Forestinne Gothika - Brasserie Caracole

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle with a best before end of 2012 poured into a cervoise. This brew appears a color caught between amber and light brown. Nearly 3 fingers of tan head forms across the top composed of larger than average bubbles. The head maintains with decent retaining ability and leaves patches of lace clinging to the glass. When held to the light, a bit of burnt ruby clarity is seen through the body.

The aroma includes a plethora of toasted caramel sweetness. Somewhat biscuit-like but very toasted with a bit of fruited character that is lightly vinous and somewhat like plums or prunes. As it warms up, it picks up more fruited quality coming from the alcohol and maybe a touch of hops. More smells bring forth a scent that is reminiscent of toffee, caramel and vanilla.

The taste is toasty with a biscuit type of grain mixed with toffee and caramel sweetness. A bit of fruited character is present that seems a bit displaced with some tangy almost vinous aspect of fruity alcohol esters. Some sips reveal a bit of mineral aspect that mixes with yeast and musty grain which creates a flavor inside your mouth almost like you have coins inside it. Yet other sips are very enjoyable with toasty maltiness.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation. To this brew's credit the 7.5% is integrated very well. The good aspects of this brew are very enjoyable, however the twangy and tin-like aspects are distracting. This isn't something I would pursue having again.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 02:20:27 | More by stakem

drabmuh

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Troublette glass because it is the only glass from Caracole I have.

Beer is brown, hazy, dark, with a thin broken head of tan small bubbles. Moderate to low carbonation, some lacing.

Aroma is weak, yeasty, bready, mildly sweet.

Beer is medium to light in body with a dry finish, the taste is mostly yeast, mild malt contribution, overall a decent little beer. Sweet, mild spice, nice ester profile, no real fruit or hop presence, a nice little beer, not my favorite but decent.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 02:21:27 | More by drabmuh