Biere De Garde
Shacklands Brewing Company

in the bottle, muddy brown and muted flavours. Hard to get all the components, yeast profile shines, but flavours are all over the place. Might be better fresher, or aged longer.

 

Quick: poured a little darker than expected almost muddy as well. Nice Belgian Candi and yeast on the nose. Taste is washed out. I get the Belgian profile, but there are some other flavors that are mixed in and don't work. The feel is medium with medium carbonation.

A fair to middling beer, nothing to write he about.

 

650 ml bottle served at cellar temperature into a pint glass. Thanks to Dash and Sara for the birthday gift. Additional labelling indicates this batch is 7.6% ABV. Excited to try this new brewery which has only opened in the past few months.

Appearance - a dark brown color with reddish highlights in direct light. An impressive finger and change of tan head is poured. Good lacing and a few minutes of head retention before leaving just a trace of head lingering on top.

Smell - banana and yeasty, more weizenbock than Bierce de grade on the nose. Some bubblegum as well and possibly a subtle grape and white wine influence.

Taste - this is certainly different. Again some banana and bubblegum but lacking clove and filled with a rich peaty and smoky flavor too. A subtle tartness, some dark fruits such as plums, figs and raisins as well. Hints of cranberry or sour grapes there. An interesting if unusual mix of flavours. Rather enjoying it.

Mouthfeel - smooth and creamy, again reminiscent of a weizenbock. Carbonation is good and body is full but not heavy.

Overall - perhaps a little unorthodox for the style but this bier de Garde is thoroughly enjoyable and well worth the price of a bottle. Hoping these guys stick around for awhile so I can enjoy this again.