Two Hour Delay
Illumination Brewing / Funk Brewing

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Illumination Brewing / Funk Brewing
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
ABV:
7.9%
Score:
+2 ratings needed
Avg:
3.97 | pDev: 2.52%
Ratings:
8 | reviews: 4
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 29, 2021
Added:
Dec 11, 2019
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Our Winter Grand Cru is Trappist inspired beer utilizing the bounty of the late harvest. 600lbs of Traminette varietal white grape must from the Lake Erie wine region was added to fermentation to add complexity and dry wine nuances to the finished product. The result is a highly complex and warming Trappist ale that makes an excellent companion through the cold months.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of bluejacket74
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 ounce can, canned on 11/25/2019, thanks to Brutaltruth for this brew! Served in a Teku, the beer pours a hazy dark gold color with about an inch off-white head. Head retention is good and there's a decent amount of lacing. The brew smells like white grapes/wine, lemon, bready malt and funk. For the most part I think the taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also the addition of some banana, clove and candi sugar flavors. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's smooth, slick and easy to drink with a moderate amount of carbonation. I liked this brew, hope I can try this one fresher at some point. Worth a try if you see any.
Oct 29, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by RBorsato from Virginia

Nov 18, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Daniellobo from Spain

Aug 29, 2020
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

3.99/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look: It pours golden with some slight clouding. The head is off white and tightly bead. Head retention is very good.

Smell: It has a spicy aroma. There are also some lemon notes with grape and a bit of funk.

Taste: The spices are strong in the flavor with some funk. There are some background lemon and grape elements.

Feel: It has a medium full body with a dry finish.

Overall, quite interesting with the grape, but it is not that strong which would have made it really unique. Still a good drinking Belgian style beer.
Feb 17, 2020
 
Rated: 4.12 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Feb 09, 2020
Photo of Lucular
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland

3.91/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
5 oz pour on tap. The main flavors sweet Belgian candi sugar, warming alcohol, white grape, and Belgian yeast esters (hints of banana and bubblegum). Overall a solid if unmemorable BSPA.
Jan 28, 2020
 
Rated: 4.02 by JamieDuncan from Maryland

Jan 19, 2020
Photo of mvanaskie13
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania

3.76/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured into a goblet: color is murky, dense gold, head is bright white with fine to small bubbles, head presents 1 finger thick and then dissipates to frothy, mixed depth top with some lacing. A bit too murky/hazy for a belgian.

Smell is pleasant but light strength with subtle belgian phenolics and esters, light biscuit malt, and very thin grape juice.

Taste follows with similar light belgian esters and phenolic notes with a bit more malt and grape must counter. Everything is a bit subtle, esters lack a bit of depth maybe due to grape must notes and residuals in the can.

Overall I like this beer in terms of drinkability and lighter presence - 7.9% is hidden well - but want just a bit more strength, depth of aroma and flavor.
Jan 18, 2020