04.04.04

~ Second Tasting ~
November 16, 2005 (6 Months, 11 Days)
Click on a photo for Tasting Notes


Lee Chase
Head Brewer
Greg Koch
Chairman & CEO

Chris Cochran
Marketing & Promotions
Arlan Arnsten
Vice President of Sales

Bill Sherwood
Brewing Facilities Manager

 




Lee Chase
Head Brewer
APPEARANCE:
Bright. Rich deep warm dark reddish-brown color – like an old pubs wooden interior.
AROMA:
Light roastiness buried under yeasty esters...faint smell of coffee among dried fruit.
FLAVOR:
Really rich, but quite drinkable as well. Sweetness of dried cranberries before you chew' em. Alcohol comes up in the end, and is really balanced.
PALATE:
Soft, malty, a little chewy.
OVERALL:
Really tasty. Nice balance and depth: I like where it is going.



Greg Koch
Chairman & CEO
APPEARANCE:
Clear deep brown with reddish hints at the edges.
AROMA:
 Caramel and vanilla. Earthiness. Sweetness.
FLAVOR:
Still hoppy and has those beautiful Belgian yeast characters.
PALATE:
I tend not to be that big of a fan of the Belgian dubble style: too earthy for my palate. This has some of that character, but at a level when combined with the hoppiness it works really well.
OVERALL:
At this rate, this beer is going to be hanging on for a good long while...it's only in its first long stride.



Chris Cochran
Marketing & Promotions
APPEARANCE:
Nice and bright. A deep caramel-brown/mahogany color...decent CO2, but little head or lace.
AROMA:
Sweet, earthy, a little musty (from the yeast?) with some roasted, fruit, plum-like notes.
FLAVOR:
Also sweet – seems mellow – from the malt. The hop character and bitterness seem to be barely be there...
PALATE:
Crisp at first taste, but then coats the tongue with a sweet malt character that lingers nicely.
OVERALL:
Young, complex and sweet, however it seems to be nicely balanced and on the right road to an excellent beer...only time will tell.



Arlan Arnsten
Vice President of Sales
APPEARANCE:
Deep rich mahagony --- clear but dark with tight bubbles and low head.
AROMA:
Sweet burnt sugar, very low hop aroma.
FLAVOR:
Dried fruit (plum) with lingering malt character.
PALATE:
Full, thick, coating, and lingering.
OVERALL:
Very nice, well-rounded beer. I'd have it with braised ribs or chocolate plum cake.



Bill Sherwood
Brewing Facilities Manager
APPEARANCE:
Deep brown with a golden honey hue. No foam, no lace.
AROMA:
Cardboard
FLAVOR:
Caramel, toffee, and burnt sugar with a nice chewy bitterness that rounds out the finish.
PALATE:
Soft, light, and silky with a light alcohol character.
OVERALL:
A very nice well balanced complex ale with a slight unfortunate cardboard aroma. It really opens up as it warms with a very savory, yummy finish.