Dave's BrewFarm AuBeXXX Belgian-style Golden Ale

Dave's BrewFarm, hurrah! Had the whole line-up on Sunday, and went back for seconds on a couple of them, but not on old favorites, or Heavy Hitters, no I re-visited the tastiest and most surprising offerings. Unfortunately, I didn't take notes while there (never do, as I take notes while talking with friends on the rarest of occasions, if ever.), so my impressions on those beers will have to wait until the day Mr. Anderson growlers them, or...bottles...cans?
I did bring home 3 growlers, and the first that I tackled last night is both an old favorite and a Heavy Hitter. Notes from January, 2012, commence!

AuBeXX. Au for Gold, Be for Belgium, XXX for strong. AwBex, One of the first beers Farmer Dave brought out to festivals, and one of the mainstays at the LaBrewaTory, but oddly enough, this marks the first time it's been in growlers that I've been there. Or maybe not, it's hard to say, but it's harder still to imagine that I ever passed it up before. 

Enough palaver, let's get into it.

In a Duvel glass, it's golden in name only this time, (was it paler before?), cast a deep amber hue, with a prodigious, staying off-white head. 

Enticing aromatics, a blend of fruit, peppery spice, and distinct Belgian yeast. Complex and arousing. Urges me into the tasting, which we will begin…now.

In the mouth, warm, malty, getting hot, with spice keeping pace with fruit. Clean malty flavor, with sufficient richness. Zesty is an appropriate phrase. Medium-bodied, lean enough, but perfectly balanced, with most of the flavor coming malt, yeast, and the spice additions, not much from hops beyond mild balancing bitterness. 

Ah! Everytime it slips the lips, satisfaction. Mmm! This would be quite a nice packaged product, and would please those intimidated by the curiosity of Matacabras. Not as thick as that one, with more bright fruit, leaner, and yummier. Halfway in, the 9.1 % ABV starts chiming in. 

Here the official description of the LaBrewaTory. "Golden strong ale with spicing. Belgian lineage yeast, Vanguard and Northern Brewer hops. Additions of orange peel, cardamom, and black pepper. "

This malty, spicy, yummy golden ale is one I'll happily finish off tonight, and wish I had more for tomorrow. Alas, and alack. Hint, hint, Mr. Anderson, let's get some more of this going. Stick this lovely blend of spice and malt into a vessel that can reach the masses, and wait for the applause.