Well, here it is… The beer of the beast – number 666. So to mark this number, I went out and specifically bought this beer. I figured it was appropriate for the occasion, and safe – as it is, ironically, a Trappist monk brewed ale. I just had Russian River’s Damnation in preparation for this landmark, and it’s a good day to enjoy a few beers, since it’s a cold rainy/snowy day stuck indoors. The bottle has a date of 21/06/15 on it.

Location: Poured into a snifter glass at my home in Bloomington, IL.

Numbers: 8% ABV, 17° Plato OG, ~280 Calories

Ingredients: Hops: Magnum, Spalt, Saaz

Appearance & Aroma: It’s golden-orange in color and fairly hazy, with a good amount of carbonation in it. The head was thick and fluffy initially, but fell after a few minutes to a thin layer across the top. It has a spicy Belgian aroma with some orange-like citrusy fruitiness.

Taste & Feel: The body is medium, and the mouthfeel is slightly crisp from the carbonation in it. The flavor up front is a lightly sweet fruitiness with some yeasty-bready notes in the background. The middle is a bit fruity, transitioning into the finish, which is a complex mix of citrusy fruitiness, a big Belgian spiciness, and some bready-yeasty flavors. These flavors last for a minute or two in the aftertaste.

Food Pairing: This is a complex beer with citrus, fruit, spices, and yeastiness. I’d probably pair this with a light buttered fish dish, and let this beer bring the spices and complexity to the meal.

Overall Impression: I enjoyed the complexity, especially the spiciness in the aftertaste. It has some unique, yet familiar Belgian flavors from the yeast. I found the fruity flavors were more citrusy, and it seemed like those flavors might be coming from the hops. Overall, I found it to be a very interesting, pretty complex Belgian beer with more than just a gimmicky name.

My Rating:

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