Speckled Ghost
Borealis Fermentery

Speckled GhostSpeckled Ghost
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From:
Borealis Fermentery
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Dubbel
ABV:
9%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.17 | pDev: 8.15%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
24
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 17, 2017
Added:
Jun 19, 2012
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  5
No description / notes.
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Ratings by garymuchow:
Photo of garymuchow
Reviewed by garymuchow from Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I've been wanting to try this brewery for several years and a recent trip to Duluth accommodated. Picked up this bottle with anticipation.
Sweet, tart, fruity aroma with a bit of earth and even a bit of funk. Strong phenols not apparent.
Huge head that became rocky and attractive. Lighter amber with hints of red. Rather cloudy.
Lighter body and even a tad thin but some carbonation body's it up a bit. Quite drying in time. A little more fruit, and not dark dried, but lighter fruit with a little tartness. The firm malt based intertwines with the fruit and light funk. And then the long drying finish. A little pepper comes on in time. I expect more changes as I go through this 750.
Atypical for most dubbel's I drink. But I like it. Not sure where the funk came from. It wasn't expected but was enjoyed.
Mar 20, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.66 by DMarlinJ from Michigan

Aug 17, 2017
 
Rated: 3.82 by sparx1100 from Minnesota

Jul 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.89 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Mar 25, 2017
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.49/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours hazy tea brown (SRM 15) producing a 3” sticky light tan cap that lasts 3 minutes.

S: Ripe to over ripe fruit aromas with earthy and woody notes. Mild alcohol aroma, hop aroma medium to medium low, yeast aromas medium to medium high, malt aromas medium.

T: Raisin, fig, hint of prune, fruit and a hint of fruit cake fade to a residual sweetness as moderately bitter hops produce some drying on the finish and a dash of tartness. Mild alcohol flavors – not hot or harsh, moderate hop flavors, good balance between the Belgian yeast, malt and hop flavors.

F: Very creamy, medium to medium light body, medium high carbonation.

O: An enjoyable and very elegant drink.
Jul 23, 2016
Photo of VashonGuy
Reviewed by VashonGuy from Washington

4.24/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Speckled Ghost is amber and hazy. It's lighter in color than many dubbels, the first clue that it's a bit different from the norm. Smell and taste are bananas, coriander, malts and Belgian yeast. The feel is creamy, but not heavy. Speckled Ghost doesn't have the darker tones of flavor that I associate with dubbels. It seems closer to me to some tripels or Belgian pale ales. It's a fine beer, one that I really enjoyed, and well worth seeking out.
Apr 07, 2016
Photo of joe1510
Reviewed by joe1510 from Illinois

4.21/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
750ml
$11.99
Mount Riyal Bottle Shop - Duluth, MN

A fairly recent trip to Duluth found me in possession of another couple Borealis Fermentery beers. So here I drink. Speckled Ghost pours with all the vigor of its highly esteemed Belgian counterparts. A tight bubbled frothiness easily forms and shows no signs of dissipating. The foam is bright white and amazingly sticky along the glass. Underneath sits a tarnished bronze body with some russet highlights and stunning clarity that helps the background light glow. This is a great looking beer!

The nose is vibrant dark fruity, spicy, and alcoholic while remaining clean. Prune starts the journey with a touch of dried apricots and a handful of dates. A huge fig sweetness hits the middle with all sorts of depth. The spice comes in the form of rock sugar, cardamom, and coriander. AN immensely clean alcoholic bite adds some white peppery notes. This beer makes me want to dive right in.

While the flavor can't quite live up to the nose it's not far off either. Prune and plum lead the way with the dates popping up mid-palate. Figs play throughout while the spice stays even handed on the backend. Again, there's some rock sugar, Belgian candi I'm guessing, a little exotic softly smokey cardamom, and fruity coriander. Alcohol is soft, but noticeable, on the finish along with mild orchard fruits.

The mouthfeel is where Borealis has done an amazing job. I'm drinking a 9% beer but it's luxuriously frothy and soft. The body feels light and airy. Not many American brewers out there can can pull off that feat. The drinkability is surprisingly high thanks zero residual sugars and a dry finish. Really well done in this department.

Borealis really nailed it with Speckled Ghost. The look and feel are that of the best Belgians on the planet while the flavor is right up there. There's great depth and complexity with a drinkability of the charts. A really great beer all around and I'm not really a fan of dubbels. Certainly worth buying. Great job!
Nov 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by alostplot from Illinois

Aug 27, 2015
Photo of spacecake9
Rated by spacecake9 from Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Just cracked open a bottle I bought last fall. Pours a hazy dark golden color. Very good Belgian Dubbel. Would buy again if I could find it.
Jul 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.47 by Kenai4 from Minnesota

Jun 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.24 by KarlHungus from Minnesota

Feb 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.56 by Richardbcoffin from Minnesota

Oct 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by socon67 from New York

Sep 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by indy351 from Indiana

Sep 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by olafphysics from Minnesota

Apr 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by XmnwildX12 from Minnesota

Nov 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by MNPikey from Minnesota

Jun 07, 2013
Photo of dmadsen
Reviewed by dmadsen from Minnesota

4.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Had this beer in a large bottle at New Scenic Cafe. Have had Borealis beers at ABR but was not impressed. Likely was a spent palate and temperature.

I ordered a Ommegang beligian that was on the menu. Waiter informed me they had this, though it was not on the menu. Served in a appropriate glassware. Wonderful look, feel, flavor. I am not a Belgian expert. That said, this beer was amazing. It was lighter but had great body and rounded complex flavor, floral, had a great balance, nice tracing. After coming off the Gunflint it was a welcome surprise and paired well with a full multi-course meal

If I can get my hands on it again, I will.
Apr 18, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by atone315 from Wisconsin

Apr 06, 2013
Speckled Ghost from Borealis Fermentery
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 24 ratings