Monday, 14 April 2014

Ale of the Day: Carynx Black Saison - Alechemy

This weekend, I had the pleasure of my first ever Holyrood 9a experience, just off of Cowgate in Edinburgh. In typical wee Drunken Chef fashion I immediately enquired about the selection of dark ales on tap and having experienced Alechemy brewing before, I was intrigued by limited edition Carynx.

This distinctive ale brewed in celebration of Alechemy’s 200th brew is a unique take on a Saison ale using a blend of dark malts and a mixture of hops. Traditionally Saison ales are pale slightly more carbonated ales and have a fruitier, spicy taste and aroma. The Carynx however is dark, almost black when poured thanks to the addition of the malts but retains the spicier, fruitier notes of a true Saison. Also typical of a Saison, the Carynx is a medium strength 6% ABV.

The aroma is slightly citrusy and peppery with a hint of the roasted malt. The flavour is more peppery and less citrusy with more roasted malt plus a little spice and a nice subtle bitter finish. The body is a lovely medium and although I’m not usually a fan of heavily carbonated ales, this one has a great mouthfeel and texture. Overall, this unique ale is well deserving of its place as Ale of the Day.
My Score: 8.5/10
Girlfriend’s Score: 9/10
The wee Drunken Chef Rating: 8.75/10
Alechemy beers are brewed at one of two Alechemy Breweries based in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. I should also point out that I’m not consistently misspelling Alchemy, it is in fact Ale-chemy. Have one for me, cheers for reading!

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