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19 Golden Belgian-Style Ale
SweetWater Brewing Company
- From:
- SweetWater Brewing Company
- Georgia, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Pale Ale
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 9.27%
- Reviews:
- 15
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 10, 2018
- Added:
- Dec 27, 2015
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 15
Aged in Merlot and Cabernet barrels
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BigGold:
Reviewed by BigGold from Mississippi
3.95/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.95/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
First had poured from 25.4-oz. corked bomber into snifter. While "19" is excellent and complex, it is a bit dryer than expected for a Belgian Pale (or Golden) Ale, lacking in balancing malt sweetness.
Jul 21, 2016More User Ratings:
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado
4.66/5 rDev +16.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.66/5 rDev +16.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
this has to be the best beer these guys have ever made! as good as wine barrel brett beer can be in my opinion, it has the perfect proportions of everything, and is just an absolute delight. huge thanks to my buddy for sharing this one, this takes sweetwater to a new level for me, leagues better than even their next best beer i have tasted, but admittedly i have not had a ton of their fancier stuff. this is a brett golden ale aged in merlot and cabernet barrels, and its nearly perfect. a little hazy but super radiant in the glass with nearly two inches of pure white foam, thick as shaving cream and lasting. aroma of the wet wood, grape juice soaked, with the best of both wines right there to me, dried cherry, blackberry, leather, cigar, and heavy oak, tannic and mouthwatering too, with the funky brett right there with it. the beer starts a little floral in the taste, the dry but rich feeling malt expanding into a dry woody complexion where the wine and the grain come together beautifully. the wine is fruity and dense, not at all sweet, honest and high quality it seems, with the almost belgian yeast fruitiness really fitting in well, subtle apricot and pear, amazing with the funky brett. musty hay loft, strong fortified wine, saturated oak, and mowed lawn to finish, enormously complex, balanced, flavorful, and delicious. effervescent carbonation, feels distinctly belgian, with some grain weight in the body too. soft oak tannins and wild yeast tang. so much happening. among my favorite beers i have had this year so far, and a really astounding effort from these guys. tons of wine on it. pure gold!
May 02, 2017Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia
4.17/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
"This Golden Belgian Style Ale matured for over a year on brett in Cabernet and Merlot barrels, then was blended with a bright, citrusy hop-forward Belgian style IPA. Four plus two equals seven here, as the finished product is bigger than the sum of its parts. The art of this crafted cuvee is in the hop profile with a Belgian style nose up front, followed by woody undertones and a complex finish." Brewed in the style of a Belgian Pale Ale aged in Merlot and Cabernet barrels, available in 750ml. bottles and on limited draft. Anniversary bottled release.
Poured from a 750ml. bottle to a snifter glass.
(Appearance) Pours a crisp, foamy head of a lemony cream white color over a densely hazy golden amber body with ample fine sediment in tow and delicate, trace carbonation. Retention is below average and lacing is light and spotty. 3.25
(Smell) A very pleasing aromatic crossroads of a bright, citrus and lemony hop-forward India Pale ale and a lactic, slightly funky soured Belgian golden with an assertive spicy nose, vinous fruit undertones and soft barnyard. It collides more gracefully than you might think, creating a bouquet of notes for an appealing aroma. Potency is bold. 4.25
(Taste) The flavor has slightly more emphasis up front on the soured Belgian Golden, to its benefit. Very enjoyable, flavorful unmalted wheat and pilsner body give the body some heft while the creeping lactic sourness, bitter citrus peel hop notes, peppery spice bouquet and vinous grape juice collide for a burst of nicely complimentary flavor and a powerful finish. Not too overly dry and very enjoyable. 4.25
(Mouthfeel) Texture is silky, smooth, lightly acidic, medium dry. Carbonation is moderate, generating a medium frothiness and a moderately crisp finish. Body is medium+ for the style, medium+ overall. Balance is nearly even sweet to acidic, spicy, peppery and hoppy bitter. Alcohol presence is light and there are no off characters. 4
(Overall) A home run anniversary release by SweetWater, standing out far above the crowd of previous hit-or-miss releases (Dating back to their 15th anniversary release). This is one of their finest- nicely balanced, incredibly flavorful and carrying the best of what makes them innovative; incredible hop flavor potential leading the way against flavorful Belgian styles. This gives me a lot of hope in the brewery headed into their 20th anniversary release and the opening of their new Foeder facility- I'm looking forward to some excellent up-and-coming releases in the near future. 4.25
SweetWater Brewing Company's
19: Golden Belgian Style Ale
4.17/5.00
Jan 29, 2017Poured from a 750ml. bottle to a snifter glass.
(Appearance) Pours a crisp, foamy head of a lemony cream white color over a densely hazy golden amber body with ample fine sediment in tow and delicate, trace carbonation. Retention is below average and lacing is light and spotty. 3.25
(Smell) A very pleasing aromatic crossroads of a bright, citrus and lemony hop-forward India Pale ale and a lactic, slightly funky soured Belgian golden with an assertive spicy nose, vinous fruit undertones and soft barnyard. It collides more gracefully than you might think, creating a bouquet of notes for an appealing aroma. Potency is bold. 4.25
(Taste) The flavor has slightly more emphasis up front on the soured Belgian Golden, to its benefit. Very enjoyable, flavorful unmalted wheat and pilsner body give the body some heft while the creeping lactic sourness, bitter citrus peel hop notes, peppery spice bouquet and vinous grape juice collide for a burst of nicely complimentary flavor and a powerful finish. Not too overly dry and very enjoyable. 4.25
(Mouthfeel) Texture is silky, smooth, lightly acidic, medium dry. Carbonation is moderate, generating a medium frothiness and a moderately crisp finish. Body is medium+ for the style, medium+ overall. Balance is nearly even sweet to acidic, spicy, peppery and hoppy bitter. Alcohol presence is light and there are no off characters. 4
(Overall) A home run anniversary release by SweetWater, standing out far above the crowd of previous hit-or-miss releases (Dating back to their 15th anniversary release). This is one of their finest- nicely balanced, incredibly flavorful and carrying the best of what makes them innovative; incredible hop flavor potential leading the way against flavorful Belgian styles. This gives me a lot of hope in the brewery headed into their 20th anniversary release and the opening of their new Foeder facility- I'm looking forward to some excellent up-and-coming releases in the near future. 4.25
SweetWater Brewing Company's
19: Golden Belgian Style Ale
4.17/5.00
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
750 ml bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy deep golden yellow color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big lemon zest, orange peel, pear, pineapple, peach, apricot, melon, red/white wine, peppercorn, oak, honey, biscuit, hay, straw, herbal, grass, light leather/funk/vanilla, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, wine barrel, citrus hops, and moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lemon zest, orange peel, pear, pineapple, peach, apricot, melon, red/white wine, peppercorn, oak, honey, biscuit, hay, straw, herbal, grass, light leather/funk/vanilla, and yeast/oak earthiness. Moderate peppery yeast spiciness and light tannic wine tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon zest, orange peel, pear, pineapple, peach, apricot, melon, red/white wine, peppercorn, oak, honey, biscuit, hay, straw, herbal, grass, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, wine barrel, citrus hops, and moderate pale malt flavors; with a great malt/spiciness balance, and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-moderate dryness from carbonation and yeast spiciness. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, fairly crisp/creamy/grainy/sticky, and lightly acidic/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 7%. Overall this is an excellent wine barrel aged Belgian pale ale. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, wine barrel, citrus hops, and moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink. Solid Brett presence that is not overpowering; more dominant on the Belgian yeast strain. Not very hoppy or bitter, despite having a Belgian IPA blend; but has solid hop character overall. A highly enjoyable offering regardless.
Dec 11, 2016Rated by Gregaroo from Pennsylvania
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
10-1-16 -
Oct 03, 2016Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a cloudy honey color capped by a massive head (the bottle gushed a bit) ; sticks well and leaves a splashy pattern of lace
Smell: Leathery funk, orange peel and oaky tones; there is a subtle fruity character of apple, pear and wine grape
Taste: The orange peel establishes its position first, with the impact of the wine barrels building; leathery funk and the apple/pear flavors build underneath; a hint of sweetness lingers in the aftertaste
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate to high carbonation
Overall: Not something I was expecting from Sweetwater; not to denigrate their beers but this is a serious brew from the guys that brought you Donkey Punch and Blue Balls; happy to have tried this
Aug 26, 2016Smell: Leathery funk, orange peel and oaky tones; there is a subtle fruity character of apple, pear and wine grape
Taste: The orange peel establishes its position first, with the impact of the wine barrels building; leathery funk and the apple/pear flavors build underneath; a hint of sweetness lingers in the aftertaste
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate to high carbonation
Overall: Not something I was expecting from Sweetwater; not to denigrate their beers but this is a serious brew from the guys that brought you Donkey Punch and Blue Balls; happy to have tried this
Reviewed by argock from Virginia
4.09/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Reminds me of a young GI Matilda/Sofie combo.
Rosy and pineapple in the aroma with pilsner maltiness. Earthy brett character is even and not overbearing.
Flavor is also pineapple and rosy floral with earthy, herbal notes and the earthy brett character as well. Crackery pilsner maltiness supports. Finish is very floral and apple/pear fruity.
Very light and dry -- super drinkable.
Really good barrel-aged brett beer and these are not usually my cup of tea. Great work Sweetwater.
Aug 13, 2016Rosy and pineapple in the aroma with pilsner maltiness. Earthy brett character is even and not overbearing.
Flavor is also pineapple and rosy floral with earthy, herbal notes and the earthy brett character as well. Crackery pilsner maltiness supports. Finish is very floral and apple/pear fruity.
Very light and dry -- super drinkable.
Really good barrel-aged brett beer and these are not usually my cup of tea. Great work Sweetwater.
Reviewed by LMO1190 from Florida
3.8/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.8/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Nice golden color.Smells like pineapples, Very sweet.Taste very Dry and bitter. Has a big Wine like finish. Its an OK beer. I'd wish it tasted more like it smelled.
Jun 07, 2016
19 Golden Belgian-Style Ale from SweetWater Brewing Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
35 ratings
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