Scepter
Funkwerks

 

 

Nearly clear golden amber with a persistent and fine-grained foam. Sudsy mouthfeel after it sits in the glass, a few sips later. If only more beers had this kind of elegant carbonation. Phenol and apple schnapps in the nose.

The first sip just tastes more like a sweet and excessively fruity Saison. The woozy alcohol gives it that distinctive "delirium tremens" taste. Then this opens up after being poured a while. And finally the dry sensation comes across to balance the rather shocking level of sugar. Some grain, like sweet cereal, with green papaya. The whole range of flavors is a little disconcerting, but the sweet yet tangy fruit makes it a Belgian liqueur.

Another one from the cellar. This one was brewed in mid-2012. From the 750 ml bottle purchased at Grapevine Wine & Liquors in Denver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

another beauty from funkwerks. this one might be mislabeled though. i do not see a golden ale in my glass. i see a cloudy almost red beer, washed out looking and lacking lively carbonation it seems. there is a great big white head on it though, and it looks plenty appetizing. the nose is a little boozy, but in a rich, woody, mature way. lots of oak in the nose, and plenty of funky belgian yeast. the flavor is a little sweet at first, some white grape notes too. the yeast adds a bit of peppery spice, while the barrels add some crazy depth and alcoholic potency. the carbonation turns out to be better than it looked, and is in fact quite robust. the body is a little more full than i like in a golden ale, and called something else it might be better, but this was a little weighty from the yeast suspended within. the alcohol only creeps in as it warms up. this is a complex beer with lots of depth. a great beer to share on a chilly night.

750 ml bottle. Pours clear straw yellow with a medium frothy white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet sugary floral malts with earthy yeast and some vinous wood.

The flavor is sweet sugary bready malts and some light tropical fruits and pepper with some dry vinous notes in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, a nice Belgian. It 's a bit too sweet for me especially as it warms.

 

750 mL capped bottled served slightly chilled into a goblet.

Scepter is a pale golden ale with good clarity and thin white head. It settles quickly and leaves no lacing behind.

Aroma is really pleasant and I take several long whiffs before the first sip. Sweet, spicy, floral, and oaky. All of these are blended to a nicely balanced blend.

Flavor is more intense than expected but still well balanced. The base beer is a strong Belgian pale with more bitterness from hops than typically found in these styles. It's then aged in oak barrels which lends a mellow vanilla quality.

Mouthfeel is medium-light in body and strongly carbonated, both in keeping with the style. The alcohol is fairly well-hidden for being over 9% ABV.

Overall a really nice version of this style. I would be interested to try the un-oaked base beer to see how it compares. Maybe at the tap room?