Belgian Ale
Uncapping / Pouring / Aesthetics: Good pressure at uncapping, suggesting proper carbonation. Upon pouring, this is confirmed. A nice, tight bubble matrix makes up a slightly off-white head that actually lasts for a minute or two. The color of the beer is reddish brown and slightly cloudy.
Aroma: Whoa. I smell vanilla. Hardcore vanilla. Supple, round, warming, inviting, bready, doughy, dessert-like. I also get notes of cloves, allspice and cream. Virtually no hop aroma.
Palate: Again, thi is like dessert. Creamy, vanilla, bread, cake. Spices don't dominate, but they're definitely there. The yeast makes its presence known, certainly, and is very enjoyable and complex. No hop flavor. This reminds me of the bourbon cream that I made for a cheesecake over thanksgiving. Yum. The mouthfeel is full and sweet.
Proximity to the Style: This style is pretty wide open, as I see it, but this is a very Belgian-y ale as far as I'm concerned. The spices and esters are right on. It might be a little sweet for the style.
Overall Impression: This is a true winter sipper. Giggity giggity goo! It's like dessert, I'll say it again. The complexity is excellent, and I love the spice. If anything can be said as a critique, I'd say that the plush mouthfeel and apparent sweetness distract the palate from the spicy complexity, and that tends to sort of homogenize and muddy up the flavor profile, rather than having more distinct flavors. I'd like to see a few FG points dropped off, and that would clean up the palate profile a lot.
Versus the Model: This was based on New Belgium's Abbey Ale. Never having had anything from NB before, I was pleasantly surprised. It had a distinct spiciness and not quite as much roundness as jester's version. The palate flavor profiles were a bit more distinct, but it also lacked that vanilla cream character that I loved in jester's beer. The yeast esters are more prevalent here, and this seems to be more Belgian in style. The color is a gorgeous clear red. But I have to say: it's a toss-up. I like both of them, but I'm really impressed with jester's brew. Aside from the fullness being a bit over the top, I can find no substantial flaws.
SCORE: 39/50