Eccentric Ale 2010
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store

 

 

 

 

 

Eccentric to its core, no lesser ale would dare to apply persimmon and maple and be considered anything other. Rest that cobbler-like earthiness onto the rummy warmth that exceeds ten percent and we don't only have a unique beer, but we have a stubborn, brazen and unrefined taste to enjoy.

Its dark root beer color surpasses that of cola but isn't quite stout either- its a dark garnet-black color with ominous crimson slithers at a glance. Even the most turbulent pour amounts to only a dense blanket of foam that simply stares back throughout the duration of the session. Trailing with broken lace, the ale is as sturdy as could be expected.

Its boisterous aromas are squarely focused around maple, molasses and brown sugar- those scents are as succulent as could possibly be, even as the dark, dried fruits layer upon. Figs, dates, raisins, prunes and plumbs all make their way into the "fruitcake" culmination. Some of that is presumed to be persimmon, equipped with a backdrop of spiced rum, freshly shaven tree bark, chicory, cinnamon and aniseed.

Its bitter-sweet taste is a tale of two beers in the same glass. It starts off with the savory sweetness of maple, toffee, brown sugar and molasses. Glimpses of dark nuts, coffee, chocolate and rum cake follow and delve into a familiar taste of cola and root beer. But finishing bitter, biting and robust, its closure of coffee grounds and spiced rum is complex and spicy. Still, the thread that weaves the two tastes together are the fruits. Persimmon is of grilled taste as the more earthen figs, dates, raisins and prunes stem into light vinous port and savory sherry.

Its full body is a testament to its creamy sweetness. The ale is slow to fade and holds onto its weight deep into its taste. Its growing bitterness extends from pleasant coffee-like character and into a deeply astringent wood-like tannin sensation that grips the jowls and throat with a stranglehold. Its spicy warmth is lightly of solvent as a cinnamon-like character highlights the alcohol to balance the late sweetness.

Eccentric Ale is just that- eccentric! As its loud confidence grows, the ale seems to brag about itself more and more with each and every sip. Even as its warts and flaws are recognized, the ale makes no apologies and is intent to brag about them. I can't wait until I'm old enough to be "eccentric".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to AndresR for sharing this one at jmgrub's tasting.

Bottled 11/23/11.

Pours a hazy dark reddish-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, spices, and an earthy hop aroma. Taste is much the same with a mild amount of roasty and hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some interesting aromas and flavors.