Initially, fruited aroma hits nose and infiltrates spruce-y pine hops. First sip reveals tangy apricot-apple-pineapple zest countering sharp grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering. Harsh nuttiness and juniper berry add to bitterness as alcohol burn assaults creamy caramel malt sweetness.
Luxuriously spectral Grateful Dead-inspired Belgian-styled tripel counters candi-sugared fructose sweetness and coriander-clove spicing with dusky fungi-like earthiness in uniquely balanced bottle-conditioned fashion. Thick yeast sediment creates heavy viscosity as luscious white ale confections such as gin-like juniper, buttery Chardonnay, and red-purple-black grape illusions settle above herbal white-peppered green tea sash. Apple blossom, pink grapefruit, and overripe peach regalia welcome luscious tropical cornucopia (pineapple-mango-cantaloupe-banana) to juxtapose oncoming cider-y sourness until grassy horsehide-rawhide dryness presents farmhouse barnyard funk to the mix. Beware: well-hidden 9% alcohol whir will spin heads.
Respectable auburn-hued Belgian-styled quad ‘for the mature connoisseur’ retains winter warming brown ale character to medicinal wintry holiday finish. Unmistakable Belgian yeast funk deluges chocolate-spiced sugared date, stewed prune, brown banana, black cherry, bruised orange, and overripe peach illusions fortifying plush Grand Marnier-Cognac-Chardonnay trifecta as well as tertiary spiced wine, dry port and dark rum flirtations. Chewy molasses-like caramel malting completes the score. Boasting more depth and richness than Boulevard’s superfine Long Strange Tripel, this round-tripper’s a true homerun.
‘A strong dark brown beer’ better defined as wintry English strong ale with veritable schwarzbier makeup. Fruit-dried dark chocolate rises above holiday-spiced expectancy. Molasses-sapped cocoa-powdered caramel-chocolate roast sidles bittersweet prune-fig-raisin-apricot coalition above malt-smoked rye wheat bed. Sour-creamed walnut undertones deepen mocha-spiced plethora.
On tap, traditional autumnal Extra Special Bitter brings sweet and sour dry-fruited nature to piney floral-spiced Cascade hop bittering. Grapefruit, pineapple, and apricot surge ahead of buttery caramel-roasted malts lining mild-bodied gold-hazed seasonal.
Aromatic Southeast Asian pandan leaf uplifts sensuous spice-hopped cocoa and chocolate nibs illusions as well as candied hazelnut-pecan-almond roast. A bit phenol by timid cardboard-y palm sugar finish, but delicate gingerbread nuance and botanical heather lilt tingle backend nicely.
Updated, downgraded, unbalanced version of former ‘Laughing Buddha’ labeled fruit beer (with sinewy yeast sediment) lacks proper mango influence to fragile pale wheat spine. Leathery white grape acridity, comparable to Belgian gueuze, encumbers lemon-soured mango tartness and unripe peach nullity that becomes overbearingly mouth-puckering in its acidic dryness. Serve with barbecue steak or pork to bring out further illusions.
Ripe mega-raspberry theme and chambord liqueur mouthfeel counteract dry eye-squinting lime-like brimstone aromatics of opaque magenta-bodied pink-headed soda-popped fruit ale. Tart cranberry pucker overrides candied apple sweetness, medicinal black cherry coughdrop slurp, and pureed strawberry-blackberry pasting. Syrupy malt extract emulates carbonated soft drink for better or worse.
Enticingly fruit-juiced hop-walloped amber-hazed full body first introduced in ’03 furnishes bright floral-spiced red apple, brown pear, apricot, pineapple, and grapefruit melange over honey-sapped spruce pining. Mild orange peel bittering deepens gin-soaked citric rind bite inundating syrupy nectar finish seasoned hopheads will adore but lightweight novices may ignore.
Woozy 11% alcohol whir provides medicinal strength to peach lacquered caramel apple fruiting and sweet-spiced butterscotch malting overriding peppery hop splotch. Tertiary orange marmalade, tangerine, and pineapple illusions enliven mint-y evergreen freshness but thin wheat spine fractures due to candi-sugared Belgian yeast density.
Conflicted winter ’09 release closer to funky fungi-scented farmhouse ale than ‘saison yeast’-injected amber ale (with strangely off-colored tan-headed brown-bodied appearance). Leathery smoked salami snippet fades out rapidly as inadequate prune-date souring and perplexed brown sugared banana-clove trifle prove less fruity than Saison styling indicates. Leafy earthiness lambastes warbled spicing, resinous backdrop, and cigar ash hint.