Vintage Cellar Tasting - Grand Cru

• Name: Grand Cru
• Type: Belgian strong dark ale
• Brewer: Green Flash Brewing Co.
• Region: San Diego, California
• Country: United States
• Time of Year: 2011, winter
• Price: $9.95 for 22oz
• Shop Review: Dark brown color.  Nose of heated raisins, spicy clove, light smoke in the back; breakfast sausage like.  Smoke lingers in the background of the taste and is a good counter to the semi-sweet, brown sugar, dark fruit flavors.  Like many Belgians, it starts sweet but finishes dry.  Rather drinkable for it's alcohol level.  This beer has aged quite gracefully and could go another year easily.  9.1% ABV.
• My Review:  They call this a dark ale, and boy was it dark.  The color in the glass was heavily dark brown, almost a rusty color.  The head itself was dark brown as well, everything about this beer screamed heavy, dark, and powerful.  I immediately recognized the nose as an extremely thick syrup or malt, the malt definitely overpowered the hops, not in a bad way though.  Heaviest of the lot by a longshot, obvious why it was served last.  The flavor was deep and rich, so many flavors it's hard to name them all.  I can still remember the taste as I write this review, I can remember the heaviness of the beer and now thinking back on it I can taste the brown sugar as well.  A great beer but a little expensive for my liking.
• No food.