2.8 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 4/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20 crossovert (9762) - Illinois, USA - MAR 12, 2014
Draft. Really fuckin weird beer, tastes liek bourbon and grand marnier dumped liberally into a belgian ale.
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20 jstraw (1946) - Chicago, Illinois, USA - MAR 6, 2014
Draft at Jerrys. Dark caramel with big, creamy, fine bubble head, fine lacing / Rich, winey nose of caramel, bourbon barrel, dark fruit / Medium to full body, some watery-ness, chewy, sweet but with excellent balance, bitterness underneath, a hint of alcohol burn / Flavors of fresh caramel, coconut, subdued bourbon barrel, raisin, fig, orange peel, coffee, chocolate / Probably could be improved, but quite good already.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20 HonkeyBra (3833) - Lemont, Illinois, USA - NOV 20, 2013
Sampled at the brewpub and then at FoBAB2013 shortly thereafter. Pours a reddish copper color with a frothy tan head. Aroma of bourbon, muted belgian yeasts, cakey malty, some fruity hops. Flavor is fairly sweet with toffee and caramel sweetness up front. Barrel and bourbon notes follow, with some belgian yeast tendencies and mild oxidation. Fullish bodied, somewhat creamy mouthfeel. Finishes with a bit of heat from the booze.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20 TheAlum (6428) - Aurora, Illinois, USA - NOV 18, 2013
On tap at FoBAB 2013 (Chicago, IL). Pours a nice deep brownish copper pour, darker middle with decent haze. Copper ruby glow on the edges and bottom. A frothy tannish layer stays firm, sits atop. Aromas are deadened citrusy and floral hops, some toast, vanilla, oak, crystal and carmelized malts. A bit of sweeter toffee. Initial is medium bodied, a firm hop and barrel tannic presence meet up quickly. Vanillin, spirit and dry floral and citrusy hops meet the palate. Some toast, carmelized elements. Rich resiny and floral hop presence hits. Dry, bitter, decent oak. That brash feel dies out a bit as we hit tthe backend, feeling as though this was dry hopped liberally. Florals, citrus and earth. Some toast, carmelized malts. Some heat, warmth. A bit odd and overdone at times, that firmer hop refresh is nice at other times. But the barrel seems a touch overdone for my palate. Solid overall, flavorful.
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