Review: Perennial Abraxas

Perennial Abraxas (2013)
10.0% ABV
Perennial Artisan Ales, St. Louis, MO
25.4 oz btl

Served in Dogfish Head signature glass
Date on bottle: Bottled 11/2013

Reviewed on 12/6/13 

This imperial stout pours a thick dark color with a somewhat reddish tint.  Toasty brown head with decent retention. Nice lacing.

Smell consists of malt, dark chocolate, coffee, cocoa powder, slight hops, chili-pepper-like spice, brown sugar, touch of cinnamon.

Taste has malt, dark chocolate, muted chili pepper spice, earthiness, touch of honey, slight hops, cinnamon, some coffee.

Mouthfeel is quite thick and creamy on the palate with good noticeable texture.  Good rounded bitterness.

Overall, this is a great tasting, complex imperial stout with a varied and distinct profile of flavors.  Dark chocolate, chili pepper, and cinnamon flavors are abundant, with good accents of coffee, honey, and hops in the mix. On the palate, it has a thickness and creaminess quite unlike other stouts.  It's fairly expensive but given its distinctness and taste (and limited availability), it's worth the cost to have as a special treat.

My score: 98

Review: Perennial Aria

Perennial Aria
7.2% ABV

Perennial Artisan Ales, St. Louis, MO

25.4 oz btl

Served in Burley Oak tulip glass
No date on bottle

Reviewed on 10/4/13

This Belgian style ale pours a hazy amber-tinged color with a bubbly white head that has decent retention. Good lacing.

Smell has hops, wheat, citrus, banana, spice, breadiness, some malt, slight butteriness.

Taste consists of hops, breadiness, banana, cloves, spice, citrus, some banana, slight malt, slight floral.

Mouthfeel is fairly smooth on the palate with some slight dryness and a hint of bitterness.

Overall, this is an interesting tasting ale that has a good if mostly typical profile of flavors. This ale was fermented with Brettanomyces, which comes through in the flavor if somewhat mildly.  It's a bit like a Duvel, with a spicier kick.  As it warms up, the spices come through more as the breadiness and citrus/banana recede somewhat. Perennial is a bit exclusive to find in Maryland (found this at Dawson's Liquors in Severna Park).  This one seems like a good starting point.

My score: 91