3.8
AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20I poured a 22oz bottle into a Shmaltz snifter. It was bottled on 8/21/15 and cost $8 ($0.36 per ounce).
Appearance: Dark brown/mahogany hue (though seemingly black). Pours to a small, off-white, soapy head which fizzles away quickly and leaves no lacing.
Smell: Quite reminiscent of a pumpkin beer with cinnamon, ginger and vanilla being quite prominent. A subtle pumpkin pie sweetness is noticeable as well.
Taste: Looking at the label for this beer, it’s clear that there’s a lot to this recipe and, therefore, a lot to expect. Brewing with pumpkin, chocolate, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, Mexican chile peppers and fermented with Belgian yeast, it stands to reason that this is going to be a complex palette. Though I think it might be a bit of a victim of its own success. It starts out tasting a lot like a bold pumpkin brew with cinnamon and ginger being the most dominate flavors. A light spiciness up front with sweet chocolate and vanilla notes on the finish. Right as I swallow I get the sensation of capsaicin along with a mild alcohol warmth. It’s interesting to say the least, though also quite tasty. I don’t get much Belgian character, though, other than just a general floral character. Any spiciness from the yeast esters might be overshadowed by the actual spices. It’s a continuously entertaining one-two punch of both sweetness and spiciness; for what that’s worth.
Drinkability: Every Shmaltz/Terrapin Reunion Ale tends to be pretty hefty, and the 2015 edition weighs in at 8% ABV. However, the actually delivery process is a bit off. The mouthfeel is a bit thin and under-carbonated. I was hoping for a bigger, thicker, stickier mouthfeel. I will say that it’s smooth and easily drinkable, though not a refreshing brew per se. Versatile, too – this would pair with a steak or pumpkin pie.
RATING: 8/10
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