Life & Limb a Sierra Nevada & Dogfish Head Collaboration

Life & Limb is an American Strong Ale brewed as a collaborative effort between Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Dogfish Head Brewery. If American Strong Ale sounds like a vague style it is, L&L is a very unique style. The beer even has its own website.



To quote the Dogfish Head website:

        

"Life & Limb is a collaborative effort, the brainchild of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Life & Limb is a 10% ABV strong, dark beer that defies style characteristics- brewed with pure maple syrup from the Calagione family farm in Massachusetts and estate barley grown on the Grossman "farm" at the brewery in Chico, CA.

The beer is alive with yeast-a blend of both breweries' house strains-bottle conditioned for added complexity and shelf life, and naturally carbonated with birch syrup fresh from Alaska.

Life & Limb is dedicated to the family of beer drinkers and enthusiasts worldwide who continue to support the little guys, iconoclasts, entrepreneurs, and pioneers who risk life and limb to shape the vibrant craft-brewing community."

I bought this at Taylor's Market in Sacramento.

The beer pours a dark, thick brown with a thin, tan head that leaves little lacings. The aroma is sweet with subtle hints of the syrups and roasted malts. The taste is not what you expect from a beer made from syrup. The roasted malts play a more prominent role with only hints of the woody sugars. The taste is complex with hints of dark fruits and coco as well. The alcohol is there and helps balance out the sweetness. The finish is where you notice the syrup. The beer has a creamy or oilly smooth finish that reminds you of syrup. It's pleasant. It has a medium to thick body and the natural carbonation is evident -it's a soft but noticable.

You would probably want to share a bottle, but this is a Must Have It. It's very unique, well made, good taste, limited release with a very cool story. If you're a beer geek you'll apprecite this. If you're patient you could even store a bottle of this for months and see how it changes over time.