First beer for me from Aether Brewing in Brisbane
Earl Grey Crème Brûlée’, Dark Creme Ale. 8%ABV, 375ml can. Their GABS ’22 release.
This is quite amazing. The nose is custard/custard powder, caramel, vanilla (not lactose vanilla), Bergamot, honey, other stuff? Nice smooth mouthfeel with good light carbonation. The taste is massive, and very different, initially it seems kind of like Belgian ale style malts (the grist is Pale, wheat, oat and honey malts) with vanilla cream, honey, custard, caramel, there’s a back note of the tea initially that appears a bit more as it warms, a slight citrus note as well from the hops? (Warrior and Wai-iti hops) There’s Belgian candi sugar in here so that probably adds somewhat to the depth and “sweetness” and initial Belgian thoughts. The smell just keeps bringing back all the flavours. The Bergamot is secretly everywhere after a while melding with the honey malt notes. There’s some very mild hop bitterness, a little bit medicinal, far more more citrus/lemony. It calms down a bit after your senses are overpowered and becomes more of a weird cream ale, a milk ale? with honey, Bergamot, tea and citrus/lemon. There’s a lot going on, a lot of depth. Really deserves a long time just sitting and sipping as it warms and changes to enjoy it all. A real cool oddball beer. 4/5
