Strong Ale
Fancy Pants Brewing Company

There isn't much that I can say that NeroFiddled hasn't already covered below. This is a strangely intriguing brew, and I liked it a lot. Brownish color with very pungent malty, fruity aromas. No head on it at all. Dark fruits are the dominant flavors, with a lot of sweet malts as well. Alcohol is detectable but not overpowering at all. This beer could use a little more balance, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was served to me very cold but I immediately realized that it needed to warm. It's best served at cellar temperature (and maybe even just below room temperature) where it's full range of malty flavors can be experienced. Slightly hazy, reddish-brown body with a limited off-white head. I tried to re-build a head by swirling it with a napkin but to no avail. The aroma is fruity with some alcohol and citrusy hop. The body is medium with a limited carbonation that leaves it smooth and slightly creamy. The flavor starts sweet and fruity with a combination of light and dark fruits including quite a bit of raisin & prune, appears lightly malty with a mild touch of chocolate and then becomes winey before drying out in the finish with some citrusy hop flavor, a light licorice note, and a deep bitterness that clings in the mouth and throat. Some residual malt helps the bitterness to hold. It's a very long finish. The bitterness keeps it from becoming cloying, but the sticky maltiness definitely builds in the mouth and left me seeking a glass of water to refresh the palate. The alcohol is fairly evident throughout. It's surprisingly uncomplicated for such a rich beer; and I wonder if that's not at least in part because of the extensive bitterness which seems a bit over-done and may be shadowing some sweet malty notes. Still, it's a big, malty, hoppy, bitter and strong beer that has its merits and warrants a tasting.