Sun Jun 26, 2005 2:18 pm
Came to me in a weird looking glass. I guess it was a tulip glass. Looked more like a huge brandy snifter. Color was a deep amber, with a frothy, tan colored head. It persisted until I hit the bottom of the glass. Aromas are mostly of caramel malts, alcohol, slight banana esters, and strong, fresh hops. They told me they used Columbus hops, and I believe them. Piney, resinous, grapefruity, fresh hops. The alcohol is definitely noticeable, in both the aromas and tastes. This one should have aged for a bit longer, IMHO. The balance was slightly leaning towards the hops, the beer was still grassy to a degree. The malts weren’t about to give in that easily, however. Finished on the sweet side, but left hoppy burbs in it’s wake. Mouthfeel was sharp, and stinging, slightly prickly also. A tad overcarbonated, especially for an old ale. A decent effort however. Jan.2005 Update: From growler/ on tap. Poured out a deep mahogany color, with a thick, dense tan colored head. This years batch is slightly different than last years. It has more molasses flavor to it, along with a noticeable drop in hops aromas & bitterness. More caramel flavors, and thicker mouthfeel than previous versions. Try to get some before it’s gone.
