Karl Strauss - Full Suit Belgian Style Brown Ale

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Full Suit Belgian Style Brown Ale
Karl Strauss 
5985 Santa Fe Street
San Diego, CA USA
Est. 1989
www.karlstrauss.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.3 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 (3 oz. sample)

Postmortem Brew Review
Copper brown in color.
Soft yeast strain smells along with a bit of spice sweetness.
A bit of nuttiness and roasted malt, as well.
Short head with strings of lace.
Smooth flavors of spice and sugars and yeast.
Soft carbonation. Dry, warming finish.
Gentle and easy to drink. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This blog post was done live at the first ever Beer Blogger's Conference, held in Boulder Colorado. 108 bloggers were in attendance, from over five hundred identified blogs. Luminaries of the craft beer world also attended to serve as presenters and keynote speakers for the event. A "speed round" of blogging was held by 12 brewers, each bringing an exemplary brew to blog. 12 beers, 12 blogging tables and 60 minutes were allotted in a fun, free-for-all session. 

Round #7

Karl Strauss was a leader in the early years of beer making in the United States. They have a nice homage page on the website explaining his tenure at Pabst from 1939 through 1983. That's an incredible span of 6 decades at Pabst!

Not content to sit on his laurels, he joined his cousin to form a new brewery in 1986. He remained here for 20 years until his passing in 2006. Passion! That's what the beer business is all about.

Full Suit is a Winter Seasonal Belgian Brown Ale that is hearty and smooth. It drinks very easily at a modest 6.3 ABV and will satisfy most palates that prefer brown ales done in the Belgian style.

Karl was a multi-award winning brewer, with a zest for the industry. It appears that his namesake is in good hands.

Tilburgs Dutch - Brown Ale

Taps for a Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Tilburgs Dutch 
Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.
Berkel-Enschot Netherlands
Est.1872
www.tdba.nl/home.asp

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.0  (On Tap) 

Postmortem Brew Review
Rootbeer brown in color with some reddish color tones.
Sweet caramel malt aroma.  Some fruity notes float through.
Roasted toffee taste. Drying on the tongue.
Negligent head revealing spotty lacing.
Full bodied mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Is it a brown ale or a Belgian dark?  Anybody?  It's decidedly not an average brown ale.  The muddled fruity undertones give that away.  And it's not your everyday Belgian, though it is definitely done in that style. T seems to fall somewhere in between the two.

Whatever you call it, do not call it by any negative connotations.  This is a refreshingly good spin on a brown ale.  The Reaper 'digs' it.  You might too.