfeel is on the fuller side, texture is heavy and velvety, low carbonation.

Following the relative trend of the Jewbelations to be hit miss hit miss, this one lands on the upswing of a hit, and is of the same complex and high standard that He'Brew set with the Jewbelation 13, which until now was their zenith of excellence. This one's a bit murkier when it comes to all accountable elements, but it just leaves more leg room open to pull off a Scooby-Doo/Hardy Boys mystery in unravelling everything else to be found lurking in this big beer. Snap one up if you can, I'll be grabbing more.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 07:27:10 | More by IronDjinn

Mitchster

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Probably everybody knows the story by now: 15 malts, 15 hops, 15% ABV, 15th year anniversary.

The malts are specialty 2 row, best malz vienna, canada munich, canada wheat, fawcett chocolate, fawcett crystal rye malt, fawcett dark crystal, canada rye malt, MFB caramunich 40, Best Malt Caramel malt pils, Best Malz caramel malt light, MFB Kiln amber, wyermann chocolate wheat, G&P flaked oats, flaked spelt, and flaked quinoa.

The hops are ahtanum, amarillo, apolla, cascade, centennial, citra, columbus, crystal, fuggle, golding, palisade, simcoe, summit, tettnang, and willamette.

In addition, they used rice hulls, promozyme, biocellulase, whirfloc, servomyces, 700lbs of cane sugar, 50lbs of raw sugar, and 55lbs of dark candi sugar with a 225 minute boil. Whew!
$5.49 for a 22oz bottle. What a deal.

Pours out to a very dark brown, near black, forming a dense creamy dark tan head with superior retention and solid lacing. Mild to moderate carbonation. The aroma is rich with dark fruits...prunes, dates, figs, carob, raisins, rum, milk chocolate, leather, and moist pipe tobacco. When swirled, I get an interesting green ho character. Lovely stuff, this. The mouthfeel is dense, syrupy and thoroughly coats the mouth and tongue. The taste is a recap of the aroma...all the dark fruits in droves, followed by carob and pipe tobacco, and a green hop nose. Honestly, I could stand to use more bittering hops to balance this sucker out. Sharp acidity, no doubt from the copious hops. I think adding some gypsum would help this as well. Long aftertaste of dark fruit. The alcohol is not as potent as one would think. The flavors are so rich, it overwhelms what you otherwise would pick up in something more subtle.

A lovely beer. Well worth storing and aging. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 01:00:36 | More by Mitchster