It's Halloween tonight and most of our Pumpkin beers have run their course. We've also tasted a fair amount of this years winter beers in weeks past so we thought we'd change course and go back to basics: three Strong Ales!
Chimay Bleue (BEL): Chimay Bleu is principally distinguished by its character of a strong beer. This is a beer whose fragrance of fresh yeast with a light, flowery rosy touch is especially pleasant. Its flavour, noticed when tasting it, only accentuates the pleasant sensations perceived in the aroma , while revealing a light but pleasant touch of roasted malt. This top fermented Trappist beer, refermented in the bottle, is not pasteurised.
Fullers 1845 (ENG): First brewed in 1995 for the 150th anniversary of the brewery. Winner of CAMRA Champion Bottle Conditioned Beer of Britain (1998-1999). Described by Roger Protz as 'a rich beer with a fruit cake aroma, spices and nutmeg from malt and hops resulting in a dry, fruity finish'. Ingredients: Pale Malt (mix of Pipkin, Maris Otter and Halcyon), crystal and amber malt. Goldings hops.
Stone 13th Anniversary (CAL): Stone 13th Anniversary Ale pours brilliant deep red with a light tan foam. Up front, the aroma is all piney, resinous and citrus hops. Upon tasting, the hops are still on the front, and they are balanced with the malty, toffee like flavors contributed from the blend of crystal and amber malts used in the brewhouse. The finish is deliciously bitter, with a touch of warmth provided by the 9.5% alcohol. Bitterness comes in at 90+ IBU.
