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Belô Ipê

Belo IPE Beer
Judges Ratings 
1 Review
89
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Appearance:
5 / 6
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Description 

Creamy ruby-brown color with solid lacing. Aged with wood chips marinated in Brazilian cachaça—a spirit made from sugarcane juice. Tropical Fruits, truffles, figs, creme brulee and a smack of dried fruit aromas. Great head retention, medium carbonation. Smoothy and full-bodied with a long pleasant finish.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
11.0%
Judges Review 
Rick Franckhauser's picture
Judges Rating:
89
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Big alcohol notes, including some fusel, come up in the initial aroma. Fortunately, the rum and dried fruit esters overcome the alcohol and are joined by caramel malt. A faint and rather nondescript spicy phenol peeks through as it warms up. This beer pours a somewhat hazy deep copper color with a light beige, creamy head. The head drops quickly to a thin layer, but it still manages to linger all the way to the last sip.

Caramel malt sweetness is joined by Cachaça, some raisin and a touch of dried apricot in the flavor. The alcohol combines with the slightly spicy phenols to aid in balancing the malt sweetness. A note of oak and a fleeting roast aspect sneaks in at the finish. Perhaps the coriander is part of the spice, but it never seems distinctly identifiable as such. The beer is sufficiently complex for a Belgian Quad but could benefit from increased carbonation to help bring out a more nuanced flavor profile. It's still a little boozy, but delicious and smooth enough to remain dangerously easy to drink. 

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