Tapestry
Block Three Brewing Co.

Unlabelled 500 mL bottle picked up at the brewery in mid-July; served slightly chilled. Not one of my favourite styles, but I've been impressed with Block Three's Belgian fare thus-far.

Pours a murky copper-brown colour with ruby-red highlights, kicking up one finger of loose, soapy, light beige-coloured froth at the surface. It turns out to be relatively short-lived, lasting no more than a minute or two before fading down to a bubbly cap and thin collar. Lightly smoky on the nose; roasted malts and walnut come to mind, with hints of molasses, prune and dates. A touch on the earthy side - seriously, I can smell damp soil - with maybe a hint of coffee.

This is an interesting hybrid, combining elements of both Belgian-dark and English-brown ales quite adeptly. Lightly roasted malts and molasses sweetness dominate initially; bread crust and biscuit flavours are apparent, with some toasted hazelnut character. Fruity notes of plum, black cherry and date begin to surface by mid-sip, with an earthy, roasty, vaguely coffee-like bitterness showing up for the finish. Light-medium in body, with relatively low carbonation levels that gently agitate the palate, resulting in a smooth, somewhat thin mouthfeel. The alcohol is not a big factor, but this is still more of a sipper than a gulper.

Final Grade: 3.85, a B+. Block Three's Tapestry Belgian Brown is a bit of a crossbreed, but I find the resulting product to be quite well-made. The nutty, bittersweet characteristics of this beer mean that it shares much in common with English browns, but the underlying fruity, yeasty notes put a unique twist on the flavour profile. While I wouldn't go out of my way for this, it's something that I'd recommend trying if you're presented with the opportunity. Thumbs up.