Guided By The Moon
Calusa Brewing

Slowly and steadily pulling us from lighter beer and toward the darkness, the stronger, the richer and the sweeter side of beer proves that the sway is strong at Calusa Brewing.

Deep in mahogany hues, Guided By The Moon shows glimpses of stout, brown ale and barleywine as the ale settles in the glass like a fine port or sherry. Without much of a froth the speak of, the scent swoons the senses with a host of dark fruit, toasted sugars, nuttiness, whisky spice and a sweet woodsiness redolent of maple. As suggested, its early taste is malty sweet with firm impressions of brown sugar, molasses, toffee and caramel in unapologetic fashion.

As the sweetness wraps around the tongue, the barleywine flavors win out. Equipped with the dark, dried fruits of fig, date, apricot, sultan and plum, theres a rum-soaked raisin character that takes hold with more savory influences that have the ale tasting even more port-like. As a rise of peppery bitterness provides a reprieve from the malts, the late palate is lightly coffee-like with a broad spicy woodsiness on the palate.

Full bodied, pleasantly oily and viscous like those fortified wines, the strong ale finishes malty-sweet and with a long aftertaste of bourbon spice and prickling warmth.