Belgian Strong Ale
McGuire's Irish Pub

Presented in an attractive cervoise-type deep wine glass with a nice puffy white head over a cloudy, thick, and nearly opaque grapefruit-juice color body with many tiny Champaign-like bubbles. This was sold as the "winter seasonal" A.K.A. “Millennium Ale,” and I had no idea what it was. Sure looked like a wit, but smelled and presented like a spiced tripel with 8-9% ABV. I was pretty sure I had put my finger on it and I asked the bartender, who stated that it was a Belgian Strong Pale with 8.5% ABV. I wasn’t buying it until I got further into the glass and really started recognizing the similarities to the outstanding Unibroue La Fin Du Monde, namely the flavor and high level of carbonation.

Stylistic nitpicking aside, this is a solid beer. The fluffy head fades quickly, leaving a small amount of lacing and a ring of foam around the edges. Nose evinces strong cloves and coriander as well as sweet malt. Taste has a strong spice presence, a firm alcohol warmth, and finishes dry and bready on a slightly bitter note. Though strongly spiced, mainly with coriander (though it tastes of clove), it’s not especially complex. Mouth is smooth, viscous and highly carbonated with tingly bubbles. Drinkability is good, but a bit rough on the stomach like most strong, highly carbonated tripels, etc. I’ve tried. One or two is plenty; this is not a session beer.

Overall: Far and away, this is the best of the McGuire’s brews that I have sampled, and I’m about 3/4 through their active listing of about 20 beers, most of which are seasonals. The Belgian Strong Pale style does take some getting used to, and it’s hardly a session beer, but it’s a great treat around the Christmas holidays. Heartily recommended.

Edit 1/5/07: I learned from the table placard advertising the beer that it's 8.1% ABV. I also got to speak to the brewmaster, Steve Fried about this beer. Steve informed me that he was shooting for a Belgian Strong Pale and thinks he hit pretty close. I agree. (They also describe it as a spiced tripel, which is also very close.) He informed me that he initially tried using orange peel but that the oils hurt the head. He used 5 pounds of orange blossom in the must and the results are great. And despite the clove flavor, the only spice is coriander. He reported that he entered it as a honey ale in a contest in Florida and it took a bronze. Again, a very good offering, the best I've tried so far from McGuire's.

Presentation: A good sized “not quite a Pint but more like a good ¾ Pint” draft serving, sampled during a recent trip to McGuire’s Irish Bar in Pensacola, FL. This was listed as 8.1% ABV on the BrewPub Beer Menu blurb. Listed in the BA Database as a 'Belgium Strong Pale Ale', this is most certainly incorrect. Described in the Pubs own blurb as a spicy beer with orange, coriander and honey – it is more akin to the spicy Tripels so often seen around Xmas time in Belgium. The Third of Four beers sampled on my recent visit to McGuire’s Irish Bar.

Appearance: Served in a tall uniform and rather largish Wine Glass, this looked the part when it arrived. A glowing yet murky looking, marmalade orange color with little to no head whatsoever.

Nose: By far this had the very best aroma of all the McGuire’s beers I had on my visit. Fruity oranges, coriander and honey leap out of the glass faster and higher than an activated Martin-Baker Ejection Seat. I could smell this beer before the Waitress put it on the Table.

Taste: An immense orange “smack” hits the front of the mouth straight away; it creeps to the back of the mouth where the alcohol becomes noticeable. Coriander eventually emerges in the middle, with a mix of other spices. The added honey mixes with the alcohol and is strong and warm in the ending – almost medicinal at times. Sweet and fruity, this is a tasty beer, but a little overpowering at times I have to say. A little unbalanced at times.

Mouthfeel: Powerful in the mouth the orange flavor dominates, and makes no bones about its presence. The honey is thick and coats the mouth with an alcohol barrier that dissolves the many spices, especially the coriander, and gives them a prickly feel at times. The beer lightly coats the mouth and leaves a lingering honey orange aftertaste.

Drinkability: A very tasty beer, and a strong one, that is a tad too "over-the-top" for me to drink more than the one Glass. It was a nice relaxing sipping beer after the Meal I had just had and settled well. But it’s really a sipper that is overtly fruity and probably too much for more than just the one glass.

Overall: Another bargain, and well worth trying. More of a spicy Tripel for me than a Strong Pale Ale as listed here in BA. Solid alcohol, strong honey glazed orange fruits and spiky spices can make it a little heavy handed. Worth trying One Glass, or, at least finishing with the night this one.