JP (2012) - Emerson's Brewery

lacqueredmouse

Australia

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

500ml bottle from Slowbeer in Melbourne. Vintage 2012 and C591 printed on the bottle.

This really sits somewhere between a pale and a dark, but the standard Belgian pale is certainly a lot lighter than this, which is a deep amber colour, somewhat hazed. Head is frothy, but full: indeed it frothed very marginally over the lid when uncapped. Plenty of fine carbonation, which does a pretty reasonable job of preserving the head. Body is quite light. Looks good.

Nose is smooth and rounded, with a decent vanilla orchid note, and a light hint of sweet citrus. Some peppery notes, and a very pleasant caramel depth to it. Hints of caraway and sweet bread. It's quite complex, and very pleasant.

Taste is sharper and spicier, with a noticeable booze, and a slightly astringent character through the centre of the palate. This takes the place of the purported caramel sweetness on the nose: there's still the sharpness, the spice and the peppery characters. It even has the fragrant vanilla, but still none of the sweetness.

Slightly light and sharp mouthfeel. Pleasant enough.

It's a very decent drop: it does somewhat fall into the classic Belgian-style-not-from-Belgian trap of being too boozy and sharp for what it can support. But it has lots of complexities to explore and some very decent flavours overall. Nice stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2013 04:39:50 | More by lacqueredmouse