[gallery]ABV: 21 %
Calories: estimated at 300 C
Volume: 12 fl oz
Glass: Trappist
Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJ
Price: $8.99
Consumed at: home
Impression: Wow. Knocks you over. 0-60 in 3 sips. The aroma fills the room with flowery hops. The malt is jumping. The bottle conditioning is a nice touch. I like a little haze in my 21% ABV ale (!). It?s syrupy with sweetness. It seems like a barleywine style, except for the IPA overtones. You are absolutely forced to sip and recover. The aftertaste is long, palate damaging, and delicious. I would find it hard to pair this with anything but the richest foods. This is the death by chocolate of hoppy beers. Thick yellowish head reduces to a wispy white foam with nice lacing. The reputation of this beer precedes it and it does not disappoint, though I thought I would enjoy it a bit more than I am, it simply whacks you over the head. It?s like trying to drink coke syrup. It?s exactly what I asked for, but as they say, be careful of what you ask for, they might serve it to you in a 12 oz bottle for 9 bucks.
Aroma: 10 out of 10
Visuals: 4 out of 5
Taste: 8 out of 10
Palate: 4 out of 5
Overall: 18 out of 20 I liked the overwhelming nature of this beer, but it is at the same time its downfall. I think this would be a great beer for a wine enthusiast to try to enjoy, but for me, I think I?ll stick to the 60 or 90 minute IPAs from this same great brewer. At the very least those are more affordable. For me they would also be a bit more enjoyable.
Original source: http://beercritic.wordpress.com/?p=1125
