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Rick Franckhauser's picture

Belô Ipê

March, 2016
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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