Most interesting/complex beer you've had

this may be bound to change in the future, but

Aventinus Tap6

in over 3 years of tasting new (to me) craft beers, this elicited my longest and most profound 'wow'.

 

On a whim, I tried Shorts Ectoplasm at the MBG Winterfest....stuff was insane. So much going on...can't really even put into words.

Anyone else ever try this? Was it good to you or was I perhaps a little to far into the adventure of the fest??

 

Iron Hill Oak Aged Old Tom.

 

Another Orval vote. As a home brewer I marvel at this every time I drink one. So perfect. So much going on in what is really, essentally, the local pale ale. What a locale, what a terroir, what a pale ale.

 

Gulden Draak not only huge complex flavors but it changes over the course of several hours of decanting. That's not even mentioning how age can change the flavors since it's bottle conditioned. Can also change the flavors by trying without and with yeast. I think bottle conditioned Belgians win this hands down.

 

Rochfort 10
St Bernardus 12
Three philosophers ommegang
Goose island bourbon county brand stout
Mikkeller via, imperial porter(pulled 15-20 flavors outta this beer)
Urthel quad
Golden drak 9000
....looks like a bunch of quads....imagine that.
Can't get away from the barrel aged stouts tho.

 

Malt BOMB!! Took me like two hours to drink, and I think I spilt some.

 

Aventinus Eisbock
Westvleteren XII
Stone Cali Belgique
Frietgeist abaXXXus

 

Aventinus Eisbck - not for the faint at heart nor for those with important things to do later on in the day

Hair Of The Dog Adam

 

Hair of the Dog/Deschutes Conflux side by side with all the beers that went into the making of the beer

 

Had many of the beers from previous posts but only one left me a lasting impression regarding its complexity: Harviestoun Ola Dubh 30.

 

Agree with this one. Tried a few bottles while in Brugge last October, and was struck by the depth of this one. It certainly, in my opinion, lived up to its hype. And while many say St. B. 12 is close....well, not so close as to be a true substitute

 

Side Project Le Saisonnier

From starting chilled through sipping until it warmed up, it was wild ride.

 

Westy 12 so far for me as well.

 

Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad

 

My buddy and I did a blind taste test between Westy 12, St. Bernardus 12 and Rochefort 10. It was really unbelievable how much more was going on in the Westy than the other two.

 

Very complex beer. Good pick.

I also think Matt is an interesting one. Tobacco, leather, smoked meat, etc.

 

Here's one from left field.

For over an hour the other night, I sipped from a snifter, 12 ounces of New Holland Pilgrim's Dole Wheatwine. As it warmed up I was floored by the complexity. I loved it.

 

Prairie Pirate BOMB!

 

Most interesting? Trinity red swingline. It comes in under 5%, has some pine and a lot of citrus and tropical from the hops, a nice wheat/malt backbone, some funk and tropical notes from brett, and some souring from lacto. Insane.