Quidi Vidi Brewing Company Mad Mike’s Big Bad Belgian Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 8.4% ABV (C$2.37 at NLC Howley Estates, 341 ml, packaged on 14-Feb-2018, acquired 28-Mar-2018, reviewed 8-May-2018)
Appearance: clear ruby brown with one finger of loose beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dark malt, dark fruit, chocolate, spices, spruce, molasses. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet tending slightly high, moderate bitter, light spice. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly thin, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (3/5)
If this had been the first of the new lineup I’d tried (after the dust settled on their long-lived-and-now-finally-finished legal fracas) I might be a little… well… “perturbed” might be too strong a word. Let’s go with “nonplussed”. It’s not bad, as such, but it’s a long way from impressive. Mind you, this is a niche occupied by some of the best beers in the world, so I guess being “not bad” here is a pretty good achievement. I might let a couple cellar for a bit and see what happens, out of idle curiosity. This isn’t the first – or, even, the second – beer I’ve had where I actually know the guy on the label, but for the record I like him more than this beer. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
