by Daniel Barnes and Darcey Self-Barnes

9% ABV

Purchased at City Beer Store in San Francisco and poured into goblets.

This Belgian strong ale from San Francisco-based Triple Voodoo pours a murky golden raisin color with a creamy, frothy, almond milk head. It offers an interesting nose of booze-soaked citrus, especially focusing on grapefruits and lemons, and the overall aroma is similar to that of tequila. There is a lot going on in the first swallow—some hard alcohol, citrus, tequila, spices, bread, and even a little bit of pepper heat. The beer was brewed with honey, blue agave nectar, coriander, and orange peel, and Grand Cru reflects that flavor-wheel variety and experimental ambition while still remaining smooth and unoppressive on the palate, with a cleansing lemon squeeze on the finish.

Daniel Barnes and Darcey Self-Barnes have been blogging about craft beer at His & Hers Beer Notes since January 2012.  Darcey is a freelance designer and illustrator, and Daniel is a film critic for the Sacramento News and Review and a member of the San Francisco Film Critics Circle.