Grand Cru
Portsmouth Brewery

Grand CruGrand Cru
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From:
Portsmouth Brewery
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
ABV:
11.9%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.14 | pDev: 9.66%
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
30
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 08, 2015
Added:
Nov 24, 2003
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.86 by Durge from Connecticut

Jun 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by jadler16 from Indiana

May 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Fettpopps from Massachusetts

Mar 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by mklisz from New Hampshire

Jan 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by ajcormier from New Hampshire

Oct 31, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by rayman2112 from New Hampshire

Jul 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by TobiasG from Massachusetts

Jun 26, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Satchboogie from Belgium

Apr 19, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by mattparsons from New Hampshire

Mar 29, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by splendidsplinter from Massachusetts

Mar 15, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by gford217 from Georgia

Aug 29, 2012
Photo of CliffBrake
Reviewed by CliffBrake from New Hampshire

3.48/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
On tap today at Portsmouth Brewery. Advertised as 8% abv, not the 11.9% reported here.

Served in a tulip glass. Slightly hazy orange color with an ample bone white head that leaves good lacing.

Fruity aroma with a bit of spice. Taste is of fruity, estery Belgian yeast notes. There is relatively little spicy notes and little hop character or bitterness.

Fairly full body with some sweetness. Little hop or dry finish to cleanse the palate.

Overall, a pleasant brew, but without the refinement or dimensions to compete with many entries in this class.
Mar 08, 2012
Photo of rlee1390
Reviewed by rlee1390 from Indiana

4.19/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A-Clear orange, carbonated, two finger head

S-Clove banana, some darker fruits, quadesque.

T-Nice dark fruits, some clove and a few banana notes, a little bit of spice.

M-Medium to light bodied with nice carbonation.

O-A well made Belgian Beer, most likely is the best on the Kates on tap.
Mar 07, 2012
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.36/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Tap at brew pub

Big creamy fluffy head fades at a med rate no lacing though, clear golden honey orange.

Nose big golden malts, Belgian like, plenty of aromatic malt, light phenols and acetyl like chemicals, hint fruity hops.

Taste starts with typical Belgian phenols, no real medicinal flavors (at first), nice belgian golden malts, bit of booze, hint of fruity hops, light glue and plastic starts to come through as it warms. Finish is drier, bit more booze, little bitter.

Mouth is med to a bit heavier bodied, decent carb.

Not sure if this was a bad batch or what, but I got lots of phenols in this one, glue, plastic, acidic like, either way I'll have to try this again sometime and hopefully not get those same characteristics.
Mar 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by phingdong from New Hampshire

Feb 01, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Nov 25, 2011
Photo of cosmicevan
Reviewed by cosmicevan from New York

4.62/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
thanks goes out to my buddy CooperEllis for picking this up for me at the brewery. been holding onto this one for far too long and it called my name tonight.

a - opened the brown bag style bottle and filled my unibroue tulip. poured a crisp transparent golden orange with a thin off white head which hung out and was super sticky. visible carbonation.

s - sweet candied bubblegum. lemon and sage.

t - taste follows the nose. bursts of lemon. bubblegum. sage. candy. just deliscious. not too sweet.

m - alive. a bit fizzy. medium to light bodied.

o - overall a solid BSPA. i love the no frills vibe of their beers and this is just a home run. just an easy drinker. the booze is well masked. very great beer and i'm very glad i got to try it.
Oct 29, 2011
Photo of ShogoKawada
Reviewed by ShogoKawada from Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
603BeerMe came through with this longtime want. Thanks!!! 2011 bottling, into chouffe tulip.

A- Glowing goldenrod with an earthy brown hue. Big snowy fluffy head. Like a cloud... moderate but attractive lace.

S- Great inviting belgian yeast. Light and fruity.

T- Fruity, lemony, white grapes and ripe green apple sweetness.. clove, vanilla, cinnamon. Bubblegum. Fantastic, dominant yeast profile.

M- No sign of ABV, splendidly carbonated, great finish. Bomber goes inexplicably fast...

O- One of my favorite styles, and frankly, I haven't found too many good US takes on it. This is one of the best I've had- from anywhere. I want a case of bottles, a box of growlers, and 6 kegs of this stuff..

619
Apr 13, 2011
Photo of Reagan1984
Reviewed by Reagan1984 from Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Enjoyed in a tulip glass at Portsmouth Brewery. The head was a finger plus of creamy white head that settled and became a lacing machines. The beer was a bright slightly hazy brass color.

Aroma was fairly light, but fresh and appealing. Light doughy grain, some white pepper and other spices with a hint of yeast.

Really nice flavor.  Bubble gum, spice, very bready and lots of light fruit. Pear, white grape. The belgian yeast notes with the bubble gum are fantastic. Actually the more I think of it, the more its like Juicy Fruit gum. Excellent. The hop bitterness towards the end is perfectly balanced with the fruity/yeasty/ready notes.
A twinkle of carbonation. Light on your tongue. Fresh and alive.

Fantastic beer.
Apr 05, 2011
Photo of ElGallo
Reviewed by ElGallo from New Hampshire

3.97/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this on tap after the Buffalo Tom set at the Music Hall Loft. Very Saison-esque but heavy on the citrus fruit notes. Nose was heavy of Belgian yeast and fruit, and the mouthfeel was pleasant. A nice Belgian-style beer but a change of pace for the P-brew. A very enjoyable beer.
Apr 03, 2011
Grand Cru from Portsmouth Brewery
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 30 ratings