Subtle candi-sugared Belgian strong ale nears creamy hefeweizen styling with its mild banana-clove theme, fuzzy butterscotch nicety, and honeyed wheat spine. Peppery hop bite ignites terse orange and lemon peel bittering as well as floral nuance. Tart green apple and white peach illusions emerge above white wine reminder.

Subtle well-watered Belgian dark ale brings dry rye, toasted pumpernickel, and baked whole wheat breading to sweet marzipan midst. Grassy barnyard funk drowns out pithy apple-cherry-raisin allotment of approachable light body that’s closer to a less nutty brown ale.

Mild coffee roast underscores scattered dried fig-prune fruiting, sharp black currant-seeped grapefruit bittering, and ashen pine tar harshness. Cola nut, walnut, and hazelnut illusions compensate oncoming metallic twang.

Interestingly, Cali’s Russian River and Colorado’s Avery brewery’s both had rival Salvation ales in stock. Instead of litigating for brand name, the reputable microbreweries jointly crafted an alcohol-ridden intricacy. Candi-sugared Belgian yeast sweetens initial dried fig-raisin-date splurge, bruised banana-orange midst, and tertiary cherry-strawberry-peach twinge. At oak-aged brandy-like finish, dark rum-spiced cinnamon-clove-nutmeg illusions and vanilla bean-chicory notes find solace amongst fruity lucidity.

Primal ’99 version of classic barleywine-styled ale proved worthy. Dynamic caramel-scented 11% alcohol-fueled ale with smoked cedar-oak enhancing lively clove-spiced hops, peat-smoked roasted barley, and chicory of idiosyncratic medicinal brew. Vanilla extract, maple, and vinous cherry inform acquired bourbon-burgundy finish that’s indeed nearly immortal.

Sold as Pauwel Kwak Specialty Ale in larger 22-ounce bottles, broad-ranging full-bodied bronze-toned ale retains snappy acidic brettanomyces bite that flattens creamy butterscotch opening, floral-herbed yeast serenade, juicy plum tartness and curried cherry-berry spicing. Mid-palate, fruity Chardonnay-brandy-rosé wining and tart red grape tannins secure tongue-tickling hop bittering, turning overtly alcohol-ridden by stiff finish. In 12-ounce bottle, mild butterscotch sweetness enjoins dried-fruited red wining and medicinal ethanol quirk to contrast sedate up-front profile.

Tawny French-styled ale plies tapered caramel-spiced raisin, prune and plum thrust to grapefruit peeled cherry-banana tartness. Vinous white grape esters and sour green apple tartness aid silken oak-dried burgundy finish.

Chestnut-hued dry body finds initial prune-fig presence lingering to brooding burgundy abstraction. Nutty chocolate malting covers earthen hop roast.

Soft-watered fuggle-hopped mineral-grained entry lightens flow of cask conditioned ‘strong’ ale (available in bottle or can). Lingering mild hop bittering masks grassy herbal fruiting. An unobtrusive turnabout for those afraid of thicker, stronger ales.

Noticeably darker than most Uni’s, this cocoa-headed, cascade-beaded, ruby-highlighted, brown-clouded dry body spreads lavender-rosemary fragrance above dried orange regalia, desolate prune-fig-pomegranate souring and latent coffee-roasted bite. Apple-grape-cherry-pear spree galvanizes diluted sherry-rum finish as metallic alcohol whir sullenly looms through bomber-bottled Belgian-styled strong ale.

Wood-toned sour malt aromatics juxtapose sweet Scotch mouthfeel interrupting muted hop-spiced dryness. Cedar-chestnut finish loses grip after several passes.