effervescent refractions

My experience with Urthel before drinking Novicius Vertus had led me to believe that their beers were considerably underrated by the general community. I was hoping my third experience would only further these thoughts, and perhaps demonstrate that one can still brew a tasty beer within the house of Belgium’s heaviest hands. Of course, neither result would diminish the quality of the Samaranth and Hibernus Quentum, but I found to my regret a rather mediocre effort in this third trial. Novicius Vertus begins with a contrastingly magnificent pour, a dark maroon liquid speckled of sparse particles and lofted to a terrific spongy head folded in a velvety blanket atop. The scent seems initially sealed by the thick foam, but with persistence one begins to detect a sylvan aroma of must, wood, aged Brie, green vegetables (particularly Brussels sprouts) and the sweet touch of milk chocolate. The timid nose, is actually fairly agreeable but lacks a certain depth and complexity especially in the sugars. Light malts become far more apparent on the tongue as caramel and biscuits blend with the finishing bitterness and roasted flavor of barely green coffee beans. Again the complexity is quite transparent and allows the relatively low alcohol content (5.9%) to appear more prominently than it should. Disappointing, but we’ll see what happens with the next of their offerings.