Sock Knocker
New Holland Brewing Company

Wow. These guys should do more "big" beers. All their recent creations seem to only do good things for my view of them.

Reddish tinted, crystal clear brew takes sweetness in aroma to new heights. Candi sugar meets sweet potato souflee made with a brown sugar crust freshly carmelized in the oven. Sweet melon. Dark, dark, dark fruits ripening on the vine. Everything sweet you could find in a Belgian brew can be found in this beer's aroma.

Surprisingly, perhaps, the experience becomes a bit more compact in the flavor. In a flash, start leads to finish, and the sip's done. Sweet up front. Raisins in the mid-palate. And a pleasant tingling feeling accompanies a hoppy alcohol-driven finish that seems to eradicate any hint of sugary malts, leaving only the sense of "booze" behind on the tongue.

Pours a deep, depp ruby color with brown highlights and very little head. Despite lack of head a ring of lace forms around the jar.
Aroma of candy sugar, brown sugar, dark ripe fruits and some earthy spices are noted.
Flavors of sweet malt, slightly burnt sugar, black licorice, some prunes or raisins and a hint of citrus are all present.
Mouthfeel starts smooth and silky and moves to a moderately spicy and lively middle and finishes with a dry, yet sweet alcoholic kick. Great progression of feel.
Drinkability is very high but huge ABV doesn't make itself known until after the fact. A spicy meal and 2 of these babies was a good night.