Cristal
The Bruery

750mL bottle into a tulip. Pours a slightly hazy caramel/amber/mahogany with minimal head, carbonation subdued but present.

Aroma is sweet toffee, brown sugar, warm molasses, bourbon-soaked figs/dates, vanilla, holiday spice. Hints of sour cherries.

Taste likewise leads off with a dark malty semi-sweetness up front balanced by a tempered, gentle bitterness, followed closely by dried dark stone fruits, clove, bourbon, and oaky char.

Mouthfeel is medium-heavy, sticky with decent carbonation, lingering finish, boozy warmth on the swallow.

Overall another reliably great anniversary beer from the Bruery.

Cellared a year. Mahogany colored body, tan collar. Aromas of big bourbon, raisin, leather, earthy yeast, toasted caramel and anise in that order of intensity. Taste melds the raisin, prune, earthy old yeast, faint toasted caramel, toasty oak, tobacco, and cocoa. Feel has strong booze and warmth, thinner but not a problem, smooth

 

 

750 ml bottle, 2023 edition, bottled 04/20/23. Served in a Bruery Reserve Society chalice, the beer pours a somewhat hazy reddish/brown color with not quite an inch tan head with decent enough retention. Not much lacing at all. I like the aroma, the brew smells like caramel, vanilla, bourbon, dark fruit/raisin, brown sugar and toffee. Taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of some oak, booze and bready malt flavors. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's slick and a bit rich with a moderate amount of carbonation. It is a bit boozy, think this one could use some more time to age before drinking it. The booziness did ease up as the beer warmed up though. I liked this one overall, worth a try for sure!