5 Anniversary Ale
White Birch Brewing

 

 

 

Rating based as an American strong ale which I feel this beer falls better into that particular style than a BIPA

Has a spicy, grainy nose with dark dried fruit. Pours dark tea colored amber with a slight haze under a persistent 3” off white form cap that descends slowly leaving a thick mound of clingy foam that produces thick, clingy lace. The palate enters with dark caramel sweetened dark dried fruit, fig, traces of honey and hints of licorice culminating in a big bitter finish with an exquisite balance between the rich malts, graininess and bitter. Slightly above medium body with above average carbonation.

Pours dark amber with a large head (possibly due to the slightly higher pour temperature I had). Amazingly drinkable considering it's alcohol content. I plan on enjoying it over two nights, min.

 

The tricky thing about this beer is trying to label what it is exactly. That being said, if u just enjoy it as a specialty beer it is very enjoyable. Some malty taste, a little taste that reminds me of brown ale (also color is like brown ale) but I enjoy it and don't typically like brown ale. Hoppy taste is a little weak. Would never guess this beer is 11.2% alc as it is very smooth and easy to drink.

Excellent beer that has a strong malt flavor that is enjoyable. Different but very, very good. Another great beer by white birch. Glad to get one of the 2000 bottles!!

Bottled November 2014
Bottle 924 of 2000

Pours a dark rusty brown color with lots of stuff and hazy floating about, huge dense high rises from the pour so be careful not to be vigerious, fortunately because of the density of the foam it's capable of rising beyond the edge of the glass a good inch and not be a problem!

Smell is mostly a rich caramel base, there is some hops to the nose but fairly mute, seems more like a Tripel if I was judging it on aromas.

Taste starts out with a sweet kick of caramel malt and Belgian candied sugar, it is a touch sweet at first but it's neither sickly cloying or overly sticky, hop presence is minor but does aid in cutting down the malt just enough, decent mild dry bitterness in the finish, quite full bodied with a medium low carbonation, bit bready when it comes to drinking it, alcohol is pretty well hidden except for a brief moment while in the mouth.

Bottle from the source.
Pours a fairly clear deep amber bordering on brown with a huge tightly bubbled tan head that shows some great retention. Resinous pine citrus and clove dominate the aroma with an emphasis on the clove. Candi and light brown sugars make up the base of the malt in my nose. Huge clove flavors clash with the heavy resinous taste of the hop bit. Sweet almost raw tasting candi sugar and light caramel malt flavors counter the yeasty and hoppy flavors. Light alcohol warming especially as this warms a bit. Nice brew, but my sensitivity to clove phenols kept me from thoroughly enjoying this one.

 

 

From the 650 ml. bottle #1665 of 2000. Sampled on December 6, 2014.

Attractive amber pour with a modest off-white head that lingers for the most part. A slight cloudiness to it.

Aroma of malts, Belgian sugar, White Birch house yeast, overripe fruit, and sweetness.

The body is medium to full. It is smooth and chewy.

The taste starts out quite sweet and malty but it does not take long for those dark fruits, raisins,and herbs to kick in. There is this mild to moderate bitterness. 11.2%b but the booze is indistinguishable. Sweetness rules the day.

i began enjoying White Birch beers in 2009 and I have added a couple of them to the BA database. This is very exciting that they have hit their 5th anniversary and I hope more people discover them. They are now in 15 states.