 CharlesDarwin (1376), State College, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 1, 2006
This is a celebration beer, for many reasons. It’s my 600th rate. The ratebeerian who sent me this beer just celebrated his first anniversary for a wedding that I was the best man at, a year ago. Today is the first day of August, marking the autumnal swing of the avian world, where birds begin to head south. Friday, it’s my birthday. So this Anniversary Ale, of epic celebratory proportions is the perfect choice to mark all these occasions! I undress the bottle of its’ gold foil crown and pop the top. A light psst, then the silky pour into a goblet. Immeadiately, rich aged brandy soaked fruits tickle my nostrils. There’s incredible maturity in those alcohol tones, from aged bourbon black cake to maciated figs in cognac. Exotic dessert spices dance on the surface and waft gently up the nose. Pineapple, pound cake and a whole slew of indescribable nuanced characters erupt from the snifter. The pour is a fiery core of mostly clear ruby-hued liquors, with golden-orange fringes, a light carbonation, a fine mist of yeast particles across the beer and a lacy edge of tawny head. On the tounge, a elicitation of the aroma, with perky pineapple candies, rich creamed malts, replete with a touch of Marakesh spice and squeezed raisin juice. The alcohols unleash a fiery blast of warmth into the humours, but I’m not taken aback, only encouraged and pleased with the gentle heat and the sophistication it brings. In the middle, these fires meld with a tart candied lemon rind and the whole wash of sugary and creamy malt characters, in a heavenly blend of various sugars and grains. This is heavly refined. In the backend, there’s a light bite of British hop bite, but only so much to create balance, without overpowering what an Old Ale should be. Damn, I love balance. Here, I’m not taken aback by the lack of carbonation, or the alcoholic fury. This beer is worthy to be something to celebrate with any time. Later, I’ll use it as a deglazing liquid for butter sauteed nectarines and rainier cherries, and it will be delicious. Thanks a million Andy.
Miver (376), WillowStreet, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 20, 2008 750ml bottle shared by egajdzis. Thanks!!! Poured a cloudy deep amber in color with a quickly diminishing tan head. Aroma of toffee, chocolate, dark fruits, and a little smoke. Tastes of sweet toffee, brown sugar, chocolate with a hefty amount of alcohol warming in the finish. Thanks Eric.
theisti (1014), Leawood, Kansas, USA
Aug 12, 2008 2005 Vintage. 750 ml bottle generously shared by tjthresh. Pour is ruby, red brown - hazed, with a tan head that falls fast with not much lacing. Aroma of soft sweet fruity caramel. Vanilla woodiness in the background of the nose. Soft, delicate, very engaging nose. Taste is nice; soft caramelly, grainy with a sharp woodiness. Some residual alcohol in the finish that doesn’t detract. This was a really nice beer. Thank you for sharing this one with me Tom, very cool of you.
JCB (949), Durham, North Carolina, USA
Aug 9, 2008 750ml from an online vendor I don’t recall. Duh, it’s been a few years. I’ve been saving this one for a very special occasion, and am pleased as punch to pop it open tonight. A deep dark red pour, with just a trace of cloudiness in there from the main ingredients, as well as a slight fizz from the carbo (still there) and some pleasant lacing. Big ass nose of multiple malts, initially with chocolate characteristics and then settling into toffee, plum, fig, and tobacco. Lovely mouthfeel, with a slight bite on the tongue that gives the brew a warming, lasting quality. Definitely akin to sipping on a beloved malt whiskey, and another Alesmith winner.
tjthresh (1275), Greenfield, Indiana, USA
Aug 7, 2008 Wow! Pours a hazy dark red with very little head. Big chewy melted English Toffee nose. Tons of toffee with some nice oxidized notes. Some chocolate syrup. There’s a little bit of bitterness at the end with some lingering alcohol. Really damn good. Full bodied and hardly any noticeable carbonation. Kind of a fudgey sweet finish, but very easy to drink. This beer is outstanding in every way.
xnoxhatex (788), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Jul 21, 2008 Bottle thanks to Drewbeerme. Dirty brown red with small beige head. Aroma of oxidized alc, red fruit, very nice. Flavor is once again oxidized alc bwith red fruit but it comes off being much more boozy. Medium body and surprisingly well carbonated and smoooth. Big alc and over oxidized but I can see where this might have been better when it first was bottled but at the same time I could see some years improving on it as well.
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