blindeyedbetty (99), Arlington, Virginia, USA Mar 16, 2007 This 22 oz. Bomber emitted a healthy ’pop’ when opened. The beer poured beautifully with a nice off-white head that gave way to a sturdy, consistent lacing during drinking. The initial aroma, for me, was very hoppy with underlying tones of caramel and malt. ’Complex’ is a fantastic adjective for this beer as there seems to be so much in it, that many specific flavors and scents are not discernable. The overall mouthfeel is almost silky and the taste of malt comes to the forefront. An aftertaste of mild hops and some earthy spice follow. Although I don’t care for ’hoppy’ beers, this is balanced very nicely and is very drinkable for people with a variety of preferences as the experience is and extraordinarily in-tune and complimentary package (aroma, taste, body, aftertaste) to experience.
Bhops (221), Dallas, Texas, USA Oct 11, 2008 Pours dark amber with thick fizzy head. Aroma is malt with some pine/resin hop aroma. Flavor is okay, I was not blown away. Good balance. Tastes a bit like the scotch ale I just finished... with a bit more hop balance. Decent drinkable beer. HopsWhisperer (9), , North Carolina, USA does not count Oct 10, 2008 Appearance: This ale poured a rich mahogony with a gorgeous, rich thick pillowy head. As I swirl the beer in my tulip glass, the head continues to refresh.
Aroma: I am a bit surprised that there is not a greater intensity. The beer smells fresh and green, but doesn’t possess a huge aroma.
Taste: The first flavor I notice from this beer is a slightly bitter hop taste that lingers on the palate. The hops are definitely present, but it seems to be missing some malt presence. Some slight chocolate malt flavors make themselves felt, but the hoppiness dominates.
Mouthfeel: Lighter than expected. The hop oils linger on the palate long after the beer is gone.
Overall: This is a solid brew, but I have had other amber ales that I find better, most notably Terrapin’s Big Hoppy Monster and Lagunitas’ Lucky 13. This beer is more on the lines of Troegs Hopback Amber. A good beer, but not the best I’ve had of this style.
944play (30), Austin, Texas, USA Oct 8, 2008 Updated: Oct 9, 200822oz in Liefmans glass. Pours deep amber with low cream-colored head. Plum, raisin, grass, alcohol, and pineapple nose. Big sweet pine and crystal taste that brings me right back to One Horse Town at The Old Vic. Some yeast character after the gulp. And drink it. "People who like this beer LOVE this beer." --Jon Plise VitaminR (281), Colorado, USA Oct 8, 2008 Orangey caramel nose. Amber reddish color with a thick frothy head that lasts forever. Huge malty toffee sweetness, but excellently balanced with sharp bitterness. Full body, big carbonation, smooth finish. This was a fantastic huge malty beer with great balance! RunDWP (185), San Jose, California, USA Oct 3, 2008 22 oz bottle. Very bready, pumpernickel like flavor with strong resiny hop bite at the finish. I detected some sweetness as it warmed. I can appreciate this as an innovative brew, but I found the taste a bit harsh and aggressive, like their Racer 5 IPA which I’m not a big fan of either.
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