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| 2006/08/30 09:02:35瀏覽870｜回應0｜推薦0 | |
Brewery: Fuller Smith & Turner (London, UK) Alc.: 8.5%abv. Best Before End: DEC 2008 Review Date: 27/12/2005 Misc.: According to the beer label, this year's vintage is made of Fuggles hops, floor-malted Optic malt, on top of Fuller's special yeast strain and of course London's hard water~~ This bottle is "No. 19743" amongst the 95,000 bottles issued this year. Served cool in a large tulip-shaped wine glass. 4/5 Appearance: clear, dark amber hue with strong orangey hints, coming with a thick, off-white frothy head mixed with millions of tiny air cells, slowly settling down and leaving uneven sheets of fine lacing along the way; low carbonation, with several streams of so very gentle fizz constantly ascending. Elegant. 4.5/5 Nose: semi-thick layer of pale malts laced with alcohol warmth and a flow of malt-syrupy note initially, underneath that layer a pronounced aroma of creamy, mixed fruits comes forward--tangerine like citrus-fruits, a little bit of alcohol-preserved cherries and some sweet plums, plus a spoonful of young whisky, toffee, spicy hops and a touch of vanilla (syrup) all rolled together--yet the layer of maltiness quickly folds up again, and wraps up the more subtle elements. The pattern repeats at each swirling and sniffing. Overall the maltiness is a bit rough and a better balance is not at presence (yet), I guess it's because the beer is still in its infancy?! Nonetheless it's already quite complex! 4/5 Flavour: semi-sharp texture of liquour-like fruity flavour pours into the mouth, followed by a much-milder-than-the-nose biscuity+toffeeish maltiness... mixture of caramel, preserved cherries and dark fruits, licorice, green pepper, spicy hops, and a little tinge of tangy nuts prevails in the background, while the initially intense alcoholic warmth sinks into my throat and results in a spicy+fruity sweet yet slightly "hot" aftertaste; the bitterness is very moderate, though. 4/5 Palate/Texture: a bit sharp at first, with that divine intervention of alc. and tiny fizz; as my palate and throat gradually get used to the texture, it's not so much of an issue, but then the lack of a rounder and richer body comes to mind. Instead, it's quite smooth but also light for any ale at this strength, and it also shows good potentials for ageing for a long time, for sure. As to the style? It's like a hybrid of a malty ESB and a lesser English Barley Wine to me--so an English Strong Ale maybe? I personally think it's a beer which requires breathing (for its sharper edges to soften) before it could be enjoyed fully. Will try the second bottle next X'mas! (Total score: 4.1/5) 堯的酒評網頁: http://beeradvocate.com/user/profile/wl0307/ |
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