Boulder Beer Company's Flashback India-Style Brown Ale

  
     This is a style I've been thinking about quite a bit lately.  It is certainly not popular, but with how successful CDAs and now India-Style Red Ales are getting, it seems that the "India" would spread out to other styles (the most obvious one being the Brown). It pours a pretty-hazy blood orange color.  Very small head upon pouring, but it seems to be holding quite well.  Decent lacing.  Actually, a strong carbonation seems to be creating a long-lasting, creamy head.  Getting lots of sweet malt on the nose.  Lots of rich caramel, warm biscuit, and subtle toast.  Some dark, raisin-like esters are mixed in there.  Hops are there but nothing too overwhelming.  What I am picking up is a some pine/earthiness mixed with some citrus spice.
     My first impression upon tasting is that it has a delicious malt profile.  It's just toasty enough to let the sweet caramel shine through.  This blends smoothly with some fruity esters and finishes off slightly bitter.  Hops seem more bitter than flavorful.  What I am picking up for hop flavors is rather herbal with a bit of spice and citrus.  Some nice toast and herbal notes linger in the mouth.  Little oily. Medium body.
     I really like this, but I think it could just as appropriately be called an Imperial Brown Ale.  Hops here are definitely prominent for a Brown, but I don't think it's right that the malt outshines the hops on an India-style beer.  I think this is a style that might still need some tweaking, but I would most definitely drink the Flashback again.

Chimay Peres Trappistes Premiere Dubbel

   
     Thought I'd splurge a little today and try one of the Trappist ales.  The Premiere comes in at 7% ABV and was first brewed in 1862.  The first thing I'm noticing is that it is extremely carbonated.  Huge pop upon opening and a good three fingers worth of creamy head.  Head drained quite a bit, but it appears to be sticking around.  It's a very dark red, almost-copper color.  Very hazy, which is to be expected given that these are traditional beers. Aroma is a nice blend of rich malt and fruit bouquet.  Getting some sweet caramel and a touch of pear.  Alcohol is evident but subtly mixes with everything.  Easy on the nose. Pleasant.
     My first impression upon taste is that it is extremely flavorful without any single aspect coming out too aggressively.  Tons of malt flavor on this one.  Getting some toasty bread, caramel, and raisin.  Lots of fruitiness as well.  The malt seems to blend in with the apricot and pear flavors and finishes off with something darker, more plum-like. Well-balanced bitterness.  Light herbal hop flavor. Some spice and strong sweetness linger.  Silky; coats the mouth well.  Medium body really thickened by strong carbonation.
     I still haven't been completely sold on Belgian beer.  I get the appeal and they deserve all the respect they are given as a brewing nation, but their fermentation practices just don't do it for me.  I must admit, though, that this is damn impressive.  I've honestly had few other beers that have been so intricately flavorful yet perfectly balanced at the same time.

Lagunitas Bavarian-Style Doppel Weizen

    
     It pours a very dark honey color; almost an orange.  Definitely lighter on the edges due to a thick haziness.  It seems to be very well-carbonated, fizzy. Huge alcohol (8.5% ABV) leaves no head; decent lacing. 
     Aroma is absolutely dominated by fermentation bouquet. Lots of fruitiness in general, but the banana really does shine though. Alcohol is evident and really accentuates those fruit notes. Very strong and heavy on the nose. 
     Some bready malt is there upon first taste, but it is quickly washed away by raw banana. Some bubblegum notes are shining through.  Alcohol makes this very bitter and some spice lingers in the end.  Overall, this is pretty impressive in regards to the style, but I'd prefer something a little less tart and intense.