Matilda - Goose Island Beer Co.

    Matilda is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale in the series of Belgian Style Ales created by Goose Island Beer Co. which is located in Chicago, Illinois. I saw this beer in the singles cooler at a local liquor store and had to try it after my previous experience with Goose Island's Sofie.

    The ale pours a light brown color with a fluffy, two-finger head which lingers for an extremely long time and leaves a thick lacing on the glass.

    Matilda smells extremely interesting. There is an obvious Belgian yeast scent to the ale, though it is lighter than that found in other Belgians. There is a light peppery scent to the ale, adding to other earthy scents. The main stars of the aroma are the fruity scents such as pear, citrus, and apple.

    The Belgian Style Ale is medium bodied with a medium level of carbonation. The beer's texture is extremely velvety and smooth. The first word that came to my mind when drinking the beer was "soft" if that tells you anything about the beer's mouthfeel.

    Matilda's flavors are as interesting and varied as its aroma. Flavors of biscuity malts and the sweet Belgian yeast set a background for the other, more interesting flavors. Fruit flavors such as pear, nectarine, apple, and white grape are amazingly noticeable. The beer has a fruity, nectar sort of flavor about it.

    I'm finding more and more that, while I still don't quite enjoy the stronger Belgian Style Ales, I'm really enjoying the lighter, Saison style ales. Especially ones such as this and Sofie which feature an amazing variety of fruit flavors. Beer like this is comparable to fine wines in which you can pick out the flavors of many different things.

    Matilda is an extremely complex, yet still very enjoyable, and not overwhelming beer. It's very nice to see American brewers showing a mastery of the Belgian styles as well as putting their own spin on the classic style.

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Stack N Stabb - Three Floyds Brewing Co.

    Stack N Stabb is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale created by Three Floyds Brewing Co. which is located in Munster, Indiana. I picked up this 22oz bomber on my birthday visit to the Three Floyds brewpub. As of now, there has only been one release of Stack N Stabb, making this bottle a special treat.

    The Belgian Strong Pale Ale pours a transparent orange with very little head.

    Stack N Stabb's aroma is very light. The normally powerful hop aroma that is Three Floyds' signature is extremely subdued in this brew. Instead, sweet malts and the spicy, banana scent common to Belgian yeast predominate the aroma. There is also a scent similar to that of stone fruits.

    Three Floyds' ale is light bodied with a medium-low carbonation level. The beer is quite creamy but finishes dry. There is a very slight alcohol warmth which you would expect from a Strong Ale

Warning: Beer and sharp objects may be dangerous
when used in conjunction!

    Much like the ale's aroma, Stack N Stabb's flavor is dominated by flavors from the Belgian yeast. Sweet banana and apricot can be tasted along with spices such as clove. There is more hops citrus flavor in this Belgian Strong Ale than other beers of the style which I have tried, though that isn't surprising considering it's a Three Floyds ale. Even with an alcohol content of 8.5% ABV, there is no flavor of alcohol that is noticeable. Instead, the ale is sweet at first, and finishes extremely dry.

    One thing that I love about Three Floyds is their nerdy, comic book-like inspiration for many of their beers. It feels as though, finally, people who are creating new beers are people whom are much like me. Stack N Stabb obviously follows the Three Floyds norm as is illustrated (literally) by the label and name of the ale. I realize that naming and marketing have very little to do with the quality of the actual product, but I definitely feel that Three Floyds backs up their bold labels with very good beer, so it's a win-win for me.

   As someone who does not enjoy Belgian style beers, Stack N Stabb is not something that I would drink regularly. I can, however, see that it is a very decent example of a Belgian Strong Pale Ale with a little bit of Three Floyds' personality added in. Fans of the Belgian flavors should definitely check Stack N Stabb out if they find it in stores, as it is a unique take on the Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

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Stone 11-11-11 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

    Stone's 11-11-11 Vertical Epic Ale is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Located in Escondido, California, Stone Brewing Co. has been doing the Vertical Epic series since 02-02-02. The Vertical Epic series are beers that are meant to be collected until the final 12-12-12 release and then enjoyed in order of release. These are all ales which are designed to age, and 11-11-11 was no different as I am drinking it over a year after bottling. It is important to note that this review is written over a bottle which has aged at around 60 degrees Farenheit  for one year, rather than a newly bottled 11-11-11 Vertical Epic as there may be grave differences.

    11-11-11 pours an opaque cinnamon color with just the slightest bit of foam on top which quickly dissipates.

    The Vertical Epic has an incredibly interesting smell. Notes of banana and cloves from the Belgian yeast are quite obvious in the nose. A malty sweetness is also prevalent. Much more subtle notes of black pepper, cinnamon, and chili pepper leave me anxiously awaiting my first taste.

 
    The aged ale has a medium body with a medium-low level of carbonation. The ale finishes extremely dry.

Unofficial beer of Alduin, the World Eater.

    Stone's ale has a flavor that is one of the most complex that I have ever tasted. All I can say right off the bat is that whatever it is you expect when you taste this ale, you're in for a surprise. There is definitely a sweetness to the ale, though at the same time it almost tastes somewhat sour. A number of spices can be tasted in the ale including black pepper, clove, cinnamon, and even paprika. The sweet malts remind me of dark sugars. There is a surprising amount of citrusy hops flavor up front in the ale that quickly gives way to the warmth of the alcohol and the Anaheim chili used in brewing the ale in the middle. There is a very slight alcohol flavor in the ale, which at 9.4% ABV is not surprising.

    I joke about this Vertical Epic being my Skyrim beer. The reason behind this is, that as some of you may know, Skyrim was released on 11-11-11. My original plan was to take the day off of work, pick up one of these Vertical Epics, and play Skyrim until I fell asleep with the controller in my hand. Unfortunately, my plan didn't work out and I ended up working that day and not picking up this Vertical Epic. As it turns out, I'm glad that I waited an entire year to try this ale. From what I have read, the 11-11-11 Vertical Epic is much better after aging than when I would have first experienced it.
   
    Overall I was extremely surprised by the complexity of this ale. The warmth from the chilies used in brewing along with the light cinnamon flavors make for an extremely comforting flavor that makes me think of the holidays. If you can find a bottle of the 11-11-11 on shelves at the point, I recommend that you give it a try!

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