Category Archives: 4 – Good (buy)

4 - Good (buy), 8 Wired Brewing Co., Barleywine - American, Beer Reviews, New Zealand

8 Wired Lord Of The Atlas

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Brewery: 8 Wired Brewing Co.
Country: New Zealand
ABV: 12%
Style: American Barleywine
Other Notes: 2016 vintage. Oak aged barley wine ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) American style barley wine, brewed with New Zealand malt, Australian hops, English yeast and aged on French oak. A true globetrotter, a mighty Lord of the Atlas.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.31
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 500ml bottle, 2016 vintage, with a best before date of 14th December 2019, however I believe it’s still good. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A dark orange brown colour with a thin half finger beige head that had decent retention but left only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Hoppy, herbal, sweet dried fruit, caramel malt, raisin, coconut and oak.
Taste: Sweet, herbal, medicinal, pine hoppy, dried stone fruit, dried coconut, oak, caramel malt, with a bittersweet finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipping barleywine with nice aroma and flavours.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, The Lost Abbey, USA, Wild Ale

Lost Abbey Framboise de Amorosa

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Brewery: The Lost Abbey
Country: USA
ABV: 8.5%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: Barrel-aged raspberry sour

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Raspberry sour ale aged in French oak barrels. The 10 Commandments and its “Thou Shalt Nots” do not apply to Amorosa. A courtesan, she has no need for the morality of denial. A stunning beauty with depth of spirit and sensuality. Amorosa is ruled by the fruits of her loins and mother earth. Sweet and sour, Amorosa is equal parts lover, liberated soul and the object of every suitor’s affection. She is desire incarnate and sensuality embodied. In choosing to open this bottle, you are now courting this magnificent woman. For some, she will arrive like the siren’s call breathing upon your lips and dancing across your taste buds. Others will be denied. For you see, a wonton woman, Amorosa beckons all and chooses few. Will your prayers be answered?

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.22
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A corked and caged 12.7 fl. oz. bottle, with no bottled on or best before date. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A cloudy reddish brown colour with a one finger beige head that dissipated fairly quickly and left only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Tart, raspberry, sour, oak, lemon juice.
Taste: Sour, tart, sweet, raspberry, grape, lightly vinous, oak, light lemon juice and a splash of vinegar.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Very enjoyable with a good balance between sour and sweet, and good raspberry aroma and flavours.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Alvinne, Wild Ale

Alvinne Laurelin 2017 Fellowship Ale N°5

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Brewery: Brouwerij Alvinne
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: 2018 Fellowship. Cuvée Sofie Schaarbeekse Kriek (2017). Fruit Flemish Sour Ale. Sweet 1/5, Sour 4/5 & Bitter 0/5

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Laurelin was one of Two Trees of Valinor. It was said to be some sort of cherry tree, her last fruit was made into the sun. In July we added 25kg of Schaarbeekse Kriek to a Domaine Harmand Geoffroy red wine (Bourgogne/Gevrey-Chambertin) barrel. This Cuvée Sofie aged for 16 months in this third time used French oak barrel.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.05
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 330ml bottle, with a best before date of January 2024. Poured into an Alvinne teku glass.
Appearance: A cloudy dark reddish purple colour with a thin white head, that left only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Tart, sour, cherry, cherry pie, acetone, nail polish, with hints of vinegar.
Taste: Sweet, sour, tart, tangy, cherry, jammy, cherry pie, cherry juice, oak, acetone, with notes of vinegar.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: I tried this side by side with the 2016 version, and I preferred this version a lot more. The cherry was much more prominent here and not overwhelmed by any barrel character like too much vanilla in the 2016 version. It’s still sweeter than I expected given the sweet and sour ratings on the label, and the carbonation was softer than I prefer, but this was still enjoyable as the acidity helped with the soft carbonation.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Alvinne, Wild Ale

Alvinne Cuvée Freddy Framboos-Raspberry

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Brewery: Brouwerij Alvinne
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: Dark Fruit Sour Ale. Sweet 3/5, Sour 3/5 & Bitter 1/5

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Foeder aged dark sour ale with raspberries.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.3
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 330ml bottle, with a best before date of August 2023. Poured into an Alvinne teku glass.
Appearance: Dark brown in colour with a two finger beige head that had decent retention while leaving only some sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Tart, sour, raspberry, oak, and a touch of acetone.
Taste: Sour, tart, raspberry, oak, with light acidity and balsamic.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Very nice raspberry aroma and flavours. I could drink this again and again.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Lambic - Gueuze, Lambiek Fabriek

Lambiek Fabriek Oude Geuze Brett-Elle

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Brewery: Lambiek Fabriek
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5.5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Gueuze)
Other Notes: 2017 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle in Dutch) Oude Geuze, traditionele blend van zelf gebrouwen lambieken van spontane gisting. Ongefilterde blend van verschillende jaargangen, niet gepasteuriseerd.

(translated from Dutch to English) Oude Geuze, traditional blend of home-brewed lambics from spontaneous fermentation. Unfiltered blend of different volumes, not pasteurized.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.17
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 375ml capped and corked bottle, bottled on 4th April 2017. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen gueuze glass.
Appearance: A clear golden colour with a thin half finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly and left only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Musty, damp wood, earthy, funky, barnyard, oak, wood, with notes of stone fruit, peach, and lemon.
Taste: Lightly sour, tart, funky, barnyard, peach, green apple, lemon, oak, wood, with notes of vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Enjoyable with surprising stone fruit notes, and strong oak in a good way.