Chaka Belgian Style Ale

Thanks to Janna at Haymarket Brewpub for giving Jen and and I both can-like vessels of this beer. I had exclaimed during my visit that I had never had Sun King before, and she immediately repealed that with this beer. Tasted on a Monday night weeks later after a long day of bottling Dragons Milk and Beerhive. Snifter served.
8% ABV

Appearance: First exhibiting a puffy cream colored head with a 1" stature. However dissipation was quick and it was soon reduced to a foam ring around the edges and a scattered coat across the surface. The color is a deep amber with almost a rubied hue. Carbonation looks to be strong as fine bubbles consistently rise to the surface.
Aroma: The scent is rich of caramelized sugar and sweetened toffee. Extremely reminiscent of a doppelbock. There are notes of sauteed dates and dark fruit carmelizing. A lagered scent is present alongside a clean indisputably sweet finish. Some alcohol can be noted too
Taste: The start presents a nice bouquet of an assorted variety of sweet flavors. Much like the aroma, but intensified I get a caramel toffee malt base, complimented with dark fruits of dates and fig.The latter half enjoys more fermentation style complexities like faint esters derived from fermentation. Some honey too! However, I feel much of this ending flavor resembles a lager because of the cleanliness left on the palate. A subtle undertone of bitterness helps crisp the finish.

Mouthfeel: The body is unexpectedly light, with a soft foam from the carbonation frothing up the second half. A residual stickiness is left on the lips while the middle of the tongue is left dry and refreshed. The roof of the mouth has a familiar cloy common to strong malt based beers. An after-breath of alcohol warms the chest.
Overall Impression: A unique beer to find in a can, though I find that phrase becoming less useful in todays craft beer industry. Nevertheless, standing with a higher alcohol, the flavor profile and feel are surprisingly misleading with a crisp clean finish and strong malt front. Dark fruit carry an undertone throughout against the caramel/toffee malt base. I'm still fascinated by the can!

Dale's Pale Ale

Thanks to Kat Langford for giving me this to try last week. I've always seen the advertisements for Dale's Pale ale in the magazines, but never had a chance to get my hands on it. Tasted Sunday afternoon before leaving for Bent River brewery with Jen, Dan and Kaylee.

Appearance: Amber colored with a hazy glow about it. A soapy white ring coats the glass as the beer emits a speckled filmed head across the surface. Carbonation can be seen within. lacing is wet on the sides of the glass.
Aroma: Faint biscuit and bready sweetness alongside a orange tang from the zesty hops. Some pine is present too, complemented with a brief tropical fruitiness. Graininess is apparent. As the beer warms, more grapefruit becomes apparent.
Taste: Sweet and light tasting with a mild malt bill that allows the hops to say the rest. Orange citrus and pine carry the bitterness through while leaving out any grassy tastes. Some apparent notes of pear and plum come through, as well as some floral characteristics. A very juicy pale ale with a grain/bready finish at the end. With the strong hop presence, I'd place this more in the IPA category than anything, especially given the alcohol. Dry, but bready finish.
Mouthfeel: Bubbly and refreshing. The beer's carbonation is perfect and it helps bring out the hop complexities. Finishes dry and slightly resinous. Clean and spritzy but overall very drinkable.
Overall Impression: On the stronger side of a pale ale. This beer boasts a nice biscuity grain bill with a big hop profile to match. Notes of orange peel, pine and floral citrus come through most prominently. Very drinkable.

 

Old Chub Scotch Ale

Tasted Friday evening while we were cooking up a large dinner of Organic Indian food, and enjoying company. We were hosting  a big tasting event at the house. Many beers to try, so I figured I'd get a review in before I lose my palate. Thanks to Kat Langford for giving me this earlier this week.

Appearance: Chestnut brown while still retaining a clarity. Head is dense and frothy and beige in color. Well sustained. Carbonation visible in the glass as single bubbles race to the surface.
Aroma: Caramel and a touch of roast. I get some present smokiness and an underlying earthiness. As the nose becomes more involved, the roast becomes a sweetened chocolate. I find some charred wood in this too along with licorice.
Taste: Big upfront sweetness of caramel and toffee. The second half presents more of the summary of flavor with peated malt and oak chips. Semi-chocolaty but with a molasses twist. I find the licorice present, but subdued by some element of smokiness. The back of the mouth reveals the most of the flavor. This beer incorporates one of those old English style flavors but with a big malt backbone and a twisted milk chocolate flavor. Alcohol gives a fruity raisin undertone near the finish.
Mouthfeel: Mouth coating and smooth. The texture is relatively soft and creamy. Carbonation is extremely light, but still prominent enough to ensure a valuable component to the overall beer.
Overall Impression: Extremely flavorful and rich! The complexity is endless revolving around the malt backbone, but with a dose of peat, licorice, cocoa, and European Yeast. My ideal of a perfect style!


90/100

G'Knight Imperial Red Ale

Tasted thanksgiving evening after a delicious meal complete with Organic Shepherd's Pie and numerous other awesome dishes. This can had survive the move of the family home from Glenview to The historic district, just a block from the down town.

Appearance: Large cream yellow colored head with a large bubble consistency. Retention is very strong, complete with peaks and Styrofoam lacing caressing the sides. Carbonation is almost non-existent among a rubied copper color. Clarity isn't partial but still an 8/10.

Aroma: Caramel is optimal at the forefront of the scent. Some young beer smell that resembles the actual wort, but there still remains a rather fresh earthy aroma. Very grainy. Nevertheless I find rich dark fruity undertones reminiscent of sugar glaze and fruit cobblers.

Taste: Sweet and robustly carameled. Right up front there is a tang that comes from the hops and malt that in combination create a very fruity and dark roasted plum and raisin. The finish has a a tartened bite at the very end that really makes the beer. The balance between grainy malt and hop fruit dryness is tremendously complex. Faith notes of pine too, driven from the hops. Biscuit and fruity esters develop an immense part in this beer as it warms. Huge flavor. Some burn at the end in the back of the throat.
Mouthfeel: Tacky feel and a big creamy body to match the alcohol. Carbonation is certainly on the higher side of my expectations for an imperial beer. The second, older can I tried was the opposite.... Slight slick and oily feel about this beer.
Overall Impression: This beer maintained all the characteristics of the style, plus some. The rich caramel and biscuit malt base paired with fruity esters and hop profile.


91/100