MONYO Brewing Black Alligator Imperial Dark Saison at 9% ABV | 19.5 IBU (2016 Craft Beer Advent Calendar #17, 330 ml, best before 30-Jun-2017, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 17-Dec-2016)
Appearance: clear deep brown with one finger of loose beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: vinous red berries, chocolate, roasty malt, peppery spice, dried fruit, leather. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, mild spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, slightly funky warming finish. (3/5)
Advent calendar day #17 brings (I think) my first ever Hungarian beer. Aside from my standard rant about how saisons shouldn’t be high in alcohol, this is actually fairly decent. The warming finish seems to be due in equal parts to the 9% ABV and to the presence of peppers, but it’s fairly well-balanced. I drank it fairly warm, which might have been a contributor to a fairly explosive decapping and short-lived gusher, but I caught it all with the glass so no harm done. The carbonation stayed fairly high throughout, which helps keep this from feeling overly heavy, which is to the good for the stated style. Speaking of which, stylistically, I’ve lumped this in with Dieu Du Ciel!’s Isseki Nichō, but it isn’t quite as good. Still and all, fairly pleasant. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
