4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
RnH: tap: pours a dark brown, leaving a very thing head ring. The nose was very hard to read for me, but I got lots of florals, a pickup truck full of grains, some earth. Smelled familiar but I couldn’t pinpoint. Tastes loads of grains especially the distinct dry/ spicy rye, high esters... I get a wine, maybe scotch/ bourbon feel here, also florals again. Going with JoeMcPhee: if this brew is intended to invoke a Manhattan, then I’m on board! (and explains why I find it familiar). Nice body, some oily medium thickness while remaining thin enough to session.
4.1 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
On tap at rattle n hum with thortheviking. Pour is straight brown with no head. Aroma is uberly pleasant potpourri, nutmeg, and cinnamon spice- some maple and candied malts. Taste is same with cooling cinnamon tang. Would make an execellent winter/Christmas offering.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Tap at Studio Square. Slightly hazy, orange amber pour with a thin white head. The nose is absolutely loaded with spicy rye, both the grain and the spirit. A touch of light oakiness and a pronounced peppery spiciness. There is a great herbal component that is lightly sweet. It has a note that reminds me of the sweet gale that sometimes appears in gruit. There is a kiss of barrel flavour and a touch of vanilla and toasted oak. Spicy rye through the middle with a little bit of floral/herbal flavour retronasally. A little bit of light fruitiness. As it warms up there is just a touch of cherry on the back... man, this is one of the best of these Brewmaster’s Reserve series, and that isn’t faint praise. I’m a sucker for a well-made Manhattan and these guys have nailed what they were trying to do... I’ll be drinking this fairly regularly as long as they keep making it.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Tap at Studio Square’s Craft Beer Week Fest 2009: Deep hazy brownish bronze/copper with a dense tan film of head. Sweet aroma of dates, honey, some ginger notes and sassafras. A big rye spiciness prevails with perhaps a cherry note as well. Medium slick body. Sweet and spicy rye body. Some toffeeish richness meshes with cherry, and spices of ginger and sassafras notes. An interesting experiment, but not quite my style. A bit on the sweet side.
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