Prelude Special Ale

Tasted Wednesday night following a long day at work and with a delicious Chinese-style dinner, Wai Wai Rice Vermicelli noodles, green onions, carrots, egg, and soy sauce.  Drank in the company of Eric Chalus, Jason Lindberg, Josh Schipp, and Jen.

Appearance: Brown colored with a dark rubied glow when held up to the light. Head is almost non-existent except for a bubbled ring and inconsistent film. Carbonation is still present, even against the dark profile of the color.

Aroma: Rich caramel and toffee sweetness. Slight hint of dark fruit similar raisins with a bit of candied sweetness and a slight buttery. Extreme emphasis is placed on the malt. Nutty and mildly alcoholic.
Taste: Taste is initially very sweet, revolving around caramel and toffee, as noted in the aroma. Mild taste represents a subtle nuttiness, but really nothing else.  By the finish a substantial fruitiness develops, exhibiting pear and some sort of dark fruit, reminiscent of cherries and raisins.  As the beer warms, the presence of alcohol becomes more apparent in the back of the throat.  Slight bit of bitterness near the finish  that doesn't last long.
Mouthfeel:  Has a dense medium body with a smooth yet somewhat dry finish.  Ample amount of carbonation that gets relatively lighter, the more you drink.  Contributes to the presence of alcohol in the finish.
Overall Impression: A decent winter ale. The beer leaves a lot of residual sweetness, especially in the finish which is characterized by a robust fruity and caramel malt bill. Booziness warms the chest. Decent, but not spectacular.


Tim: 80/100
Jen: 82/100