Hoppin' Frog "Pentuple" Belgian Ale

The frog on the labels is endearing. That may be the only reason I keep going back to this well; their chart at the bottom is not skewing high at the moment. I, like many of us, have a desire to see an underdog win, and these guys have the spunk to get there, but they need to get their act together. Their act? A dancing frog who makes beer, obviously.

The precocious mahogany beer doesn't have a bunch of head, and what it generates is thin and short-lived. Just the ring of tiny bubbles around the sides of the glass is allowed to remain. The aroma is light yeast, some cherrywood, and a toffee malt. I'm not sure about some of the aroma; it isn't particularly strong in the smell category.

First sip is substantial. It has the Belgian yest, but it has a lot more of a wine-like backing. The heaviness of the beer is unlike a wine, though, and I'd say this probably veers more towards a barley wine in the way it hits the mouth. Even the flavors are a lot like that style, but the Belgian yeast can't be denied. It's a pretty good balance for a beer with this much alcohol (my first 15.4%).

Tip-in is cherry wine with no carbonation to speak of. The middle spreads out into a delightfully Belgian yeast bread with toffee and caramel mixed in and highlights of vanilla. The finish brings down a bitter wave, but it doesn't overcome the complimentary wave of alcohol before trailing off into sweetness.

Bottom Line: Good for an occasional drink, but it's too sweet for everyday work.

3.25/5