Grand Cru Winter Reserve
Flying Fish Brewing Company

Grand Cru Winter ReserveGrand Cru Winter Reserve
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From:
Flying Fish Brewing Company
 
New Jersey, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
Ranked #174
ABV:
7.2%
Score:
83
Ranked #24,361
Avg:
3.65 | pDev: 13.15%
Reviews:
248
Ratings:
605
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 21, 2024
Added:
Sep 14, 2002
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  102
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by fmccormi:
Photo of fmccormi
Reviewed by fmccormi from California

3.67/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Straight pour from a 12oz pry-off bottle to a 25cl Duvel Single tulip; freshness date of April 5, 2013 printed in white ink near the bottom-left corner of the label (“04-05-13”). Not sure when this was bottled, then, but the Flying Fish website lists this as a seasonal available from November to February, so my guess is this was bottled in early November or December, making it about one or more likely two months old on the date of consumption.

Appearance (3.5): A full two fingers of very fine-grained, bone-white foam comes off the pour, capping a glowing orange-amber body that’s evenly hazy throughout. Moderate retention and very modest lacing, leaving some scattered suds on one side of the glass and no real lacing. Body’s pretty, head’s a bit lacking but not unexpectedly so.

Smell (4.0): Prominent clove and fruit character (pear and kind of a sweet, red candy apple) with a bit of coriander underneath, no pepper to speak of but still spicy. Despite the relatively low ABV, there’s something like a boozy character in there, too. A very pleasant nose.

Taste (3.5): The booziness in the nose melds well with the fruity esters from the yeast in this beer, turning the pear and apple notes into something almost lemony with a tart edge. The malt is plain, blonde, and moderately sweet, as would be expected of a typical BSPA: biscuity with a candi sugar sweetness underneath. There’s a somewhat floral, modestly bitter hop character in the finish. Nothing too surprising, but it’s pleasant. Surprisingly boozy for the size of the beer.

Mouthfeel (4.0): The carbonation is nice and smooth, neither prickly nor particularly tingly but active and filling with a nice, full, foaming action on the way down. The booziness on the palate helps dry out the finish, which without it would be a bit syrupy from the candi sweetness in the malt profile.

Overall (3.5): This is a decent beer, don’t get me wrong. It’s doing everything more or less right, but it’s not really bringing anything new or notable to the table, either. It’s also surprisingly boozy for the size, which doesn’t particularly bother me but it’s a little unexpected. All in all, it’s a decent Belgian Pale that’s not quite BSPA but a little strong, in character and content, for a BPA.
Jan 06, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Hayesbro
Reviewed by Hayesbro from Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Pale straw with a fizzy head. Malty, funky aroma. Decent flavor with some fruity notes and malt flavors, a touch watery. Mouthfeel was very light and insubstantial for something in this style with this AbV.
Jan 21, 2024
 
Rated: 3.98 by Rub_This_BBQ from Massachusetts

Dec 30, 2021
 
Rated: 3.53 by Jcarriglio from Florida

Jan 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Apr 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.66 by chiefz1 from New York

Mar 19, 2019
 
Rated: 3.83 by Swilliams987 from New Jersey

Mar 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.52 by jgiordano88 from Pennsylvania

Mar 02, 2019
 
Rated: 3.71 by Zaktcc from Maryland

Jan 19, 2019
 
Rated: 3.63 by brutalist from Pennsylvania

Jan 13, 2019
Photo of lastmango
Reviewed by lastmango from Pennsylvania

3.52/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a clear amber color with minimal bubbles and a one finger white head that dissipated immediately. Light lacing was present. Nose was sweet, slightly bready and a bit soapy. Taste is very sweet malt forward and a very mellow hops note with a bit of pepper. Light body and carbonation. No complexity. Much better BSPAs are out there.
Jan 12, 2019
Photo of mpyle
Reviewed by mpyle from Maryland

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
My bottle (expiration date May 2019) says 6.9% ABV and has a different looking label. Thanks to my friend Dave for providing.

Very pale golden color. Good clarity and a big white head, creamy and with good retention.

Subtle hop aroma, but generally quite clean. Slight phenolic peppery nose.

Some initial sweetness infused with a bit of Belgian yeast character and some pepper. An earthy hop flavor, but all pretty mellow on the flavor. Not strongly bitter, but does dry a bit in the finish.

Medium body and high carbonation. No astringency, very slight warming.

Honestly had no idea what to expect with this one. Found it to be a very clean and bright tasting beer. Nice Belgian character, and restrained hopping.
Jan 12, 2019
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

3.77/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I tried this on tap at The Standard Tap in Philadelphia. It poured a clear golden with white head that is leaving some lace. The scent had hints of Belgian sweet malt and bitter hop notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with strong Belgian malt base and hop highlights. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall its a good beer.
Dec 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.58 by hozersr from Pennsylvania

Dec 16, 2018
Photo of Cylinsier
Reviewed by Cylinsier from Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle

Pours clear golden, white lacing for a head.

Smells of honey, candi sugar and sweet bread malt.

Flavor is honey, candi sugar, banana, coriander, hint of bubblegum, and sweet roll.

Medium body, tingly carbonation on the tongue.

Decent rich ale, very malty sweet. Nothing really special about it but it's not bad. Pour is all wrong for a Belgian, no head.
Sep 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.28 by curlybird from Pennsylvania

Aug 23, 2018
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Clear light golden pour with 2 fingers of fluffy white head. Solid rim of lacing.

S: Citrusy and light... Belgian yeast and toasty grains.

T.F: Sweet lightly toasted malts... not as complex as expected... light lemony citrus. Mild hopping but too sweet for the style. Lacking a lot of the Belgian yeast character I'd hope for... not much spice... slightly grassy and an off flavor at the finish. Buttery carbonation... relatively smooth.

O: A below average Belgian Strong Pale. Too sweet... lacking complexity... not one I'd seek out or pick up again.
Jun 01, 2018
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle into a tall glass. Winter 2016/17 release, best by March 2017.

Careful pour shows a clear golden yellow body with nice foamy white head leaving good lacing.

Good whiff of Belgian spices on the nose.

Spices come through strong on the taste as well. Not much else can be detected.

Mouth is medium, finish spicy and just a little on the harsh side.

Overall, not sure how different this would be fresh, but it's a worthwhile drink now.
May 29, 2018
 
Rated: 3.65 by B_B from California

May 02, 2018
Photo of Franziskaner
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri

3.29/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Copper colored with a faint haziness in the complexion. There's a fingernail of off white around most of the rim and just a trace elsewhere on top. I smell Belgian pale malt and light candy sugar, but the malt is a bit sweeter and honeylike smelling than usual. The taste is focused mainly on the Belgian pale malt, but the slightly sweet finish is missing. The body seems unusually light and a tad watery for the style. I will say that for the ABV the booze is well hidden and this can really sneak up on you.
Feb 18, 2018
Grand Cru Winter Reserve from Flying Fish Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 605 ratings