Pretentious Narcissism
Glasstown Brewing Co.

16 oz cans from the brewery. While this is listed here as a Belgian Pale and while the label claims "Belgian Golden Strong Ale" this has a dark reddish-brown body and was described by the brewer himself as a"dark" Belgian.

The aroma îs spicy but a bit less enticing than it should be, particularly given the flavor. This flavor is well balanced but lacks the richness of a fine Belgian Belgian strong dark ale. On the other hand, there's a really fine enhancement of the flavor due to the oak aging.

No apparent canning date. Poured into a pint glass. It pours a color between orange and cranberry. The highly effervescent and the ecru-colored head dissipated quickly. It has a good Belgian nose: apple, black cherry, banana, clove, coriander, and a whiff of pepper. The taste follows the nose; it opens with bright fruit - particularly apple and black cherry - but with hints of raisin and banana. The malt is evident and the Belgian spicing is in the background but becomes more apparent as the ale warms in the glass. There is also a hint of tobacco smoke. It finishes with a rather strong dose of pepper, clove, and coriander. This ale features lively carbonation and you can feel the 10% ABV. Sip it slowly and let the flavors develop. Overall, I enjoyed Pretentious Narcissism a lot. It exceeded my expectations. Glasstown should be proud of this ale. It would make a great Christmas ale.