St. Baldus
Black Horizon Brewing Company

Bought this can from Beermiscuous. A great yeast is necessary before there can be a great quad. I suspect St. Baldus does not have a great yeast. But this clearly is a work in progress with previous releases aging in rye barrels and having a range of ABV from 9.8 to 11.3 (My release is 11.)

While foam and swirling protein disappear too quickly, I still like the clarity and dark amber. While St. Baldus Looks inviting, Smells are average. Not much brewers sugar creating a messy dark fruit melange or malt wanting to be something else. Clearly alcohol is present and a more complete yeast might complex that also. I'm enjoying St. Baldus. It is a smooth sipper. But for this quad to play in the same game as the Belgian masters or the dozen North American crafters who have gotten the quad's yeast right, St. Baldus has at least a few more releases to go.

This is only my second from Black Horizon. In the intervening two years, it is good to see how a micro has progressed... particularly since the pandemic is supposed to have changed everything. With 318 beers on UnTappd, they've brewed a great variety for a 5 year old. But alas, the pandemic has lowered many brewers sights and Black Horizon has survived. However, I would like to try their Belgian Pale Strong.

2019 rye barrel aged release and poured from a 22oz bottle into a snifter shows a crystal clear, copper body with a slight off-white cap of mixed bubbles disippating to an edge hugging ring and leaving a clean glass behind. 11.3% abv.

Rye whiskey aromas leap from the glass with a brown sugary, almost candy-like, note.

Flavors are less candy than toffee, more vanilla than oak, and more delicious than not. A nice warmth in the throat and chest is pleasant.

Mouthfeel is a solid medium, smooth and almost syrupy.

Overall a fine example and even better with warmth. The brown sugar, molasses, and vanilla notes are closer to candy at fridge temps, but naturally mellow out with warmth.

Taste: complex, bready, dark fruit, like fruit cake, raisins, slight smoked flavor, somewhat boozy. Candied, brown sugar toasted malt nose. Mahogany, unfiltered, smaller delicate head and lace. Medium to med/full body. smooth, would pair well with Thanksgiving dinner. 22 IBUs