Siamese Twin Ale
Uncommon Brewers

Siamese Twin AleSiamese Twin Ale
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From:
Uncommon Brewers
 
California, United States
Style:
Dubbel
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.6 | pDev: 16.67%
Reviews:
126
Ratings:
240
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 12, 2018
Added:
Jul 26, 2008
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  7
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Metalmonk:
Photo of Metalmonk
Reviewed by Metalmonk from North Carolina

3.49/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
This can was sent by the great msubulldog25, a man whose generosity knows no bounds. Thanks Brian! (And cheers to Chang & Eng)

Wowza, this thing is a beaut: over an inch of dirty white head, fluffy, firm and long-lasting. The color is a caramel-esque brown, veering toward milk chocolate but never quite getting that dark. About as interesting-looking as the label description of the ingredients (Belgian dubbel brewed with kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass and coriander).

Coriander, lemon and lime are detected in the aroma, but they're subtle...actually everything else about the aroma is subtle. The sweet caramel/toffee-like malt is there but hanging far back, as is that tell-tale Belgian yeast character (not sure they actually brewed with a Belgian yeast strain). Not bad, but doesn't leave much of an impression. Despite the exotic elements, it's a tame smell.

The flavor is about as strange as the description on the label. I just couldn't reconcile Belgian dubble meets lime leaves and lemongrass in my mind. Still can't now that it's on my tongue. Not saying it's bad, but...I guess "interesting" would be my best description of the flavor. Things are spicy and almost minty, with the coriander, lime and lemongrass working together as they do, as if you accidentally dropped some toothpaste into your glass of Belgian brown ale. The sweeter, candy-like characteristics of the malt "pop" thanks to these unusual ingredients. Intense herbal-ness and exotic spiciness are just barely kept in check by brown bread, caramel/toffee and earthy yeast dirtiness.

How much alcohol is in here? 8.5%? I wouldn't have known, as there's little to no alcohol flare, and the oddity of the flavor distracts from even thinking about alcohol content and its contribution to flavor. Finishes a little bit dry, even somewhat tart.

Feels smooth and slick, round and silky, gently carbonated; plenty of presence in the mouth. Just about right for the style.

Uncommon? Oh hell yeah. Just not as enjoyable as I'd hoped. But it did start growing on me, and with warming things began coalescing a little better. Still, every now and then my palate was rocked by the odd ingredients, just as I was starting to decipher and "feel" the dubbel-ness of this thing. Ultimately, even though I might never crave another, it's hard to dislike when I know I'll remember the flavor forever...there's no other beer out there like this one, as far as I know.
Aug 02, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

2.6/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
Man I remember when they used to bring this shit to Canfest. Pours a dark amber to light red kind of color, nothing different genre SRM wise going on here, looks the part, 3/4" off white head on the top. Aroma starts to veer left from the middle, the lime is just weird, but it was mostly malt heavy dark bread kind of smells.

Taste, certainly has a dubbel base (bass, how low can you go?). Its like a mix of lime leaves, spice rack and dark bready malts. Too much spice rack for sure, the lime could be less too. Shit is just clashing hardcore with tradition right now. The alcohol is way too noticeable, and the lime contributes a degree of bitterness that just isn't acceptable for this style of beer. Dark bread and dark fruit notes punish the mouth feel here.

Its one thing to make a weird beer, but when its weird and not pleasant, hard pass.
Jan 12, 2018
Photo of eigervue
Reviewed by eigervue from California

2.61/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Before I get into the details this is one of the weirder more difficult beers to reassure because of how much it changes as it warms. The can does say to serve at cellar temperature, but the pub served it fridge cold. At first I quite liked it although I couldn't really make out the flavors on the can. Eventually it opened up more and the flavors really didn't do it for me.

Appearance: dark Amber with reddish tones, weak head that quickly dissipates

Smell: I have been recovering from a cold, but that was last week and I can still barely pick up any notes other than malt, even then it's weak.

taste: This is the toughest for me as it changed so much as the temperature did. It started off just reminding me of a winter spiced ale with the flavors staying far in the background , I picked up a bit of the kaffir leaves at the end but that was still subtle. I would have rated it a solid 3.5+ at this point. Unfortunately it went downhill from here, as it warmed and got closer to the recommended temp it got sweet, sickly sweet even. The corriander came out as did the lemongrass but that just made the beer more cloying and medicinal tasting. This was a very rough one to finish, and I wonder if the pint serving has something to do with that as well.

Mouthfeel: actually one of the better things about this beer, if you get past the taste it has a good mouthfeel that makes you want to drink this, if it tastes better, very smooth in the mouth and you wouldn't guess it's an 8.5% brew

Ultimately, I wouldn't try this beer again and can't imagine recommending it to anyone.
Jan 11, 2018
 
Rated: 3.76 by gefinley from California

Aug 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.74 by dertyd from California

Apr 24, 2017
Photo of Eddiesbar
Reviewed by Eddiesbar from Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4
Can from Edgemont. Smell is dark fruit, raisins, caramel and malt. Dark fruit and malt flavors with spices. Finishes like and sugary malt. Very Belgian-esque. An interesting one.
Jan 28, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Rockjocknroll from California

Aug 03, 2016
Photo of Stevem68
Reviewed by Stevem68 from Ohio

3.62/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a Amber color. Has an aroma of coriander and some citrus peel. Flavor is malty and coriander forward. Has hints of citrus and an almost light cactus refreshing flavor. It's not bad but overall just kind of ok. Overall this reminds me a bit of a scotch ale but with more citrus lemony flavor profile. It's a solid beer.
Mar 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by 2GOOFY from California

Mar 06, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by MtOrion from Nebraska

Jan 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by hozersr from Pennsylvania

Nov 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.21 by B_B from California

May 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.6 by wethorseblanket from California

Apr 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.64 by CJNAPS from California

Feb 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.16 by Bummertime

Jan 21, 2015
 
Rated: 2.97 by HellAwaits from Virginia

Jan 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Alpha309 from California

Nov 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by lillitnn92 from Virginia

Nov 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 18, 2014
Photo of Jack_Malts
Reviewed by Jack_Malts from Virginia

3/5  rDev -16.7%
Pretty unbalanced, actually kind of gross. Whatever. It's different? I guess at least try it once... Kind of tastes like a weird candy your grandmother might give you. It could be your thing! Side note - it really opens up as it warms...
Nov 11, 2014
Siamese Twin Ale from Uncommon Brewers
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 240 ratings