Tag Archives: 2016 vintage

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes), Farmhouse Saison, Switzerland

BFM √225 La Saison

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Brewery: BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)
Country: Switzerland
ABV: 6%
Style: Belgian Saison
Other Notes: 2016 vintage

Brewer Description: (from website) A favourite of connoisseurs, La √225 Saison barrel with tart and bitter notes at the same time.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.81
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 750ml bottle, 2016 vintage, with a notched best before date of August 2021. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A very lightly hazy golden orange colour with a big three finger white head that had decent retention and left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Light tartness, apricot, citrus zest and rind, green apple, notes of funk, oak, and a splash of lime.
Taste: Tart, lemon, orange, funky, pepper spice, grass, lightly herbal, and bitter notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: An interesting refreshing Saison, but perhaps a bit too herbal for me.

4 - Good (buy), Almanac Beer Co., Beer Reviews, Flanders Red Ale, USA

Almanac Grand Cru Red Ed. 2

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Brewery: Almanac Beer Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 10.5%
Style: Belgian Flanders Red Ale
Other Notes: 2016 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Imperial Sour Red Ale, aged in red wine barrels, brewed with grapes, raspberries and vanilla beans.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 1 pint 9.4 fl. oz. bottle, bottled in Autumn 2016. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy but bright orange red colour with a thin beige head that dissipated quickly while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Sour, tart, sweet, candy like, raspberry, cherry, grape jelly, vanilla, oak, and a touch vinous.
Taste: Sour, sour candy, raspberry, grape jelly, lemon juice, vinous, vanilla, oak and some light acidity.
Mouthfeel: Dry, medium to full bodied, with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A very nice and balanced Sour Red Ale with enjoyable candy like fruity flavours, and alcohol non-existent and well hidden despite being 10.5% abv.

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

Alvinne Wild West Barrel 58

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Brewery: Brouwerij Alvinne
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: 2016 vintage. Alvinne limited edition, single cask, 400 bottles. French Oak from Pineau de Charentes

Brewer Description: (from bottle in Dutch) Barrel 58 is een uniek project waar we enkel zelfgeplukte bessen toevoegen aan Wild West rechtstreeks op het eiken vat. Passie, toewijding en kennis… Barrel 58 5 maand gerijpt op een Pineau de Charentes barrel. Sleedoorn (Moen), braambessen (Gavere), bosbessen (Vlaamse Ardennen).

(translated to English) Barrel 58 is a unique project where we only add self-picked berries to Wild West directly on the oak barrel. Passion, dedication and knowledge… Barrel 58 matured for 5 months on a Pineau de Charentes barrel. Blackthorn (Moen), blackberries (Gavere), blueberries (Flemish Ardennes).

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.39
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 500ml bottle, 2016 vintage, with a best before date of December 2021. Poured into an Alvinne teku glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy rusty orange brown colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly and settled to a thin layer.
Aroma: Tart, sour, mixed berries, vinous, oak, with a splash of vinegar and acetone.
Taste: Sour, tart, mixed berries, vinous, grape, oak, and lemon.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Very nice and balanced with great complexity and enjoyable berry notes.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Quadrupel, Hong Kong, Young Master Brewery

Young Master Mio

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Brewery: Young Master Brewery
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 9.5%
Style: Belgian Quadrupel
Other Notes: 2016 vintage. Bottle 702 of 940

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Whiskey barrel aged Belgian Quadrupel.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.07
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 750ml corked, caged and paper wrapped bottle. 2016 vintage. Bottle 702 of 940. Poured into a Chimay goblet glass.
Appearance: A cloudy dark brown colour with a one finger beige/tanned head that had good retention, but eventually settled to a creamy replenishing cap, while leaving some nice curtain like lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, whiskey, oak, vanilla, caramel, cream, with notes of dark fruit, berries, plum, raisin.
Taste: Sweet dark malt, lots of vanilla, oak, caramel, whiskey, with hints of dark fruit, berries, plum, raisin, and a boozy warming finish.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, full bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper. I think it’s aged well compared to when I last tried it two years ago. Good to open in winter with the warmth it provides, but I suppose an air conditioner works too. Perhaps would have preferred more dark fruit, but that was easily overpowered by the whiskey, vanilla and caramel.

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.