What're you drinking right now?

[S. St. Jeb]

Omnipollo Prodromus. For some reason I was expecting much sweeter, but there is a bitterness here that I find very appealing.

My recollection of this is that is was very sweet, matching the desert flavour description on the can.

[Belgian]

Omnipollo Prodromus. For some reason I was expecting much sweeter, but there is a bitterness here that I find very appealing.

My recollection of this is that is was very sweet, matching the desert flavour description on the can.

I think it's taste perception - some people focus on the bold richness as 'overwhelming' & others can note that but put it in the background and also focus on roast, dryness, vanilla or whatever.

Same thing, different impressions.

[skaghevn]

Puttered around the cellar and pulled out a Rochefort 8, bottled on Sept. 14, 2005. More of a 10 person, so I'll have to hunt for my oldest bottle of that to see how they compare. At the moment, I'm under the impression I would've been happier cracking this open a couple of years ago, but it's still quite quaffable.

[Belgian]

Puttered around the cellar and pulled out a Rochefort 8, bottled on Sept. 14, 2005. More of a 10 person, so I'll have to hunt for my oldest bottle of that to see how they compare. At the moment, I'm under the impression I would've been happier cracking this open a couple of years ago, but it's still quite quaffable.

Cool! Those old bottles of Rochefort get VERY thin-tasting unless you rouse up the sediment a few days before drinking & then let it settle down again. If you wash out the bottle you'll see besides the yeast lees there's also a lot of dark sediment from the finer suspended solids that once added body and flavor to this beer. Or that's my opinion!

[skaghevn]

Omnipollo Prodromus. For some reason I was expecting much sweeter, but there is a bitterness here that I find very appealing.

My recollection of this is that is was very sweet, matching the desert flavour description on the can.

My measure of a very sweet beer is that I would have been happier pouring it over some vanilla ice cream; don't recall thinking that about the Prodromus.

[skaghevn]

Puttered around the cellar and pulled out a Rochefort 8, bottled on Sept. 14, 2005. More of a 10 person, so I'll have to hunt for my oldest bottle of that to see how they compare. At the moment, I'm under the impression I would've been happier cracking this open a couple of years ago, but it's still quite quaffable.

Cool! Those old bottles of Rochefort get VERY thin-tasting unless you rouse up the sediment a few days before drinking & then let it settle down again.

Hmm....will remember that for the others; only gave it some swirling before cracking it open. I know you've mentioned that before here, so thank you for reminding me.

[Belgian]

Puttered around the cellar and pulled out a Rochefort 8, bottled on Sept. 14, 2005. More of a 10 person, so I'll have to hunt for my oldest bottle of that to see how they compare. At the moment, I'm under the impression I would've been happier cracking this open a couple of years ago, but it's still quite quaffable.

Cool! Those old bottles of Rochefort get VERY thin-tasting unless you rouse up the sediment a few days before drinking & then let it settle down again.

Hmm....will remember that for the others; only gave it some swirling before cracking it open. I know you've mentioned that before here, so thank you for reminding me.

It's VERY gucky - a layer glued right on the bottom of the bottle - but you're welcome.

Just opened a 2006 Chimay Bleue (expy 2009) - what a survivor of time, the dark fruit and chocalatey notes have really mellowed. Still has a bit of life to the carbonation, but now silky feel, more like a cask ale which is interesting. Subtle. Echoes of spices, citrus candy and even hints of bitter hop at the end - damn good actually. Can't wait to kill the last bottle of this case I bought 13 years ago.

[BeerIsGood]

Omnipollo Prodromus. For some reason I was expecting much sweeter, but there is a bitterness here that I find very appealing.

My recollection of this is that is was very sweet, matching the desert flavour description on the can.

That’s interesting. I’d be curious about your comparison between the Omnipollo and say Flying Monkeys Chocolate Manifesto, if you’ve had it. I found the latter to be undrinkable in its sweetness.

[S. St. Jeb]

Omnipollo Prodromus. For some reason I was expecting much sweeter, but there is a bitterness here that I find very appealing.

My recollection of this is that is was very sweet, matching the desert flavour description on the can.

That’s interesting. I’d be curious about your comparison between the Omnipollo and say Flying Monkeys Chocolate Manifesto, if you’ve had it. I found the latter to be undrinkable in its sweetness.

Haven't had it, but I'll try to remember this conversation if I do, or come across some other sweet beer.

[Belgian]

Belhaven Scottish Oatmeal Stout & 90/~ Wee Heavy, Both really nice!



Six-bottle gift pack overall has some nice surprises. I know that Belhaven & Greene King are not at the top of anyone's geek-out list, but Belhaven is doing some legit service to the craft beer thing.

The GK Christmas Pudding Ale is no lump of coal, but you can safely skip that one.

[sofakingdrunk]

I’m a big fan of the belhaven wee heavy. It’s a true classic, back in the motherland.

[cratez]

Over the week in downtown Toronto while at a work conference:
Left Field 1,000 Victories (draft)
C'est What? Double Rouge (draft)
Niagara Oast House Local Hoption Wet-Hop IPA (draft)
Gaffel Kölsch (draft)
Left Field Prospect Single Hop IPA : Sabro (draft)
Fairweather Silky - American Oat Porter (draft)
Little Beasts Mountain Devil (draft)
Amsterdam English Dark Mild (cask)
Rainhard Brutal Truth (draft)
Dieu Du Ciel! Lazer Lager (draft)
Collective Arts IPA No. 11 (draft)

[beerstodiscover]

Fullers Imperial IPA — Really nice beast of an ale. Firm Euro hops and massive malt. Fruity, bready, herbal, sweet and bitter.

[portwood]

Fullers Imperial IPA — Really nice beast of an ale. Firm Euro hops and massive malt. Fruity, bready, herbal, sweet and bitter.

This was a pleasant surprise for me as well.

labels says its bottle conditioned and best before Dec 2028 ... a NINE YEAR shelf life for an imperial IPA? WTF?

from limited experience, IPAs die after a few weeks/months - depending on brewery - can this last that long?

[beerstodiscover]

From limited experience, IPAs die after a few weeks/months - depending on brewery - can this last that long?

For all intents and purposes this is a hoppy barley wine. I like the hop bitterness, but even if it fades, this will still be a nice ale to drink in a decade.