Tag Archives: ba

The Ale Apothecary Be Still

Brewery: The Ale Apothecary
Country: USA
ABV: 8.53%
Style: Wild Ale – Dark
Other Notes: 1600 bottles

Brewer Description: (from hanging neck tag) .wild & open fermented in the woods of OR. .Mecca Grade Estate Malt + roasted barley. .infused with cocoa nibs & cascara. .aged in OR pinot + rye whiskey barrels. .presented barrel-quiet without carbonation. .1600 bottles.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.12

Intro: A 500ml corked bottle, batch from 7th September 2017, poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A clear dark orange brown colour, with a thin head most likely from the pour, and sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Very aromatic as soon as the cork was removed. Tart, fruity, red currants, fig, cherry, fruit vinegar, with finishing notes of chocolate and cocoa.
Taste: Light tartness, fruity, dark fruit, red berries, plum, fig, red currant, cherry, light notes of chocolate and cocoa, and a splash of spicy rye whiskey.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied, with no carbonation “this beer is still”.
Overall: Great aroma that just wanted to burst out. Some nice complexity and flavours that work together. This is clearly an Ale Apothecary type beer in my book.

Lost Abbey My Black Parade

Brewery: The Lost Abbey
Country: USA
ABV: 12%
Style: American Strong Ale
Other Notes: Bourbon barrel-aged spiced ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) No one knew her actual name, to most she was simply Madame Marigold – Princess of the Black Parade. Each November 1st she led a procession through the town square to a make-shift altar at an unmarked grave. Year after year, the processions grew larger and the celebrations more elaborate. Patiently she waited for him always. Yet, he never arrived. Then one year, she too was gone. Her legacy endures as The Black Parade marches on despite her absence. Each fall, the entire village celebrates the live of all the departed including Madame Marigold and her anonymous lover.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.16

Intro: A 375ml corked and caged bottle, not sure of the vintage, but very likely more than 8 years ago. Poured into a Bokke tasting glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a thin beige head that dissipated quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Dark roast, chocolate, bourbon, dark fruit, oak, with notes of cinnamon.
Taste: Roasty, chocolate, raisin, bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Thinner than expected, but not a big issue. It’s a nice sipper with good aromas and flavours that work well together.

Alvinne Cuvée Sofie Kweepeer-Quince

Brewery: Brouwerij Alvinne
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Wild Ale

Brewer Description: (from Untappd) Phi aged on red wine barrels (Margaux, Pomerol or St-Emilion), macerated on Quince. Fermented with our own wild house yeast strain ‘Morpheus’.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 750ml bottle, poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy copper amber orange colour, with an almost one finger white head that had pretty good retention, and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Dried cherry, pear, pear skin, wood, with notes of apple.
Taste: Sweet and sour, tart, cherry, pear, apple, apple cider vinegar.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: The sweet, sour and acidity balance each other out well, and it drinks nicely.

Private Press Open Drums

Brewery: Private Press Brewing
Country: USA
ABV: 16.2%
Style: Strong – Munichwine

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A blend of double barrel Munichwine ales.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49

Intro: A 1 pint 0.9 fl. oz. bottle, with no clear bottled on or best before date, poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A brownish orange rusty colour with a thin beige head that disappeared quickly, while leaving only sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Butterscotch, toffee, raisin, almond, bourbon.
Taste: Butterscotch, toffee, crème brulee, raisin, marzipan, almond, bourbon, with notes of spicy rye on the back end.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: A very enjoyable sipper with great aromas and flavours.

Cyclic Herbie

Brewery: Cyclic Beer Farm
Country: Spain
ABV: 5.6%
Style: Farmhouse Saison

Brewer Description: (from bottle in Spanish) Saison de fermentación mixta envejecida en barrica. Mezcla de 4 barricas de roble.

(translated to English) Mixed fermentation barrel aged Saison. Blend of 4 oak barrels.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 750ml bottle, bottled on 3rd March 2021, and a best before date of 3rd March 2026. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A mostly clear golden straw yellow colour with a just under one finger white head that had good retention and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Lemon zest, honey, wood, grape skin, with some barnyard funky notes.
Taste: Lightly sour and a touch bitter, lemon peel, citrus rind, honey, wood, light funk.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Good aromas, but the flavour could have been stronger and I was also hoping for more carbonation as it was quite soft.