750 mL corked & caged bottle. Found this at Mac’s, Atlanta, GA, USA. Delighted and surprised, wasn’t anticipating getting hold of this. Black dot-matrixed on the neck: PKG on 08/28/09, Best by: 08/2014.
Pour is a pretty bright, darkish bronze color but at the same time not quite as dark as I was expecting. Head is good and fades to give a lovely, creamy, spotty film on the surface of the brew. Classic look.
Nose and tastes give plenty of layered Belgian candy, winter spices and alcohol. The spice is very prominent with a cinnamon pumpkin feel being right up there at the front. If the coriander, orange and cardamon come together I guess that they could produce that….right…?
A little prickle in the mouthfeel from the carbonation and some warming alcohol in the finish. A little Madeira and Bristol Cream sherry add to the depth and the warmth. Nutmeg and mace notes increase in their intensity.
Although the alcohol is pretty well hidden, it still makes its presence felt, and the beer feels full, present and significant.
Increasing sweetness with a touch of burned sugar in the character as well.
Overall, big and warming and although the BSDA categorization is fine, it’s so spicy that one could easily file this under “high alcohol Winter Warmer”. Delicious and a beer to be savored in the cold weather – pity we don’t get any of that in Atlanta.