6 Geese-A-Laying
The Bruery

6 Geese-A-Laying6 Geese-A-Laying
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From:
The Bruery
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
11.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.79 | pDev: 10.29%
Reviews:
77
Ratings:
563
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 28, 2022
Added:
Oct 13, 2013
Wants:
  15
Gots:
  123
6 Geese-A-Laying is the 6th beer in our "12 Days of Christmas" series and is a return to the more classic dark and toasty winter ale, following the appropriately blonde 5 Golden Rings. Brewed with cape gooseberries, this malty ale displays notes of plums, dark cherry and bright, citrus-like flavors from the namesake berries. Delicious right now, but suitable for aging up to 6 years, upon the release of 12 Drummers Drumming.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TKEbeerman:
Photo of TKEbeerman
Rated by TKEbeerman from Florida

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

Dec 18, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of BubbleBobble
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York

4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Rating for the re-brewed version. Pours an opaque dark cherry red, little head formation and minimal lacing. Nose is dark fruit, candi sugar roasted barley, preserved lemon, lemon peel, vanilla. There's something savory about the aroma - preserved lemon, animal fat, smoke - which isn't a bad thing. Taste leads with dark fruit (figs, dates) but is balanced by a fruitier berry "red" berry note that must be these cape gooseberries. Alcohol is extremely well hidden. Mouthfeel has a weight but isn't too heavy, while the carbonation remains soft. Of the first 6 days, I think this one is most the most impressive in highlighting its additions without swarming the beer with too many extras.
Dec 28, 2022
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a bomber into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Cloudy dark burgundy pour. A 1/2 finger of white head leaves decent lacing.

S: Malts and candy sugars mixed with dark fruit.

T.F: Semi-sweet... boozy. Loads of caramel and malts. Belgian candy sugar, fig, cherry, and plum. Dark fruits and spice. Some yeast... more booze and raisin. Medium bodied. Sticky and smooth. A little heat. Lingering dark fruit at the finish.

O: A well done Belgian Strong Dark. Lots of fruit character and candy malts. Very enjoyable brew that held up super in the cellar.
May 02, 2022
Photo of illtexzona
Reviewed by illtexzona from Illinois

4.11/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml Bottle dated 10/15/2013, drank 12/30/2021, the Sixth Day of Christmas
Into Brasserie D’Achouffe tulip after 2 hours in the fridge from cellar temp

A - Deep, rich amber. Thin head dissipates quickly
S - Dark malt, Belgian candi sugar, fruit striped gum
T - Slightly tart hard Christmas candy, dark chocolate covered black cherries
M - Fairly light with a touch of oiliness and a slight alcohol burn on the finish
O - I really enjoyed it. Much better than I expected after resting for 8 years, and great for a cold winter night.
Dec 31, 2021
 
Rated: 3.98 by jak from North Carolina

Dec 26, 2021
 
Rated: 3.65 by RMW66 from Australia

Oct 11, 2021
Photo of Orca
Reviewed by Orca from Washington

4.16/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750mL (vintage 2013) into a chalice. Pours a clear mahogany with a minimal loose head, narrow ring of foam around the edge of the glass.

Aroma is rich with dark sweet stone fruits, caramel, vanilla. Bready malt blends with dates and figs.

Taste is likewise sweet and clean. Brown sugar, vanilla, dark stone fruit, and a subtle hint of red wine. Complex but straightforward.

Mouthfeel is about right for a big Belgian style beer. Coats the palate but finishes clean and semi-dry.

Overall a solid if unspectacular Belgian strong ale. Quite enjoyable.
Jun 05, 2021
Photo of HattedClassic
Reviewed by HattedClassic from Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The beer pours a foamy and eggshell white that dissipates somewhat quickly but enough is still left on the surface. The beer itself is a clear amber with a slight brown hue to it. It looks pretty nice.

The smell is good. It has a dark malt note that resembles a decent plum note towards the end. The smell has a brighter and more citrus note upfront that mixes well with the plum note.

The taste is pretty good. It has a dark fruit note mixed with brighter and sweeter berry notes like a dark cherry and ripte plum notes.

The feel is decent. It has a medium body but very little carbonation to it that is slightly tingling but phases out. It has a slightly syrupy note to it.

Overall, a fruity beer and delicious. The bright berry notes are a nice touch to a Belgian style beer.
Jan 03, 2021
 
Rated: 3.74 by michiganmatt from California

Dec 31, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by SFC21 from Florida

Jun 14, 2020
Photo of pathman
Rated by pathman from Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
05/07/20 bottle @ home
May 08, 2020
 
Rated: 4.1 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Mar 20, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Cpmitchno1 from Virginia

Dec 12, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Feb 10, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by heysuz from Indiana

Feb 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.44 by Vylo from New Jersey

Jan 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.85 by kingjohnh from New Mexico

Jan 14, 2018
Photo of WickedBeer
Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Wades Wines 12 Days of Christmas Tasting. 12/22/17. Agoura Hills, CA. This bottle was a 2013 release.

This beers pours a nice crimson amber, with no lace and no head.

The nose is full of dark fruits.. plums, cherries, raisins... definitely getting a distinct tartness to it as well.

The flavors again revolve around lots of dark fruit, but also include caramel and molasses as balancing flavors. Also getting a slight bitterness to it as well.

Smooth and very easy to drink for a beer with such a potent ABV.. nice body volume, slight stickiness in the finish.

Of the 12 beers of Christmas I’ve had from the Bruery this one tops my list.
Dec 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.06 by BergBeer from Hawaii

Aug 02, 2017
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.04/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from fridge temp. Pours a mahogany with good carbonation. Nose is prunes, raisins, malts, sweet. Taste is really nice - lots of figs and prunes. Deep flavor. Sweet and malty. I really like it. Mouthfeel is medium bodied.
Jul 29, 2017
6 Geese-A-Laying from The Bruery
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 563 ratings