A Flowery Song

Background: A 7.5% ABV brown ale spiced with cacoa, orange peel, and cinnamon.

Appearance: Nut brown body with a few floaties, huge foamy tan and orange head. Even after I poured the first glass, the foam in the bottle insisted on crawling out the neck and sliding down the side.

Nose: Zesty, acidic, funky, and fruity.

Taste: Tart and tangy brettanomyces funk on a solid malt background with some definite oak influence. Toasted malt, light hop bitterness, plummy fruit, unsweetened cocoa, and some Belgian-like spiciness to round out the flavour.

Overall: It's very nice. Good acidity so it should pair well with a wide range of foods, but its complexity rewards slow sipping and contemplation.

Appearance: Clear dark brown (becoming opaque in the glass) with a minimal off-white head.

Nose: Tart fruit and toasty malt.

Taste: Tart green apple, citrusy hops, fruity esters and some nutty toasted malt.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, high carbonation.

Overall: Too estery. It's drinkable (barely) but not worth seeking out.

Appearance: Clear chestnut, fluffy tan head.

Nose: Caramel maltiness, light fruity esters.

Taste: Moderate malt sweetness expressed as caramel, light toffee, and toastiness on the high notes. Medium bitterness continues into the dry finish; mild hop character.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, light carbonation.

Overall: Nice. Easy-drinking brown ale.