Illudium
Straight To Ale

 

Appearance - The beer poured a murky brown color with off white bubbles clinging to the sides of the glass.

Smell - The nose was rich with red grapes and boozy hint.

Taste - The cognac with its lucious grapes is where the magic starts. I was immediately blown away by the maple that followed. Other notes included Welch’s grape juice, fruit leather, toffee, and a pleasant warm cognac finish. Everything works so well together.

Mouthfeel - With low carbonation, the beer is allowed to be sticky and warm.

Overall - I don’t give out many perfect scores. This is my 4th in about 1,000 reviews. This is real good. I need more.

 

 

 

 

Big thanks to richj1970 for this
22 oz bottle poured into a tulip

A- Dark brown with a small tan head.

S- Rich, caramel, toffee, dark fruits, plums, oaky, cognac, alcohol stings the nose slightly but it's good.

T- Dark fruits, cherries, pulms, oak, a little earthy, toffee, some cognac, caramel, little bit of heat, definitely sweet.

M- Smooth, medium body, a little on the syrupy side.

O- A tasty Old Ale, barrel works well with this. Worth seeking out if you like sweeter barelywines.

 

 

 

Thanks to RichJ1970 for this one from his box in NBS BIF #3. 22oz bottle poured into 10oz goblet. Poured a dark, almost opaque brown, with just a this cap of light brown head that dissipated quickly and left no lacing.

The aroma was very rich and full, featured some dark stone fruits (dark cherry, plum), a bit of alcohol, some leather, and solid malt. That is also a mostly accurate description of the flavor profile. There was a bit of lingering alcohol heat at the back of the palate.

The body was solid, but not heavy. Drinkability was very good for such a big, solid brew. Overall, a pretty nice example of one of my favorite styles. Certainly worth your time if you see it.

 

 

 

 

 

Initial pour is surprisingly fizzy, like a cola. It's an opaque, murky, dark brown with minimal lacing and retention.
The smell is full of sweet malt and sticky caramel and booze, but also slight earthiness and a subtle citrus note.
The flavor is initially huge sweet malt, toffee, and caramel, then giving way to a sweet but tangier flavor. There are no notes on the labor to indicate what this beer actually is. According to BA, it's cognac barrel aged. I might have guessed apple brandy.
The carbonation is light, and it's medium-bodied. It has a bit of sugary stickiness.
The cognac barrel aging was a good idea on this old ale. Straight to Ale is doing interesting things with their barrel-aged beers.

No label information. Illudium is brewed in the style of an Old Ale, available in 22 oz. bottles and on rotating draft.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a snifter glass.

(Appearance) Pours a crisp, foamy head of a light tan color over a very dark brown body. Retention is below average and lacing is light and spotty. 3

(Smell) Earthy, biscuity caramel, syrupy fruits and light roast malts with a moderately potent cognac nose. Potency is moderate. 3.75

(Taste) Toasted caramel grains, lightly roasted malts, earthy toffee, viscous fruit syrups and alcohol. A bit rough around the edges. 3.75

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, lightly residual, medium dry. Carbonation is moderate, generating a moderate frothiness and a moderately crisp finish. Body is medium/heavy for the style, medium/heavy overall. Balance is slightly grainy and earthy bitter over sweet. Alcohol presence is moderate and there are no off characters. 3.75

(Overall) I find that, like most of Straight To Ale's high gravity releases, Illudium has a bit more exposed graininess and alcohol presence than necessary, which holds this ale back a notch from outstanding status for me. 3.75

Straight To Ale's
Illudium
3.71/5.00

Thanks Yanik.

Dark mahogany body with a thin beige collar. Bourbon, French toast, sweet malt, light fruit, booze. Medium bodied, mild to medium sweetness. Tasty.