Late September afforded me the chance to escape the world's troubles for a short time and spend a few days tasting beer at the 20th annual Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. It was and opportunity gratefully received.
Early on in the three-day, four-session fest, I picked up on a buzz concerning the Boston Beer Company and their Triple Bock beer. Apparently the brewery had aged some of the 17.5% alcohol ale with berries, the gossip said, and possible chocolate, too. Being a fan of the beer in its original form, my curiosity was piqued.
It took me a couple of days to make it over, but eventually I arrived at the Boston Beer stand where brewer Jim Pericles told me that the Triple Bock had been aged for over a year on a blend of blackberries and raspberries. The rumoured presence of chocolate, I was told, was only that - a rumour.
The aroma of the fruity Triple Bock was familiar, with Madeira-like notes, rich intensity and nary a note of berry. In the body, however, the fruit certainly made its presence felt. Although it seems odd to speak of 'freshness' in a beer so strong and well-aged, the fruity notes now evident in the modified brew give it a liveliness that blends well with the thick, almost oily character of the original beer. The combination of flavours is simply delightful, and I do hope that Boston Beer will do this again, and this time release the beer to the public.
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