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Warrenville, Ill.
BJCP Category: 16D Biere de Garde
Two Brothers Brewery <visit site>
40
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[expand]Total Score: 43/50
Very nice biere de garde that bridges the amber and brown examples of the style. Very drinkable and on target. A corked bottle that has aged for a while might exhibit the characteristic musty cellar notes more >
[close]Total Score: 43/50
Aroma: Malty with toffee, chocolate, and caramel notes. No hop aroma. No DMS. No diacetyl. No phenols. Very low fruity esters. Low noticeable alcohol. Missing the characteristic mustiness of many biere de garde examples. Overall a clean fermentation. (10/12)
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Appearance: Brownish, amber color. Very clear to bright. Big, dense, tan, long-lasting head. (3/3)
Flavor: Very malty with complex toffee, caramel, and chocolate character. Almost like drinking a toasted chocolate truffle. No hop flavor with medium, balancing hop bitterness. Hint of chewy fruitiness. No phenols, DMS, or diacetyl. Bit of soft alcohol evident. No mustiness characteristic of some of the best examples of the style. Perhaps young or lack of corked bottle. Finishes fairly dry. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium to medium-full bodied. Creamy, smooth mouthfeel. Low alcohol warming. Soft, silky mouthfeel with a bit of lingering hop astringency. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Very nice biere de garde that bridges the amber and brown examples of the style. Very drinkable and on target. A corked bottle that has aged for a while might exhibit the characteristic musty cellar notes. This would go well with a chocolate truffle dessert. Good job. This would be a good beer to lay down for a year or more and sample as it ages. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 40/50
Exhibits rich, toasted caramel malt characteristics of classic dark lager styles accentuated by a more fruity ale-like fermentation character. more >
[close]Total Score: 40/50
Aroma: Pronounced toasty malt dominates up front, followed by a hint of herbal, slightly earthy hop aroma and clean fermentation character; no off-aromas. (9/12)
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Appearance: Amber with golden highlights; brilliant clarity; creamy off-white foamy head persists, laces thickly on sides of the glass. (3/3)
Flavor: Toasty, moderately sweet malt flavor is most pronounced, though not cloying. A low hop bitterness is just enough to provide balance, with a light herbal and earthy hop flavor. Hints of ripe yellow plum add complexity; the combination gives way to a clean, dry finish accentuating a lightly lingering bitterness. Balance leans to rich, malty complexity. No diacetyl, phenols, acidity, or sourness. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body with somewhat low carbonation for a creamy texture. Very low astringency; low alcohol warmth lingers along with a dry, clean finish. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Exhibits rich, toasted caramel malt characteristics of classic dark lager styles accentuated by a more fruity ale-like fermentation character. The herbal-earthy hop character is pronounced, providing balance to the complex malt-ester combination. The moderate alcohol level adds to the drinkabilty, making this a lovely accompaniment to a fruit cobbler and roasted meats. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 41/50
This is a solid example of the biere de garde style, although the finish is not quite as smooth and silky as the classic French examples. more >
[close]Total Score: 41/50
Aroma: Malt-focused aroma with moderate toasted and caramel notes. Interesting herbal notes underneath, as well as some honey sweetness and a slight woody/musty character. Fermentation characteristics include low-medium level of pear esters with a hint of banana. Alcohol notes percolate through as the beer warms, but are in balance. (10/12)
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Appearance: Copper color with good carbonation and a whitish head that lasts well. Very good clarity. (3/3)
Flavor: Malt dominates the front end with caramel and toasted bread crumbs. The malt perseveres throughout to provide a backbone for the spice and ester flavors. These include peppery and woody notes, a little vanilla, and light fruit (pear) esters. The finish is a little more bitter than I expect for this style—perhaps the phenols from the yeast enhance the bittering compounds from the hops. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Soft palate with good creaminess from the CO2. Alcoholic warmth is apparent—perhaps at the high end for this style. There is a faint lingering astringency in the finish along with some mineral notes. (4/5)
Overall Impression: This is a solid example of the biere de garde style, although the finish is not quite as smooth and silky as the classic French examples. The balance between the malt and fermentation characteristics is excellent, and the slight musty character in the aroma gives it a nice cellared character. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 39/50
Interesting complexity. A little on the bitter side for an amber version. The malt is more biscuity than most. Nice toasty flavors. Hops are a touch forward. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Toasty, biscuity nose, malty but not very sweet. Has a grainy, bready edge. Moderate toast. Fruity notes almost as strong as malt—cherry-like. Very light earthy hop aroma. Clean. Fairly complex, malt-driven. (9/12)
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Appearance: Amber-orange color. Moderate-sized ivory-colored head, retained well, moussy. Quite clear. Somewhat effervescent. (3/3)
Flavor: Rich malty start, toasty and biscuity/grainy with restrained bitterness and a clean, dry finish. Some hop flavor and bitterness emerge in the finish. Some alcohol spice in the finish, offsetting the malt and accentuating the bitterness. Earthy hop flavor and biscuity malt in finish. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: High carbonation, bubbly. Medium-light body; nice. Low alcohol warmth. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Interesting complexity. A little on the bitter side for an amber version. The malt is more biscuity than most. Nice toasty flavors. Hops are a touch forward. Quite drinkable and enjoyable. Bitterness and biscuit malt give it a drier finish and reduce the malt impact common in many examples. A richer malt presentation with less biscuit malt and less bittering hops would bring this closer to the world-class versions. (7/10)
