En Garde, Connards!
Mystic Brewery

I may have never given a 5 rating to any beer and haven't written reviews lately, but this was soooo wonderful. The 25.4 oz. bottle has sat in my cellar with temps in the 50's for a year or two. Beautifully labeled with all the tidbits belonging on a fine bottle. After this aging, the look of the last few glasses was especially noteworthy due to the wealth of bottom goobers adding depth to the golden brown color and encouraging a fine lace. Delicate aroma of mixed dried fruits with a hint of ash and funk. Flavor is nicely dry yet rich with mild malty dried raisins, caramel, ash, tobacco, gentle tropical fruity esters and maybe some tart lemon and salt. Too much going on for me to decipher with flavor galore but nothing taking over. Creamy mouth feel held up even after aging. I feel so lucky to have come across this beer and given it some time. I taste a wide variety of brews. This one dazzled. Run across something this terrific maybe once every year or two. Thanks Mystic!

 

 

this is an interesting take on the style, a lot richer and maltier than most of its peers, at least the ones i am familiar with, but a beer of great depth and complexity, and another treasure from mystic, who hasnt missed in my experience. its almost brown in color, with a huge fluffy white head and some yeasty bits circling around in the bottom of the glass, looks regal and fancy, even in my hotel room rocks glass. the nose and taste are both yeasty, even for the style, but seemingly more english and bready and rustic and old than the more delicate french and belgian strains i am used to in the style. i think thats really the defining element of this one, although the grain base is also a little different from the norm here. its darker, notes of red berries, currants maybe, dried, with some heavy caramelization of the sugars, molasses and honey, bran muffin, and a lot of body to accompany it. its not quite as saison-esque as a lot of these are, a much heartier and deeper drink, but something quite original and delicious. the attention to detail in all of the mystic beers is second to none, and even if this recipe is a little strange, i really do love the beer.