The Final Lurker
Blue Stallion Brewing Co.

Iteration after iteration, the final chapter of the Blue Stallion "Lurker" has been written and it exits stage left with fireworks and crescendos for the tastebuds.

The Final Lurker pours with a tawny, russet, ruddy brown color and equipped with a sensible yeasty haze. As a frothy ecru froth rises to the rim, its short lived stature has it looking the part of sherry or port in quick fashion. A bold aromatic display teases the nose with red wine, cider, berries, pitted fruit, savory oakiness, spice and a sharp twinge of rum. Its sweet start slathers the tastebuds with toffee, brown sugar and sorghum to let the malts shine first.

But as the flavors develop, its fruit and spice balance has the sweetness taking a backseat. Grape, cherry, blackberry and currant bring a robust fruitiness and a twinge of tartness. The depth of oxidation reveals a richer fruit presence with prune, fig, plum and dates. Cinnamon, peppercorn and an allspice medley leads into a strong vinous character of sherry, bordeaux and savory port wine. Mildly bitter, moderately sour and with a linger of toasted fruit, the beer batters the late palate with complexity.

Full bodied but seemingly lighter because of the vinous and cidery acidity, its strong cognac spice and its peppery balance; the beer lingers long and deeply on the after palate with pepper, toast and dark fruit far after the acidity dissolves away.