Epic/DC Brau Fermentation Without Representation

4.1/5

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20

22 ounce bottle into snifter, release 3, bottled 10/22/2011. Pours extremely dark brown color with a small tan head with good retention that reduces to a thin lace. Some decent lacing clings to the glass as well.. Aromas of huge pumpkin pulp, squash, ginger, cinnamon, chocolate, roasted malt, bread, clove, caramel, and spices. Nice aromas with huge pumpkin presence. Taste of big chocolate, roasted malt, pumpkin, caramel, cinnamon, ginger, light coffee, clove, and spices. Fair amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of pumpkin, chocolate, caramel, roasted malt, clove, and spices on the finish for a bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a nice creamy mouthfeel that drinks easily for 7.5%. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish. Great balance of flavors and bitterness. Overall this is an excellent pumpkin spiced porter. Great balance of flavors; with plenty of pumpkin as I hoped would be there. Very drinkable and balanced.

Overall this is an excellent porter; with plenty of pumpkin presence. One of the better pumpkin beers I have had.

Epic Sour Apple Saison

3.9/5

AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20

22 ounce bottle into tulip, release #6; 7.8%; brewed June 6, 2011. Pours hazy bright golden straw color with a slightly foamy 2 finger white head with good retention that reduces to a thin lacing cap. A bit of lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of tons of cloves, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, bread, and a bit of light fruitiness in the background. Interesting aromas to say the least, was expecting a completely different profile from the name. Taste of big clove, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, apple, spices, bread, grapes, and a bit of citrus. A bit tartness noticed on the finish. The finish is very dry, but there is a small amount of lingering spiciness and breadiness. Light-medium body with fairly high carbonation. Drinkability is very high and alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming on the finish. Very nice balance of all flavors. Overall a very interesting take on the style, but this is really nice stuff.

The aromas really caught me off guard, but the more I drank this the more I liked it. Very nice stuff. I will try to get a few more offerings from Epic in the future.