Island Fest
Cisco Brewers

Jim left a message on my machine saying the local packy had this in stock. He said he passed on it and shambled off to something else, but I wouldn't make the same mistake.

I had hoped, given its 1 PT 9.4 fl oz. size that I would be more suitably impressed with this than I was with Cisco's Whale's Tale Pale Ale. I was, but just marginally. Like the Whale's Tale, this one poured overly-carbonated, such that the only proper glassware for something like this would have been a half yard to pour the whole thing off at one try. As it was, I was using my Belgian glassware, and ended up having to turn my wrist at a 90 degree angle to my body two more times than I would have liked.

The pour was hazy, and I immediately noticed a sour note to the aroma jumping off the top of the voluminous head. Once settled, the cloudiness remained, although it seemed to settle out as the libation warmed.

Mouthfeel was fizzy. No other word to describe it. The fiziness overwhelmed anything else that may have been lurking in the background. After the initial rush of carbonation, the feel was clean and not overly cloying.

This was a fine tasting beverage. After an initial bite at the edges of the tongue and back of the throat, due mainly to the alcohol, I experienced a cooling and tingling at the tip off the tongue. Hints of rock candy and the previously mentioned sour apples remained as an aftertaste, but these items did not detract from what I would consider an average dubbel.

Kumar was pissed that I didn't leave any for him.

Pours a huge nearly white, five finger-head leaving bags of lace, pour *slowly*. Deep amber color. Very good carbonation. Medium bodied. Starts malty and sweet but dry, crisp but smooth finish you can call this a complex beer. $6.90 for a 750ml bottle.

Found this beer in Davis Square. Had a palm tree on the label, so was a little surprised it was a Belguim. Poured a cloudy dark yellow. It was sweet, and the citric taste to me tasted more like cranberries than orange. Not overly bitter, just right. Rather pleasant.