Biere De Garde Project: The Bearded Guard - Deterring Shaman
Paradox Beer Company

 

 

 

been craving a biere de garde hard lately, and this is the only one i could find. the bottle opens with very little pressure released, but the pour has nice carbonation, soapy thick tan head with fine retention. really dark for the style, and clear too, bronze in color, caramel. i also see no yeast floating, which is a staple of the style. the beer is not at all unattractive, but it doesn't look the part. the nose is sweet vanilla caramel and candy sugar, residuals all over the place. i taste some wine barrel right away, tannic and punchy, with more brown sugar than i need and a coagulated protein mouthfeel thats oily coating and not all the way attractive. it certainly doesn't fit with style conventions here. the barrel is the dominant flavor, with sweet malt left over, i wish i enjoyed this more, but it misses what biere de garde is all about, light bright yeast forward session beer. the alcohol is way too high, and its not at all hidden. too much body as well. as a beer straight up its a B, as a biere de grade its a C-.

edit: the dregs on this beer are repulsive. long brown pieces that looks like shavings from the inside of the barrel. huge white yeasty pieces too all stuck together, almost clumpy. not sure if i should have shaken this up, it would certainly have solved the clear biere de garde dilemma, but the dregs smell disgusting too, acrid and decaying, really gross.

 

 

Not sure if it was the taste I as supposed to get but there was a slight sour. Not at all offensive, in fact quite intriguing, such that I regretted sharing the Bomber bottle. there were sweet and bready flavors after. good head retention. all in all a good beer that I would willingly return to.

Bottle opened on 8.2.13
305/1200

A - Pours a hazy auburn brown with a two inch tan foamy head.

S - Malty, sweet, Belgian yeast.

T - Sweeter, toasted bread and wheat, a touch of Belgian.

D - Good carbonation with a lighter body.

O - Ok, but nothing really stands out to me here.

 

 

I wish Paradox could simplify the names of their beers. Geesh!
But anyway, pours a really nice deep copper color, mostly clear. Slightly off white (some pinkish) head, good lacing. Quick swirl brings it back up.

Aroma definitely says barrel aged. Has some oak and bits of sourness here and there. Slight golden apple ripeness. Underneath is booze and some dark biscuit.

Flavor is barrel aged focused. While not bad, I wish they wouldn't rely so much on the barrels. Would almost say Chardonnay barrels, but not quite (it's red wine barrels). The apple is still there. The sweetness is well hidden, but comes through in the end as it promotes a heavier feel. Yeasty spices here an there, but again, the BAged takes control. A hint of hops on the sides of the tongue give the beer a brief crispness. The feel lingers long after the sip.