Holidale Big Belgian Stout
Berkshire Brewing Company

Im sampling a 12 oz can at cellar temp and poured into my trusty snifter. Picked up a four pack at my local beer store.

the beer pours a dark clear cola brown color into my glass. No light passes through the glass except on the edges where a rich mahogany color is revealed when I hold the glass to a light source.
A fluffy beige colored head foams up about 2 cm after I finish pouring the can, even with a fairly aggressive pour the foam doesnt get overwhelming in my glass.

The aroma on this beer is big sweet chocolate and some spicy booze notes with a bit of red wine and some dark fruits like raisin and plum. The nose is intriguing as its more than just roast malt and candy. the Belgian yeast adds some depth and complexity with the red wine notes and dark fruits too. The booziness hints at the high ABV , but doesnt get to be hot or fusol on the nose.

The first sip on this beer reveals a pretty big body and smooth texture with very fine and prickly carbonation. The beer does coat my palate after each sip and the carbonation still tingles well after each swallow, almost a warm sensation on my tongue.
Flavors are malt forward and also robust. Similar notes as the nose with some dark chocolate and sweeter chocolate notes too. Roasted malt notes and again, red wine and dark fruits mixing together, I also think I get some banana on this finish, which adds a sweeter note. A little booze warmth on each swallow, but no hop presence here either.

The banana is a surprise, but I am certain I taste it now, its not dominant and works with the dark malt notes. Overall this beer is fairly complex and good big beer stout. Glad I bought this on a whim at the beer shop.

This is a delicious beer. Lightly sweet, medium carbonation, alcohol is well hidden

Pours a big fluffy tan foamy head, medium to high retention fair lacing, very dark brown almost pitch black

Nose nice Belgian stout, mild roasty dark malts, almost char but not quite, fruity esters and Belgian yeast goodies, perfumey alcohol and mild spicy phenols, little marshmallow nougat, faint dark chocolate cocoa

Taste more of the same, rich Belgian chocolate with mild roasty notes, cookie dough, then Belgian takes over, perfumey alcohol, spicy phenols, mild fruity esters, fair mixed fruits, mild sweetness and bitterness, dry finish, little more alcohol and spicy bitterness

Mouth is fuller bod, medium lighter carb, some warming tingly alcohol a bit boozy

Overall pretty nice, good stout characters and Belgian yeast additives, enjoyable although the alcohol gets a little heavy

 

Pours a three-finger brown head that slowly fades leaving a good lace. Black color, no highlights. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Sweet malt nose and flavor is cherries, wood, and sweet malt. As it warms flavor is more enhanced, decent imp stout. Higher ABV (11.5%) is hidden. $4.15 for a 12oz can from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.