The Gift
Black Lotus Brewery
- From:
- Black Lotus Brewery
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 12.2%
- Score:
- 82
- Avg:
- 3.46 | pDev: 20.52%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 27, 2017
- Added:
- Apr 19, 2008
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Pointman:
Reviewed by Pointman from Michigan
3.25/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.25/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Nice Dubbel from the boys at Black Lotus. They usually don't brew any big beers, and it was a pleasent suprise to get an nice dubbel from them.
Very nice pour, with a 1 1/2 inch very thick head. Nice copper color, with a nice nose. Decent lacing.
This classic-style Abbey beer features an immense head with a fruity nose and a generous body. Malty in the middle, the beer features a clean, almondy dry finish and a slight alcohol warmth.
This is a sipper....be careful, the alcohol is well concealed, and will kick you in the teeth if you aren't careful
Update...previous rating was 4/19/2008....
This is today's review:
Update to my almost 2 year old review....
Well, the quality has slipped. Very little head. Average nose. Taste is ok, but has a metallic flavor.
It really has gone downhill, and doesn't have nearly the flavor of the batch from 2008.
Mar 25, 2010Very nice pour, with a 1 1/2 inch very thick head. Nice copper color, with a nice nose. Decent lacing.
This classic-style Abbey beer features an immense head with a fruity nose and a generous body. Malty in the middle, the beer features a clean, almondy dry finish and a slight alcohol warmth.
This is a sipper....be careful, the alcohol is well concealed, and will kick you in the teeth if you aren't careful
Update...previous rating was 4/19/2008....
This is today's review:
Update to my almost 2 year old review....
Well, the quality has slipped. Very little head. Average nose. Taste is ok, but has a metallic flavor.
It really has gone downhill, and doesn't have nearly the flavor of the batch from 2008.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by justinp444 from Michigan
3.22/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.22/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
On draft into a snifter it has a fluffy off white slight beige head of 2 inches and a amberish brown darker body. Smell of belgian yeast, slight plum, apricot, banana, bready malt, some caramel, and earth. Taste is lots of banana, caramel, belgian yeast, slight rubbing alcohol, strawberry, and bready malt. Mouth feel is full, crisp full carbonation (too much), and a moderate body. A strong very banana ale in a bad way.
Jan 10, 2016
Reviewed by divineaudio from Michigan
3.32/5 rDev -4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.32/5 rDev -4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
served in a pint glass. from notes.
a - came to the table a hazy copper color with a pinky of off white head that dissipates quick. no lacing whatsoever. for a belgian, i'm disappointed.
s - banana, clove, some carmel malt.
t - more of the nose. bready and malty, but has enough hop character to avoid being a malt bomb. lacking in depth/complexity.
m - a little on the heavy side with adequate carbonation.
o - enjoyable, but really doesn't do the style justice. would order again as it's one of the better black lotus offerings.
Sep 27, 2011a - came to the table a hazy copper color with a pinky of off white head that dissipates quick. no lacing whatsoever. for a belgian, i'm disappointed.
s - banana, clove, some carmel malt.
t - more of the nose. bready and malty, but has enough hop character to avoid being a malt bomb. lacking in depth/complexity.
m - a little on the heavy side with adequate carbonation.
o - enjoyable, but really doesn't do the style justice. would order again as it's one of the better black lotus offerings.
Reviewed by KickInTheChalice from Illinois
2.4/5 rDev -30.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
2.4/5 rDev -30.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Served on tap at Black Lotus in a tulip.
Appearance: Ruby red, with a small white head. The head fades quickly, leaving nothing behind.
Smell: Bananas, currant, raisin, plum, dark malts. Meh.
Taste: To me, this tastes like it is composed of 1/3 Belgian Dark Ale and 2/3 of a huge Hefe, meaning it is somewhat of a mess. Quite sweet throughout. It starts out with bananas and clove, then dark malts. A spicy Belgian yeast is obviously noticeable. Raisins and plums come in with some fusel alcohol. Too much banana, no hops, and the sweetness bothers me more each sip I take. Cloying to say the least.
Mouthfeel: Fuller than medium bodied, with light carbonation. Sticky sweet and lightly dry at the end.
Drinkability: Would not order this again. From previous reviews, it sounds like the last batch in 2008 was better, but this was not good.
Jan 12, 2011Appearance: Ruby red, with a small white head. The head fades quickly, leaving nothing behind.
Smell: Bananas, currant, raisin, plum, dark malts. Meh.
Taste: To me, this tastes like it is composed of 1/3 Belgian Dark Ale and 2/3 of a huge Hefe, meaning it is somewhat of a mess. Quite sweet throughout. It starts out with bananas and clove, then dark malts. A spicy Belgian yeast is obviously noticeable. Raisins and plums come in with some fusel alcohol. Too much banana, no hops, and the sweetness bothers me more each sip I take. Cloying to say the least.
Mouthfeel: Fuller than medium bodied, with light carbonation. Sticky sweet and lightly dry at the end.
Drinkability: Would not order this again. From previous reviews, it sounds like the last batch in 2008 was better, but this was not good.
Reviewed by dorkyrags from Michigan
4.06/5 rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.06/5 rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This was a terriffic surprise! Job well done to the Lotus crew!
True in appearance and taste to the abbey style strong belgians. Exceptionally smoothe. It was almost too smoothe....to the point where you would not know the high alcohol content unless you read their beer menu.
Delicious! The best of their offerings
Jan 09, 2010True in appearance and taste to the abbey style strong belgians. Exceptionally smoothe. It was almost too smoothe....to the point where you would not know the high alcohol content unless you read their beer menu.
Delicious! The best of their offerings
Reviewed by ElGrecoVerde from Michigan
4.08/5 rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured a rich burgundy with a thick, bubbly off white head. Beautiful looking and true to the style.
Smell was a bit mild, though again it's allergy season so maybe I just couldn't smell anything. Aromas of sweet caramel, juicy fruits, and light peppery spices float around.
Taste is aggressive, if not quite as full as the true Belgian brews. But it's quite refreshing. Smooth caramels dominate the flavor, with some citrus fruits and toast-like flavors as well. The insane ABV is masked perfectly, allowing for a warming feel without becoming hard to swallow.
Very smooth, very tasty, very enjoyable.
May 08, 2008Smell was a bit mild, though again it's allergy season so maybe I just couldn't smell anything. Aromas of sweet caramel, juicy fruits, and light peppery spices float around.
Taste is aggressive, if not quite as full as the true Belgian brews. But it's quite refreshing. Smooth caramels dominate the flavor, with some citrus fruits and toast-like flavors as well. The insane ABV is masked perfectly, allowing for a warming feel without becoming hard to swallow.
Very smooth, very tasty, very enjoyable.
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