Better Drinking

I served this at the winter beer tasting, but a good friend bought me a whole bottle, afterwards whose consumption provided fodder for this review. A special thanks to F.M. for the beer; this review is for you.

The Scaldis is a quadrupel, a special category of Belgian usually characterized by a darker color and higher gravity. This one in particular is brewed with the holiday season in mind, a very festive 8.48oz bottle, complete with blue foil wrapping and what appears to be the brewery covered in snow. The 12.5% ABV is clearly advertised, either a warning or invitation, depending on your penchant for such beers. This is no session beer, but an evening “sipping” beverage meant to close the day well. As this review is being written in the presence of a recently emptied glass, my day has closed particularly well.

This beer pours a cloudy, though somewhat opaque brown, with a small head but generous lacing. Doesn’t look all that different from many quadrupels or Belgian darks I’ve had.

The nose is a mix of sweet malt and spices, mostly peppery though very a complex mix of many undefinable aromas, at least to this reviewer.

Mouthfeel is medium-full and very carbonated, much more so than expected since this one does not pour with a large head.

The taste, initially, is dominated by a malty sweetness, with a complex mix of spice and hop in the background. As it warms, the alcohol character becomes evident and the malt and spice/hop flavors change in their prominence, the spices becoming more dominant and the maltiness becoming slightly more subdued. The alcohol character is also mild, lending only a slight slickness to the mouth.

Overall, well-balanced and quite enjoyable. This might make a good one to lay down for a spring or summer session to see what complexities arise from aging. Expensive, but definitely worth a bottle for the serious geek. Enjoy.

Labels: beer reviews