New Holland says:
“This Belgian specialty ale has an unfiltered, hazy deep straw colored body. Clove dominates the aroma. The flavor is bready sweet with a spicy clove backbone. The profile has the malt com…plexity you would expect from a big Belgian Ale. It finishes with a slight fruity tartness from the addition of pomegranate. Winner of the 2009 New Holland employee homebrew competition, Congrats to Adam & Mitch!!!”
New Holland B.A.M.B.
Belgian Ale, 6.9% ABV
Sayeth the Guys:
Ryan: When I visit a brewpub for the first time, or any time for that matter, I usually try and pick out obscure our brewpub only offerings. It’s not that I don’t like a particular breweries staple beers. In fact, it’s the opposite. I can get their six packs any day I’d like. But when will I have the chance to try some sort of obscure style of beer that they brew once – and sometimes only once? I kind of hit the jackpot in that respect with the B.A.M.B.. It’s a Belgian ale brewed with cloves and pomegranate.
I usually don’t try to get too hung up on beer styles or those kind of particulars. Beer Advocate has this listed as a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. While we have found out before that color does not always indicate style (Troegs Mad Elf), the appearance reminded me more of a tripel or even a wheat beer. Straight from the tap, this beer poured a cloudy orange to copper in color with the faintest hint of off-white head.
Cherries dominate the smell but the cloves do try and push through to the surface. Neither are very strong or abusive. The cloves are actually more noticeable as you sip away on this ale in both the taste and smell. The cloves can come off a little strong at times but the pomegranate helps to balance things out. The pomegranate also gives this beer a lightly tart and refreshing finish.
The body is solid on this beer, a little bready, with mild carbonation. I also jotted down that it, “reminded me of toast sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.” Take that, Karl.
If you happen to catch this on tap at New Holland it’s definitely worth a shot. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.