Elegantly detailed limited edition 150th anniversary celebrator proves to be as uniquely ambitious as brewers’ three year-round offerings. Based on Chimay Tripel (white label), its champagne-sparkled fruity bouquet sashays around an herbaceous pink peppercorn and lemongrass cluster. White grape, green apple, banana, pineapple, orange, mango and melon illusions receive tingly lemon-limed bittering that contrasts Chardonnay-buttered honey mead or cotton-candied marshmallow nuances. Black-peppered basil-thyme conflux registers below advertised orange-peeled coriander influence.
Soily 7% alcohol strong ale (a.k.a. Braonblasta or ‘tasty drop’) may be nebulous stylistically or flavorwise, but it remains fulsome and robust. Mossy peat earthiness spreads across barley-flaked mineral graining, unsweetened baking chocolate bittering and fig-juiced black tea souring. Oily Fuggle hops drape ancillary marble rye breading and charcoal tarring contrasting sweet maple malt sinew. Alkaline-like alcohol astringency may preclude softer thirsts.
On tap at Copper Mine, stellar 16th anniversary Blasphemy Quad receives extremely crystalline bourbon barrel aging. Oaken vanilla and mocha molasses saturate succulent bourbon sweetness. Black cherry, raisin and fig found in recess. Braggot-like mead wining allows purple and red grape esters to enter its soothing whiskey bent.
On tap at Copper Mine, smoothly decisive barrel-aged brown ale brings syrupy whiskey malting to hazelnut-doused vanilla-chocolate sweetness. Soy-sauced raisin pureeing finds ancillary space before mocha-bound bourbon whiskey finish sets in.
Tamer strong ale (with quieted high gravity 8.5% alcohol volume) brings citric-spiced sweetness to grassy-hopped pining contrasting honey-roasted malting. Lemony pineapple, cherry, orange and grapefruit illusions get scattered through polite moderation. Oaken vanilla pinch wavers. A crisply approachable changeup differentiated from stereotypically stylish ethanol-fueled fare.
Assertive 11.2% alcohol ‘double’ Extra Pale Ale with coppery sienna hue seems closer to a strong barleywine with its medicinal red cherry splurge, bourbon-soaked brandy whir and warm cognac tinge. Chewy caramelized vanilla center sweetens bruised orange, sugared fig, candied apple and date illusions (but harsh alcohol-burnt vodka slipstream may put off lighter thirsts). Worthy slow slipper whiskey lovers should take a liking to.
Majestic mahogany-hued Belgian strong ale, aged in oak barrels, could pass for a sour ale or saison instead of a hybridized Christmas seasonal. Cherry-soured green grape tannins bring vinous mouth-puckering tartness to lactic yeast funk, finishing with a water-crisped floral-fruited wining. Pinot noir, red zinfandel, sherry, sirah and rosé illusions deepen limestone-dried Granny Smith apple, green pear, cranberry and fig snip as well as floral chrysanthemum, lavender and lilac hints.
Luxuriously robust Norwegian strong dark ale for Christmas season (alias God Jul) gathers stout-like black chocolate, vanilla and maple-smoked molasses richness over dried-fruited gingerbread-allspice-coriander dalliance. Whiskey-daubed black cherry, prune and raisin illusions reinforce mocha-bound full body and crystalline Grimstad water brings silken nature to exemplary winter warmer.
On tap at Barcade, creamy rum-barrel aged strong ale warms up like the finest cognac or brandy. Rum-spiced pumpkin pie entry stays firm against dark cherry, bruised orange and candied apple opulence. Wintry ginger-cinnamon-allspice-nutmeg conflux sidles molasses-sapped caramelized rye breading. Excellent digestif.
Delicately intricate bourbon-aged strong ale stays soft, fizzy and mildly creamed on the tongue. Almondine, cream soda, oaken vanilla, glazed toffee and butternut squash illusions sidle toasted almond ascension. Subtle bourbon whiskey theme just a tad more striking than similarly styled Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Scottish Ale. Only downside: minor diacetyl aridity briefly outpaces Scotch sweetness. In a can, lilting bourbon sweetness contrasts dry whiskey stead as subtle toasted coconut, praline and pecan illusions file in behind.