Along with a dozen dedicated, rather manic, fans and collectors of Saint Arnold’s Divine Reserve beers, I recently participated in a vertical tasting of all 11 of these diverse, specialty small-batch brews. We thoroughly tested the brewery’s claim that “many will benefit from being aged.” Below are my impressions and ratings, with 10 being highest.
- 1 BARLEYWINE Released October 2005 9.3% alcohol I was not expecting much from a beer that was nearly six years old. It didn’t deliver, either. The beer tasted hot – alcohol out of balance – and the body was thin for the style. Score: 4.0
- 2 AMERICAN QUADRUPPEL Released July 2006 9.3% alcohol This improved after it had been opened for a few minutes, obtaining a level of mediocrity slightly above Number One. Its enjoyable brown sugar notes did not last very long, hampered by a lack of carbonation. Score: 4.0
- 3 DOUBLE IPA Released September 2006 9.5% alcohol This hugely hoppy style is not among my favorite beers, but this was an improvement over the first two. Its massive bitterness was complemented by some malty sweetness, but finished with a slight but noticeable tar taste. Score: 5.0
- 4 WEE HEAVY Released February 2007 9.5% alcohol The cleanup position delivered: an enjoyable beer. It had plenty of pleasing maltiness with hints of fig and even peat – they really took the Scottish theme to heart – and a long, pleasurable finish. Score: 7.5
- 5 RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT Released August 2007 10% alcohol Though the aroma was redolent of motor oil, this four-year-old tasted like a strong Irish stout and continued the string of successively improving quality. (I know what you’re thinking, but I really was tasting very small quantities of each.) Score: 8.0
- 6 AMERICAN BARLEYWINE Released June 2008 10% alcohol Properly winey but with perceptible hops and a smooth and balanced array of flavors, the brewers’ skill was also apparent by the fact that it didn’t seem its 10% alcohol level. Drink with enjoyment, but carefully. Score: 8.0
- 7 WEIZENBOCK Released September 2008 8.4% alcohol Hops, hopes dashed. This tasted mostly of sour cherries with a hint of cloves, which actually was not bad upon first popping the top. Revisiting it a half-hour later, it was clearly not one that has aged well. Score: 3.0
- 8 SCOTCH ALE Released August 2009 9.3% alcohol I could not place the aroma at first, but then someone said, “Band-Aid.” Accurate, and off-putting. Though tastes melded a little after the early sips, they did not do so enough for my enjoyment. Score: 5.0
- 9 IMPERIAL PUMPKIN STOUT Released November 2009 11% alcohol This featured prominent aromas of clove, nutmeg, allspice, etc. … hey, a pumpkin pie. This big beer is sweet and very flavorful, best enjoyed in small amounts after dinner. Score: 8.5
- 10 ENGLISH BARLEYWINE Released October 2010 11% alcohol The nose was not pleasant, but was brief. The beer improved slightly after opening, but the evident maltiness and dry finish were just two of the taste sensations that never came together for an agreeable whole. Score: 4.0
- 11 DOUBLE IPA Released March 2011 8.9% alcohol A floral fragrance prefaced a mostly hoppy taste with some noticeable malt, making this a fine representative of an assertive style. I liked it more soon after its March release, however. Score: 7.0