X30 - Great Divide Old Ruffian Barley Wine-Style Ale

This broad giant opens up deep, dark and dangerous with lots of dark sweet malt on the nose, then comes waves of sweet coffee, muscovado sugar and dried fruit. Very deep. A touch of coconut after a while. A lot of dark fruit, which is nice, but the sweetness is a tad too pronounced.
The taste is big, tight and intense with notes of freshly grounded coffee, dark chocolate and raisins. The finish is loooong and intense with a good bitterness, but there is a touch of alcohol at the end. A big, brawny beer, but a tad too much for my taste. Good but not great.

85p   (tasted from bottle - 2011/01)

X29 - Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic Bio

This fine Kriek has a concentrated, fine nose with lots of mature red cherrys, some rasberrys, dry licorice and a summery feeling about it. Deep and good.
The taste is very fresh and sweet/sourish with less mature red cherrys than on the nose. Fine structure with a long finish that ends very, very dry. A little too much soo for my taste. But a good kriek none the less.

86p   (tasted from bottle - 2011/01)