Saint Brewis

A St. Louis Craft Beer Blog

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Cathedral Square – Ave Maria

Brewery: Cathedral Square Brewery 
Location  St. Louis, MO
Style Belgian Dubbel
 ABV 10.0%
 IBUs n/a

 

Best Quote During Tasting

Look...she's a witch now.

Justin:

Aroma - Oaky oakiness. A lot of barrel character with a decent sized whiff of whisky.  There is some nice, slight fruit sweetness of cherries.
Score: 8/12
Appearance - The beer pours a clear copper with an off-white head that goes away quickly
Score: 3/3
Flavor - Caramel from the malt is abundant but there is so much oak! Some sweetness from cherries but also some nice raisin and plum character.  I'm also getting some amazing floral notes (lavender).
Score: 15/20
Mouthfeel - It's got a finish like a whisky and it's very dry. Medium+ carbonation, medium body.
Score: 3/5
Overall Impression - I really enjoyed all the layers in this one but the oak was just a bit too much.  All of the other flavors were amazing in their balance so I know that this one isn't far off from being over-the-top awesome.  We've reviewed a few Cathedral Square beers on the site and I'm excited to say that they've gotten better each time.  I can't wait to see what's next.
Score: 8/10

 

Blake:

Aroma - Lots of oak and bourbon. The oak in this one is almost overpowering. Hiding behind it all is a bit of cherry and some vanilla. 
Score: 9/12
Appearance - Caramel colored with a reddish tint at the edges, and a small white head.
Score: 3/3
Flavor - Like the aroma, the flavor is dominated by the barrel notes of oak and bourbon. Beyond that you get lots of caramel from the malt, and a bit of funky tart cherry. Not really getting a lot of the spice characterics you'd normally find in a Belgian inspired beer like that, but I'm not sure if that is because they aren't there or they just aren't able to overcome the insane amount of oak in this beer.
Score: 14/20
Mouthfeel - Medium carbonation and medium body with a dry finish. Plenty of alcohol on the finish as well.
Score: 3/5
Overall Impression - This is another one of those beers I'd love to try a vertical in to see how it changes with age. I'm wondering if a lot of that oak would die down after it has been cellared for a bit. If you like Belgians and are a big fan of bourbon, you might find a lot to like in this beer.  It isn't as pricey as some of the barrel aged beers out there, so it's well worth trying.
Score: 7/10

 

Ave Maria Final Score
  • Aroma
  • Appearance
  • Flavor
  • Mouthfeel
  • Overall
3.8
User Rating: 0.0 (3 votes)
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Justin Phelps

Justin Phelps

Co-Founder at Saint Brewis
Justin Phelps is a Certified Cicerone® who was born and raised in St. Louis. His passion for beer goes beyond just drinking it as he is also an award-winning home brewer. While he may be a marketing professional by day, he's a blogger, brewery hopper, and beer enthusiast by night.

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