2008 vintage. 750 mL corked & caged.
===DISCLAIMER===
OK, right off the top this *could* be an infected bottle so this review is written in that context. Re-reviews to follow when more data is gathered but for now I want to record my thoughts at this stage. Take it or leave it, but it would be interesting to see if anyone has had a similar experience.
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VERY disappointing lack of pop on opening. Clearly there is a carbonation issue here, but as we all know, LA has had its fair share of issues with this.
Carbonation is simply not there. The body is an orange, murky affair that doesn’t strike me as anything like a classic, BSPA. No head and lace obviously.
The nose has some orange marmalade and mild funk. This carries through to the taste where there is a complicated mix of light funk, sourness, alcohol, fruit and bitterness. It’s interesting to me, because although it is miles away from a classic Belgian Pale, it does sort of produce an interesting combination of woody, cider infection and a touch of funk.
The cider-woody, apple-cider notes are typical of an infected beer, but paradoxically the drinkability of the beer still stays reasonable.
I dunno, my suspicions are aroused simply because of LA’s issues with carbonation but maybe this is what they intended! It’s difficult to know.