Collaborative Evil 2008 - Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery

botham

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

on tap poured into a goblet at the brewpub in Flossmoor. pours a dark brownish garnet color with a single finger of tan, dense head that has good retention and leaves no lacings.

aroma is mildly sweet, with a distinct herbal quality and subtle malt notes of caramel and dark fruit. overall the brew takes on a medicinal quality from the herbal undertones, imparting a pleasant aura overall.

taste is heavy on malts, with a caramel base and a warming backbone of sweet biscuit and caramelized malt. the same herbal undertones envelop the malt, creating a wonderfully complex and complete profile. the 10% APV is barely detectable, with notes of dark fruit (plum and raisen) rounding out the profile. finishes on a malty note with the same herbal quality lingering after the fact. aftertaste is of dark fruit and a bit of black malt without being bitter.

mouthfeel is excellent. a full bodied brew with a complex character and a smooth mouthfeel that rounds out the malty profile and covers up the alcohol nicely. one would think that this has been aged for wuite a while due to the smoothness of the overall brew.

drinkability is great. this is a big brew with solid malt complexity and a very unique overall character. a wonderful fall/winter seasonal with a nice warming quality from the richness and the alcohol. Flossmoor is worth a trip just for this brew. cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2008 23:16:58 | More by botham

rye726

Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Not sure is I would call this a BSDA, but is fro sure a delicious brew. Pours a dark brown with a decent head. The nose is simply amazing. It has the most earthy and herbal aromas I have ever experienced in a beer. The taste was quite nice as well. Good malt profile along with the spicy green hops. Full body goes down well. A fantastic offering.

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2008 02:36:25 | More by rye726

brentk56

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a burnt caramel color and a very modest head which leaves a bit of lace before morphing into a ringlet

Smell: Dried cardomom dominates along with cherry, ginger and Cheerwine (you have to be from NC to get this)

Taste: Opens with a cherry flavor that is joined by the cardomom, cinnamon and ginger flavors at mid-palate; lots of dark fruit and candi sugar aspects in there, too; after the spices dominate the flavor profile, although there are some yeasty dark fruit elements discernable underneath

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body but a bit undercarbonated for a Belgian style

Drinkability: The spice profile is very interesting and a nice experiment but, to my palate, a bit overwhelming relative to the BSDA elements; it would be a much better beer if the two aspects were reversed

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2008 23:06:53 | More by brentk56

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.58/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This has a frothy, dark tan colored head that sits on top of a murky, amber tinged, dark brown colored beer. Wow, this smells strongly of cardamom with a mix of aromatic notes of cola, clove, an at times green herbaceous note and even a distinct hemp like notes. The aroma is also quite herbal, and I was actually a bit surprised by how spicy this was.

The herbal / hemp flavor continues on in the flavor, but there is also lots of expressive cardamom character as well as a clove-like finish to the beer. This is fairly sweet and has a chewy, rich, viscous bodied, amply maltiness to it as well. The herbal notes are interesting in their intensity; at times it is mint-like and at others more menthol oriented, but both are probably a result of the dominant cardamom character. Underneath all the spice character, and accentuated by the rich malt character, is a hidden, rich, fruity backdrop that adds notes of raisins and figs.

Once tasted, I realized this was obviously quite amply spiced. This will most definitely age quite well for quite some time, especially since the spice character is fairly intense. It is not spiced to overwhelming levels though and, despite all my focus / complaining, is even fairly enjoyable fresh, but I definitely prefer a much more subtle approach to spicing beers.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2008 02:31:24 | More by Gueuzedude

bamadog

Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I lucked out and happened into a beer shop at the right time - when one of our fellow BAs was needing to sell off a good chunk of his collection for some bills... This is the original vintage, and I'm pretty pumped to give it a shot. Review is from notes taken on 7/30/2012 and poured from the bottle to a snifter.

Appearance: Pour is a dark, burnt caramel brown with some ruby to it; starts with a 1/2 finger dark tan creamy head that fades pretty quickly to nothing other than a thin, incomplete peninsula of a cap with a thicker, foamier ring around the surface; body is murky, hard to see too far into but near the sides of the glass where the light penetrates one can see tiny and quick streams of carbonation bubbling up throughout;

Smell: A lot of sweet malts with Belgian candi, a lot of spiciness as well that blends in with the candi, and it's weird, but I would almost swear that I smell Andes Candies in it; smell is solid and I feel pretty unique...

Taste: Hmmm... Interesting, to say the least. I still say there is Andes Candies in here, but there is a strong blast of dark, overripe and slightly tart fruitiness to it as well -- perhaps figs, raisins and/or dates; Belgian spiciness blends with the candi sugar and malts; bit of a booziness to it that that makes the mouthfeel interesting and kind of warm.

Mouthfeel: Body is of medium weight; carbonation is still plenty lively and fits the body as it's not harsh, doesn't thin out the body at all; as mentioned above, the spiciness, booziness and I swear mint-like flavors make the mouth, gums and belly warm and tingly. I really enjoy how this beer feels on the palate.

Overall: It's good, no doubt about it. Not something I would crave a lot, but I think the flavors are pretty unique and have a good thing going for them. I wouldn't be disappointed to see this appear again, but I doubt it would ever happen. On a side note, the bottle is super bad-ass.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 01:09:07 | More by bamadog

prototypic

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks to DIPA for the bottle.

The 2008 Collaborative Evil release pours a dark copper color. It’s very hazy. Might even be some yeast particles floating around. Backlighting shows some really nice crimson highlights. A tan head covers it. Carbonation looks active and yields a head that’s over two fingers tall. It recedes to a surface covering rather quickly. Lacing was a little sticky and moderate.

The nose is good. It smells a bit spicy up front. Pepper, orange clove, and perhaps a little clove are noted. Dark fruit is quite prominent. Smells like raisin mostly. Sweet caramel, honey, and Belgian yeast are all noted and add nice depth. It’s a bit more complex than I anticipated. Light cocoa and a bread-like scent are secondary, but smell nice. Alcohol is easily noted. Smells a little strong, but isn’t overly offensive. Pretty good smelling stuff.

The flavor is quite good, as well. Light caramel and cocoa are noted up front. It tastes a little sweet. It does have a nice bready flavor. Belgian yeast is very subtle. More would be better. Dark fruit flavors of raisin and light plum and are noted. Honey is rather prominent in the mix. It works better than anticipated. Spicy notes of pepper, light clove, and orange peel emerge late. They seem a tad strong for what it is. A little restraint would’ve helped. Alcohol is there, but isn’t warm or hot. Finishes spicy and raisiny.

Collaborative Evil has a light-medium body. Carbonation is active, but doesn’t feel buzzy. The feel is just okay. Honestly, it’s a bit average for a Belgian style.

The 2008 release of Collaborative Evil is pretty good. It could be better. The spicy flavors tend to be a little overbearing, and the body could use a little finesse. It’s pretty tasty though. I’m enjoying it overall. Over the past 3 or 4 years, it’s held up pretty well. Not sure it will be improving a great deal from here on out though. If you’ve got a bottle, crack it open.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 01:45:45 | More by prototypic

MasterSki

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of d0b. Shared as part of a Collaborative Evil "diagonal" at Goose Island. Served in a taster glass.

A - Pours with a thin tan foam that settles to a thick collar, but leaves minimal lace. Murky raisin brown color. Not much of a looker here.

S - Cardamom, nebulous spices, raisins, some cocoa, dark fruits, light oxidation. Strangely chai tea-like in some ways. Surprised how strongly the spices have held up.

T - Taste has an odd sour cherry note, but if it's an infection it's stalled out at the same level for the last two years. Cocoa and dark fruit malt and fruity esters, but not much overt "Belgian yeast". Spices are far lower profile.

M - Somewhat zesty carbonation, medium body, sticky finish that also has a bit of tannic character to it as well. Was surprised that this was 10% - I knew that, but had forgotten.

D - This has aged quite well, and I'm not totally sure the sour note is infection (but I could be wrong). If you had spiced beers, you'll probably despise this, but I find it works far better than something like Poppaskull. I find it strangely compelling, and found Ovation to be pretty good as well.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 05:00:44 | More by MasterSki

Spica66

Indiana

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Got this in trade from DavidEddie. Thanks, Dave!

Shared with gwuilliums. From cellar into tulips.

A: Deep red-brown color. This head, not much retention. Some lacing.

S: Fruity, spicy. Very aromatic.

T: Raisins and dark fruit and a spice on the finish that was slightly herbal. Just slightly sour. No hops.

M: Thin for this style. Excellent carbonation.

O: A little too much raisin for me. Of course, this is now three years aged. Maybe hops would have been present to offset the raisins earlier in its life...

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 18:18:30 | More by Spica66

largadeer

California

2/5  rDev -48.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Bottle shared by bring. Thanks, Barry.

The beer glugs from the bottle a murky shade of brown, topped by a thin crust that settles to a wispy collar.

Overwhelming candi sugar sweetness, honey and spices assault the nostrils on first whiff. Intense cardamom and citrus - this is a bit of a trainwreck and a good example of how to not use spices in beer.

Overwhelmingly sweet and fruity, like taking a bite into a Maraschino cherry that's been coated in honey and brown sugar. These flavors are soon swept away by intense cardamom and coriander-like spiciness. There's a little fruity tartness in the mid-palate, but it's hardly a saving grace. Pretty much gross, I couldn't handle more than two ounces. Collaborative evil indeed.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2010 17:09:04 | More by largadeer

nickd717

California

2.55/5  rDev -34.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

2008 bottle thanks to bring on BA.

Pours dark reddish-brown with a small off-white head.

Aroma is sweet and spiced as hell. Molasses, caramel, allspice, cardamom, and dark fruits.

Flavor is WAY overspiced. Cardamom, allspice, orange peel, raisin, honey, caramel, and molasses.

You can feel the spices on the palate. Medium body.

Overall, not that good. Not balanced at all, and the drinkability is low.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2010 04:36:55 | More by nickd717

pmccallum86

Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to the mothman for breaking this one out.

Pours a deep mahogany raisin color with a thin little head that dissipates quickly.

Big, dried fruits, spices and malts.

Just like the nose, dried fruits, various spices, kind of a little sourness as well. Tons of flavor that is melded very smoothly, I'm assuming it comes from the age.

High carbonation, very pleasant mouthfeel.

Very nice example of the style, goes down well.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 03:59:35 | More by pmccallum86

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to eyebrews for this one. I shared this at a recent tasting.

Poured into CCB snifter.

Pours a light tan head that fades down fast. Color is a dark ruby brown.

Aroma: Huge spice flavors. Raisins, molasses, honey, cloves and more. I get some cherry and oranges. Sweet and spiced.

Taste: Huge malt profile. Very bready. Raisins and fresh cherries. Lots of honey, molasses, and other spices blend together. Cinnamon and nutmeg in the mix. Big and spiced, but well done.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy, and refreshing. Medium bodied with more carbonation than the appearance would suggest. Ends dry and spiced.

Overall, for how many different spices were used in this beer it is pretty drinkable. Normally I can only handle so much spice, but this beer was well done. A little different compared to some of the other BSDA I have had but good none the less.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2010 17:52:44 | More by mothman

Mistofminn

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Mothman for breaking this bad boy open at a recent tasting.

The beer is a dark, clear mahogany color, with a one finger beige head that sits on top. Good retention and leaves some spattered lacing.

The nose is very fruity and spicey. I get a little bit of Candi sugar, a bready maltiness with honey and nutmeg, and a hint of alcohol. Fairly complex and enjoyable.

The flavor is just like the nose, a sweet fruitiness with a touch of tart. Cherries and raisins, Candi sugar and bready malts. A significant spice portion, stronger than I expected. I get cinnamon and nutmeg, among others.

Medium in body, with a soft carbonation and a slightly sticky feel. Drinkability is good on this one.

Overall, I actually wasn't expecting this to be this good. I haven't really found an example of the Belgian Strong Dark Ale that I thought was worth the price I paid for it, but I really enjoyed this one. Thanks Ben for the chance.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2010 02:17:29 | More by Mistofminn

corby112

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -24%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Received in a trade a while ago with d0b(gone but not forgotten).

Pours a very dark purplish plum/chestnut brown color that is completely opaque with only the faintest bit of dark golden mahogany edges when held to a light source and a one finger frothy light beige head that slowly fades into a lasting ring and cap. Sporadic chunks of lacing are left behind.

Sweet, almost sugary aroma with lots of estery dark fruit notes along with some slightly roasty dark malt character and subtle spice. Hints of raisin, plum, prune, fig, grape and dark berries complimented by subtle roasted malts. There is some additional sweetness in the nose that I'm not sure if it's from the honey or the alcohol character. Subtle earthy yest zesty peppery spice.

Very sweet, slightly chewy medium body with a decent amount of tight carbonation up front that slowly fades throughout the palate. Very prominent sweet, estery dark fruit, especially plum, raisin, prune and fig. There's also a strong grape and dark berry that along with the honey and alcohol profile add an almost unbearable sweetness. The roasted malt from the aroma is very subtle and doesn't provide enough balance to the overbearing sweetness. Slightly earthy with some zesty peppery spice but again this element is overshadowed by the sweetness. There isn't much heat and the high ABV is well masked most of the way through but is very prominent in the finish, giving off a lot of warmth. Overall this is an interesting approach and a good attempt to put a twist on a BSDA but it is insanely sweet, to the point where it can give you diabetes, and is not very well balanced or quaffable. Hopefully the 09 is a bit better. I wanted to trade some big guns for the Ovation but after this I'm not sure. Maybe the barrel aging will improve it?

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2010 09:24:34 | More by corby112

d0ggnate

California

4.2/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to stevemcqueenjr for opening this new beer to me.

A: Presented a rich amber/brown color with good carbonation and lasting lace on my glass.
S: I noted raisins with candied sugar and sage. Might have been another herb in there, too.
T: Rich with roasted raisin flavor. Slightly tart. Hints of nutmeg and spice.
M: A bit watery, but well-bodied and warming as it goes down.
D: Great drinkability and intriguing complexity. Really opened up with time and warmth. This beer is peaking my Flossmoor curiosity.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2009 17:04:09 | More by d0ggnate

HopHead84

California

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks Matt. Consumed on 11/21/2009 and poured into a snifter. The beer is deep crimson with a frothy beige one inch head and good retention. Lacing is scattered.

The nose opens with raisins and currants. The sugar component is candied Belgian and brown. There's a dash of vanilla with orange peel and sweet honey. The malt is bready and alcohol is well hidden. Awesome nose.

The flavor is bready malt with a mild cherry tartness. Hmmmm, I don't remember that from when I tried it fresh. Notes of honey, candied sugar, and brown sugar are evident. I have here in my notes "yum," so I'll add that on. The finish is tart raisins, cherries, and currants. Nice spiced Belgian dark strong.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2009 23:01:58 | More by HopHead84

gford217

Georgia

3.43/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22oz bomber poured into a tulip.

This one pours very dark brown in the glass with a strong reddish tint around the edges. There's a big thick off-white head that shows excellent retention but doesn't leave too much lacing.

The aroma is massively spicy with the cardamom being the most dominant aroma overall. There is lots of brown sugar and dark malts in the background as well as some dark fruit sweetness.

The taste was really surprising and the initial sip had a pretty strong sourness with the caramelized sugar and Belgian yeast forming a solid backbone. The finish brings back the cardamom and leaves a spicy, peppery tingling going down with the orange peel also making an appearance.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and highly carbonated, maybe a tad light for the style but nothing too distracting.

This is a decent beer, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the sourness in the taste which seemed a little out of place. The spiciness in the nose was also a little overpowering. The former limits the drinkability a bit for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2009 01:34:52 | More by gford217

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.05/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

"The evils of government are directly proportional to the tolerance of the people."

--Frank Kent

Pecan shell brown with generous tangerine highlights... that becomes glossy russet when backlit with afternoon sunshine. A vigorous pour has created three fingers of golden ecru colored foam that has an attractive texture and is leaving a fair amount of sea foam lace. Not a stunner, but it'll do nicely.

The aroma is dominated by dark malts and by two of the additional ingredients. An orange peel citrusiness is in the background and cardamom is in the foreground. I hope Matt didn't go too crazy with that spice since it's pretty aggressive and tends to take over whatever it's used in.

Collaborative Evil actually tastes like a BSDA. That's probably because the Belgians aren't especially style-conscious and tend to add all manner of things to their strong dark beer. It's also very well-behaved for a 10.0% ale, although more than one year in the bottle tends to help in that regard.

Putting flavor in terms of color, the malts taste midway between brown and black, which is pretty much like most BSDAs. Despite a decent amount of malt, two sugars and honey, CE 2008 isn't overly sweet. In fact, I'd go so far as to call it balanced. The various flavors are also integrated into a cohesive whole, especially given what was added.

Steely caramel and raisins are responsible for the darker flavors. Orange peel contributes a tangy fruitiness and coriander adds a warm spiciness, both of which become more bold with warming. Interesting and delicious is a sure-fire combination when it comes to big beer. Or any beer for that matter.

The body/mouthfeel is the only fly in the ointment. It's on the thinnish side for the style and doesn't have enough bubbles to provide the creamy expansiveness that I look for. This is the only place where the beer's age is apparent.

Collaborative Evil 2008 is damn good beer that could just as easily have earned the next highest flavor score. Sweet-bitter-tangy-spicy is a killer combination more often than not. I'd love for Flossmoor Station to brew this recipe again, but I'm also excited to taste what the new version has to offer. Thanks for rooting through the cellar Bryan.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2009 21:24:29 | More by BuckeyeNation

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle warmed up from the fridge.

Pours dark chestnut with a ruby hue and a half inch of beige foam. Threads and dots of lacing throughout the glass as well as a partial skim coat on the surface.

Aromatics lead off with spices, raisins, plums, and dark rum. Nutmeg up front with licorice, honey-drizzeled cloves, and burnt caramel riding atop a firm malt base. Lightly peppery with a tinge of medicinal undertones.

On the fuller side of medium bodied with a mouthfeel that stops short of chewy.

Ripe fruit, plump raisins, and dark rum start the palate. Dark cherries, clovey phenols, and vineous alcohol follow through.

Finishes with lingering dark fruit, peppery spice, building tartness, and boozy overtones.

The tartness was unexpected and I'm wondering if it was intentional? Not much mention of it in early reviews..Hmmmm.
The spicing is a bit strong for my tastes, and the alcohol could use some mellowing also. A great cellar candidate it would seem though.
Probably more in the neighborhood of a Grand Cru
at the present though.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 12:53:37 | More by brewandbbq

FtownThrowDown

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark brown in color. Lots of carbonation bubbles running up the sides of the glass. A little ring of froth around the edges of the glass and a film sits atop the center.
Smell is dark belgian malts, some very dark fruit, probably plum and some tobacco roastiness.
Taste has some bit of sour tartness to it. Don't know if this is coming from the dark fruit flavors present, but it works well. You would never guess it from the notes in the smell. Plenty of carbonation and good mouthfeel. Good beer. I would of liked it to be a bit smoother, but this is still a very enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2009 02:26:21 | More by FtownThrowDown

emerge077

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours in to a Duvel tulip a dark shade of brown that glows crimson when backlit. A finger or two of tan foam rise above the rim, and slowly recede. Swirling rekindles the head immediately.

Raisin, spiced cookies, it's bready like a doppelbock, but smells more like a Trappist. Some faint cola sweetness, fig and plum.

I had read about the tartness development, and noticed it right away when tasting this bottle. Not sure that this was intentional, since it wasn't present when fresh. Luckily it compliments the residual sweetness and spices present. When fresh it was pretty phenolic and warm with alcohol, now the heat isn't noticeable at all. There's still some honey laced banana bread in the background and trace cardamom, behind the tart berry flavor. Leather and tobacco blend into the initial tartness, reminding me of a Flanders Oud Bruin. The light astringency works against it, though it's fairly full bodied and well carbonated. Honey and spices in the pleasant aftertaste.

Looking forward to the next release...

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2009 01:30:25 | More by emerge077

BeerZack

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Murky brownish, like dirty bathwater, with soapy covering.

At first its very spicy and hot. After the alcohol dies down a bit, lots of other things come out. Citrus fruit? Sour candy?

Taste was really unexpected. Spice is there, but a little subdued by the unexpected sourness. Get the same sour Mike & Ike candy flavor as in the nose.

Mouth waters a bit from the sourness, adding to the light mouthfeel, fairly low carbonation.

Wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Kinda weird, but good in moderation.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2009 16:50:21 | More by BeerZack

paulthebeerguru

Florida

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: deep rich mahogany color. full bodied dark tan head, good retention, nice lacing.

S: big fruity aroma of dates, raisins and figs. sweet notes of rich dark malts. big spice aroma, clove, nutmeg and some thyme.

T: good malt body with a decent hop palate. major tones of honey, raisins, figs, and plums. solid spice character, mostly clove. light sourness/tartness.

ML medium bodied. big carbonation level. a little harsh, but rather smooth for the ABV. very warming.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2009 20:52:03 | More by paulthebeerguru

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Strange beer, and not at all what I was expecting. It definitely has a strange clend of spice and sour to it with lots of raisiny fruit. Pours deep brown with a scant head. Smells strongly of sultanas and herbs and spices. An aroma of Rosemary seems especially noticeable, or another very piney herb. The taste starts sour- which is a surprise, and moves back into raisin territory with more pungent herbs and some late sweet cherries. Very unusual. It's a bit much overall. The sour and the herbs together are a little jarring, and the raisins make it a little over the top. It reminds me a bit of Avery 15, but with more herbal punch. I'm glad I tried it, and I'd probably have some again just because it is so unusual, but I can't say its anywhere near my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2009 02:18:04 | More by Georgiabeer

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

650 ml bottle, big thanks to grub for sharing with me.

Pours a murky dark orange brown, some dark reddish hues in the corner, thick off white head forms, drops to a really solid ring around the glass, lots of lacing, good retention, nice layer for the whole glass. Smell is very spicy, lots of raisin, some chocolate roast, ginger and cinnamon, cake, honey, yeast, some sweetness thats overpowered by a ton of spice. Taste is weird, very spicy, ginger and raisins, honey, sweet fruit, cinnamon, cloves, some sour/vinegar notes, some orange peel/lemony notes, very spicy and lots of cake/cookie character. Some molasses/brown sugar sweetness, figs and raisins, kind of all over the place. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation, alcohol is well hidden but the spice is a bit out of control. Has kind of a strange sour/acedic note as it goes down thats a bit tough but I enjoy this more as I drink it, at least its interesting.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2009 03:39:00 | More by Viggo