Tall Dark & Belgian (aka: Santa's Naughty Enabler) - West Sixth Brewing Company

KYGunner

Kentucky

3.8/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured deep dark and red this Belgian Strong was exactly as it was supposed to be....dark and strong. It had a nice creamy head that stayed throughout and it was very pretty in the snifter.

The aroma was kind of weak, sweet malts but I didn't get some of the other tones that had been mentioned.

The taste was smooth with the sweet malt flavor being prominent. Felt a bit of raisin or prune on the tongue and then a hint of hops. The sweet malts win out overall but its not an overpowering sweetness that might turn one away. There was no alcohol brashness which makes this a very nice Belgian for starters like me.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2012 22:41:18 | More by KYGunner

DavidRose

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +4.7%

01-28-2013 23:51:09 | More by DavidRose

ortie

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

01-01-2013 06:25:38 | More by ortie

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.73/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Designed with the cold months of winter in mind, the West Sixth Brewery extends their Belgiany portfolio by rolling out a stronger, darker ale to ward off the snow and warm the soul.

The beer pours with a decadent rust color that cascades slowly as the foam separates from the beer below. Sandy tan in its color, the sturdy head caps the beer with a dense sheet and shows shy lacing as the beer fades. Its darkness shieds the light further with its signature yeast haze. It truly is tall, dark, and Belgian.

Cola nut, grape, twangy berries, and slight vinous wine notes rise from the glass and captivate the nose with its succulent sweet and estery notes. Black pepper, dried wood, and faint herbal hops offer balance against the sweeter and fruitier upstart.

Dense malt sweetness coats the mouth with notions of hard candies, caramel, and dark fruit. Plumb, dates, red grapes, cherries, prunes, and raisins capture the essence of dried pitted fruit. The complementary balance of fresh cracked peppercorn, dusty wood, and vinous acidity shyly approaches even-keel status but allows the sweetness to pull ahead in finish.

The beer's early creaminess provides a lush and smooth texture that deters the pang of sparklingling wine. Instead, the beer prefers richness and supple malty weight. Mild residual sweetness clings onto the mouth, even as the peppery sharpness, light acidity, and alcoholic warmth tries to dry the palate.

Tall Dark & Belgian is a formidable dark ale that has an overall simplified palate with sweeter taste than many of the abbey versions of Belgium. It's ideal for the unanitiated Belgian ale drinkers looking to move into the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2012 01:13:07 | More by BEERchitect