15th Anniversary Ale
Empyrean Brewing Company

Empyrean's 15th Anniversary Ale pours a deep amber color into my pint glass. Atop the clear sits a 1/2", off-white head that slowly dissipates. Low carbonation, moderate lacing. The smell of this beer is dominated by the malts; a generalized fruity aroma is noticed first, then the malty sweetness, then the alcohol sweetness; finally, a moderate amount of citrus from the hops.

The taste of this beer, like the aroma, is predominantly sweet. The initial taste has a grape/prune sweet flavor; after a little bit, the hops take over, imparting a moderate grapefruit citrus taste. At the same time, a grassy sweetness is also evident. The alcohol only adds a modest sweet dryness at any particular time. The mouthfeel is full, sweet, and slightly dry; finishes with a sweet citrus crispness.

In summary, this is a scary drinkable beer; its alcohol content is hidden extremely well. While it's not the most flavorful big beer out there, it's one of the most drinkable on a regular basis, and that's saying something. Have a pint or two before it's gone forever.