Benevolence
Cambridge Brewing Company

 

Poured from the 375 ml bottle, cage and cork. Opened with a slight hiss, poured at fridge temp.
A - Dark mahagony color, intirguing view of the carbonation as it slowly crawls up the glass interior. A thin ring is a constant presence during the experience.
S - Sherry, Banyuls wine aged, some balsamic vinegar. Bourbon barrel elements, with vanilla are a nice addition.
T - Well, theres all from the aromatics with more dark fruit, raisin, fig, dark cherry skins. A thread of barrel funk in the best way.
M - A sweet start is quickly balanced with beautiful acidity, That fortified wine feeling, with an alcohol exhale acts as the drying agent. Surprisingly delicate in body, avoids being on the syrup side. Texture is outstanding.
O - A truly delightful sipper, Flanders, meets lambic, meets Port. My only regret is not having more in he basement.
I bet this will be in the appertif realm in a year or so.

 

Pours a dark mahogany brown. Aromas of cola, chocolate covered cherries, cherries, some toasted oak as well. There's lots of raisin and prune, complimented by vanilla. Some pomegranate juice-like cidric tartness. It hides the heat well, but it's nearly still like a Mystic Entropy. There's almost a little Sherry Oloroso on the finish along with a touch of oak. I have sipped this quite slowly and haven't felt that it errs on the "too acidic" side at all. This is a richly complex beer that has benefitted greatly from the extended slumber in barrels and year bottle conditioning.

Poured from a 375 mL bottle

Look: Dark (almost black) without any head
Smell: Smells of oak and malt
Taste: Flavorful; can taste the oak and raisin with a sweet finish
Feel: Thick with a refreshing finish
Overall: Well balanced beer and rich beer

 

On tap at the brewery.

Huge aromas of raisins and dark caramelized fruits, apparent as soon as the glass is on the table.
Taste follows with raisins, dark cherry, caramel fudge, and a nice light sourness and funky quality. Reminiscent of port wine or Flanders red ale. Dry finish.

Well balanced, a nice touch of wild sourness but not overly so.

Excellent, glad I tried it!

 

on draft at the brewpub, in a smaller (10 oz? ) glass

very dark brown in color, with off-white colored head, that fades soon. big boozy aroma of raisin, plum, black cherry, some dark caramel. similar complex flavors in the taste. medium bodied.

Appearance: Arrives the color of a full-bodied red wine with a one finger head; a few strands of lacing.

Smell: Dates, raisins, plum and red wine grape ; buttressed by dark chocolate, oak and a Bourbon barrel character

Taste: Dark chocolate and dark fruit forward, with dates, raisin, plum and red wine grape; the Bourbon arrives in the mid-palate, bringing oak, vanilla and a hint of smoke; the finish brings together all of the elements

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation; some warmth in the gullet

Overall: One of the most interesting beers I have tasted thus far in 2019; so much going on but it works very well

Confused in rating this. The beer's delicious but it's billed as a wild ale, or that it has has wild ale elements. But there's no resemblance of anything wild sour or tart in its flavor or aroma. It drinks like a barrel aged old ale. Completely delicious but since it's billed as a wild ale I have to knock some points of the score for that.

Deep mahogany brown where no light passes. Lasting minor head. Little lace.

Strong berry and alcohol aroma, like a rich sherry.

Lots of raisin with a string boozy alcohol kick. Chewy body with a lower carbonation level. This is an after dinner beer particularly appropriate for the winter months. Think sherry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I must start by saying this style and the raisin notes are not favorites and why the taste score was lower for me. However this is well made, full of flavor and lends perfectly to its barrel aging. Light carbonation, deep wine color and intense aroma. Raisin, chocolate, dates come through in taste.
If you are a fan of the style and these flavor notes this is a must try.