Country of Origin: United States
Availability: Brewed year-round in reserve batches, in Portland, Maine.
Price comparison: I forget. Sue me. It was more than an everyday beer, but I bought it a while ago, so I can't remember by how much more.
Alcohol percentage by volume: 9%.
Cute bottle/label? Brown 750 ml glass bottle, corked and caged; medieval-style woodcut of a forest (stream? very smooth path?) on the label. Batch #60.
Appearance: Lovely, soft gold with a creamy white head. Very pretty beer with sparkly carbonation.
Scent: Sweet fruity malt with hints of peach or possibly mandarin orange.
Flavor: The flavor is sweet as well, but clean, with a light, not unpleasant alcohol burn at the back of the throat. Drinks very easily for such a high ABV. A little bit of flowery malt and yeast at the finish.
Impressions: I had this after dinner, but I could just as easily have served it with strongly-flavored ethnic cuisine such as Asian or Mediterranean; it would also taste nice with pungent cheeses. It's a hearty ale but delicious and sweet enough to serve by itself, provided that everyone involved was sufficiently warned of its relatively high alcohol content.
Will I buy this beer again? Yes; I'm curious about the other reserves, to see how well they compare, and I'm hopeful I can luck onto something this pleasant again.
Rating:
4 out of 5 cute beer glasses
Reviewed: June 3, 2007
