Category 12 Brewing ZRA2 Zombie Repellant (#19) Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 5.8% ABV | 24 IBU (C$7.17 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, packaged on 17-Aug-2017, acquired 12-Oct-2017, reviewed 12-Oct-2017)
Appearance: clear red-tinged deep amber with two fingers of rocky beige head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready caramel, blended spice, indistinct fruit, grass & weeds. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Medium body tending slightly thin, moderate carbonation, off-dry slightly spicy finish. (3/5)
I love the idea of an anti-pumpkin beer, but this is a pretty weak-sauce Belgian Dark. I wanted to like this, I really did, especially since the dude on the label (Gordon Freeman? Or Walter White?) has a white goatee not unlike my own. (Well, except for the moustache. Can’t stand the way it does up my nose. So I guess that makes it a Van Dyke and not a goatee? Anyway…) But, well, I don’t, much. The brewer’s notes seem to claim that the spiciness is derived from the yeast and hops, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more than a hint of, well… pumpkin spice. Not pumpkin itself, fair enough – but that allspice (or maybe cinnamon/ginger/nutmeg/cloves blend) seems to be lurking in the background. One can’t help but wonder what dark pacts were forged when creating this beer: how far do you go towards becoming the monster, to stop the monster? (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
