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Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale
Williams Brothers Brewing Company
- From:
- Williams Brothers Brewing Company
- Scotland, United Kingdom
- Style:
- Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale
Ranked #10 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #20,597 - Avg:
- 3.8 | pDev: 11.32%
- Reviews:
- 366
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 25, 2023
- Added:
- Sep 18, 2001
- Wants:
- 39
- Gots:
- 26
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
Introduced to Scotland by Welsh druids in the 9th Century, elderberry black ale was part of the Celtic Autumn festivals when the "elders" would make this strong ale and pass the drink round the people of the village. The recipe was taken from a 16th Century record of domestic drinking in the Scottish Highlands. Elderberries were used for many natural remedies to cure sciatica, other forms of neuralgia, influenza and rhumatism as they contain tannins and fruit oils. Ebulum is made from roasted oats, barley and wheat boiled with herbs then fermented with ripe elderberries.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by qrazvan:
Rated by qrazvan from Romania
3.62/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Aug 06, 2016
3.62/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Aug 06, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by octortus from Canada (ON)
3.81/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
330 mL Bottle. ABV 6.5%.
Appearance: Dark brown, Half a finger of bubbly tan head, Ok retention, Spotty lacing.
Aroma: Dark dried fruit, Roasted bready malt, Chocolate, Hops.
Mouthfeel: Light-Medium body, Smooth, Thin, Light carbonation.
Flavour: Soft dried dark fruits, Roasted malt, Slight dark berries, Bitter.
Overall: I would assume that these beers are very difficult to do well. I think this is a good attempt but something seems off or unbalanced.
Review: 123
Jan 28, 2020Appearance: Dark brown, Half a finger of bubbly tan head, Ok retention, Spotty lacing.
Aroma: Dark dried fruit, Roasted bready malt, Chocolate, Hops.
Mouthfeel: Light-Medium body, Smooth, Thin, Light carbonation.
Flavour: Soft dried dark fruits, Roasted malt, Slight dark berries, Bitter.
Overall: I would assume that these beers are very difficult to do well. I think this is a good attempt but something seems off or unbalanced.
Review: 123
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York
4.06/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Decanted from the bottle into a conical pint glass; printed with Best before Feb 2016.
A: Pours a dark brown, almost black with a red caste around the edges; khaki colored head that dissipated quickly, leaving only a rim with little lacing or legs.
S: Dark roast malts interlaced with berry and plum notes, maybe a little rum.
T: Dark roast malts, dark chocolate, black coffee, and anise; leaves a pleasant tingling on the tongue. Really didn't detect the elderberry in the taste, although it is evident in the bouquet.
M: Full bodied with nicely persistent, albeit light effervescence.
O: Enjoyable.
May 22, 2017A: Pours a dark brown, almost black with a red caste around the edges; khaki colored head that dissipated quickly, leaving only a rim with little lacing or legs.
S: Dark roast malts interlaced with berry and plum notes, maybe a little rum.
T: Dark roast malts, dark chocolate, black coffee, and anise; leaves a pleasant tingling on the tongue. Really didn't detect the elderberry in the taste, although it is evident in the bouquet.
M: Full bodied with nicely persistent, albeit light effervescence.
O: Enjoyable.
Reviewed by BeernOnThe4thOfJuly from Missouri
4.04/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.04/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Deep brown with purple twinge. Very strong chocolate and blueberry nose. Really sweet. Taste follows suite. Some porter creaminess in the middle. Could use more hops on the finish. Good, but a bit unbalanced.
Apr 21, 2016
Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale from Williams Brothers Brewing Company
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
546 ratings
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