New Year's Eve

I enjoyed three beers on New Year's Eve: a lager from Germany given to me by DZ, Unibroue La Fin du Monde, and J.W. Lees Harvest Ale aged in Calvados Cask. The lager was tasty and a nice aperitif. I don't remember the name. Details for the other two beers follow.

Beer: La Fin du Monde

Brewer: Unibroue

Style: Tripel (BeerAdvocate earlier classified it as Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Tasting notes and comments: (1) Nice. Cloves, malt, and spices. (2) Sweet malt, complex light fruits, and fizzy spices, with a touch of funk. (3) Delightful. Light, complex, and funky. (4) Fruity, fizzy, and smooth. Light and refreshing.

Dates on which reviewers at BeerAdvocate.com rated it as one of the top 100 beers on the planet: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 1 January 2009.

Rating: Recommended without reservation.

Beer: Harvest Ale aged in Calvados Cask (Calvados is French Apple Brandy.)

Brewer: J.W. Lees

Style: English Barleywine

Tasting notes and comments: (2) Another bottle dated 2004. Sticky sweet apples, followed by husky leather w/ alcohol breath. (1) A bottle dated 2004. Sticky sweet, peach and prunes, burnt caramel, w alcohol burn at end. Lisa hated.

Dates on which reviewers at BeerAdvocate.com rated it as one of the top 100 beers on the planet: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 1 January 2009.

Recommendation: Highly recommended. It is on my current top 10ish list.