Devil's Reach
Cape May Brewing Company

 

 

From a can poured into a beer glass.
Dingy pale cider like in color with low clarity and a decent head, and a little lacing.
Pleasant malt, Belgian yeast , pear, apple, soft banana, faint clove and spice. An ABV that could easily sneak up on you, this one goes down easy.
A very good representation of the style

Not my thing. Sour but strong.

Poured a chilled (38F) can into a 16oz Belgian tulip glass. Finger of slightly off-white head receded quickly. Some lacing clung to the glass. The appearance is an unfiltered/hazy pale gold.
Aroma is yeast, bread, fruit, and some faint malt.
Taste is bread, honey, fruit maybe apple or apricot, sweet, bit of malt, some ethanol at the back. Has some hop flavor to it, pretty vague though with little bitterness to balance the sweet.
Mouthfeel is medium light to medium. Bit of chew but expected more body as a strong Belgian Ale. Decent amount of carbonation. At times I think I'm drinking a delectable carbonated apple cider with some bite.
Overall this isn't a bad brew. CMB is a talented brewery and they create some wonderfully well-crafted beers. This one isn't one of my favorites and I only say this because I'm unsure where this ends up in terms of the style (Belgian Strong Ale). I would probably get it again (on tap next time) as I've had this on tap at the brewery and it had a bit of a more enjoyable style profile vs the can.

(12 oz can from cold 6-pack, born 4095 102623... poured into a stemless wine glass)

L: hazy amber liquid (that I knew); tight fish-eyed foam to the glass lip... misty cap maintains, laces little

S: honey, fresh-baked bread, spicy-floral undertones - more like a Hefeweizen than a Duvel knock-off

T: again, that honey and the Hefeweizen... doughy aftertaste with a hint of toasted sugar... spicy like a tripel in the front of the palate, with a dry, ethanol-kissed cut at the back... as far as the fruits the brewery touts in its description, some apricot, maybe some sultana - I would say this is otherwise yeasty-driven and bready; little definition to the malts

F: well, it doesn't drink like a wheat beer... bit of swell in its body upfront, but it's rather shapeless and just flames out in the finish... the little fire it packs stays up front, while the back of the palate seems almost parched... I suppose the textures are fairly on point for the style, but it's just lacking cut lines, refinement

O: not my first time having this, but it's been a while... always thought it was strange it looked unfiltered... it's not a bad beer by any stretch, it's just its concept is confusing, given the Duvel reference... it's like a Belgian strong pale and Tripel hybrid, no? (2354)

 

 

 

 

Hazy, golden pour white a quickly retreating white head. Yeast is most present in the nose--this beer does create it's own atmosphere once opened. Body is very light, almost too light to be regarded as a legit Belgian strong. There is a fruity quality to the taste, along with malt sweetness, but again all very light, not deeply flavorful at all. Overall, low-impact, and rather disappointing. I will be content to stay out of the Devil's Reach.

Bought a single can of this from the liquor store and will be getting a sixer next time. A good strong Ale that I seek out when I drink beer. The smell to me was on point for a stronger beer and the taste was good. I will definitely be drinking some more very soon.

 

 

 

The devil would have quite the reach to cut through the stark white foam on top of the beer. This, in a clear glass liter mug and after the pour of one of two twelve ounce cans had to be paused because of the extreme expanse of the head. It's that typical foam, usually wheat provided, that recedes rather quickly, irregularly and unattractively, leaving only scant lacing in the glass. The color of the brew is a bright and light amber and it's quite translucent. An attempt to get a second twelve ounce can into the vessel has to be paused again, with only half of its contents emptied. OK, this isn't an IPA, so this characteristic can't be judged too harshly, but still.... The smell is certainly of Belgian esters, but not overpoweringly so. There's also some malty sweetness for the nose, so this is on the rebound from its looks. Things keep improving with the taste. This is one nice drinking Belgian. The esters do bring a little fruitiness, but it's all in good balance with the mild hopping and malty body. The alcohol hint only contributes to the overall taste in a positive way and belies the 8.6% ABV. The body may not be great, but it's good enough for the style. This is much recommended to those that like a strong Belgian ale without an overpowering esters component. To compare two locals basically striving for the same results, this over Victory's Golden Monkey every time.

 

 

Friend bought me a case for helping him move to Cape May. Nothing better than a free case of beer, so I may have rated it too high!

No doubt that this is a Belgian. Good Belgian.