4.4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20 thenick (766) - North Bellmore, New York, USA - OCT 6, 2009
Growler fill from Whole Foods Upper West Side. Pours a deep reddish brown with a thin off-white head. Aroma is largely cinnamon, though I also detected clove, a bit of wood, and a slight wisp of cherry. Taste is cinnamon and clove up front exploding into a complex array of flavors including cherry, grain (rye), and wood. The finish is sublimely smooth, with no indication this beer is anywhere near 8.5% ABV. So offbeat, so complex, so utterly wonderful - best thing, by far, I’ve ever had from Brooklyn.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20 JoeMcPhee (6965) - Toronto, ON, Ontario, CANADA - SEP 22, 2009
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.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 19/20 Beerbuddha (100) - New Orleans, Louisiana, USA - JUL 4, 2010
Had this on tap at the House of Beer in Orlando.
Appearance: The beer was a nice amber, brown color with an off white head which dissapated quickly. Lacing was present throughout.
Smell: WOW! Very interesting aroma of cherries and spice. A lot going on in this beer.
Taste: Again WOW! A lot going on in this brew. Picked up cherries, interesting spices and maybe caramel? Nothing rye about this ale at all. Very malty with a slight hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium carbonation.
Overall: Insanely good! Really glad I was able to try this brew!
4.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 joeymacaroni (309) - Wagontown, Pennsylvania, USA - DEC 15, 2009
pours amber mahogany with a thin white head. aroma of deep red fruit, lots of cherry, port, raisin, and red vermouth. flavor is bold, lots of rye, fruity, some bubblegum notes, maraschino cherry. touted as similar to a well-made manhattan, i’d say that’s pretty accurate. finish is sweet, with a flavor similar to sucking on a Cherry Luden’s drop without the menthol. slightly fizzy, viscous. i liked it a lot.
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 CUJO (383) - Brooklyn, New York, USA - SEP 27, 2009
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.
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20 Teege (375) - Orlando, Florida, USA - OCT 3, 2009
Draft at redlight redlight. An amber hue streaked with red in the light. I was excited about this beer because I enjoy Manhattans so much. It really smells quite a bit like its namesake. As a Manhattan fan this beer does not disappoint. Notes of rye, whiskey, cherry and vermouth stay true to the source material while a smooth body combines to create a very complex, very delightful beer.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 rocbyter (1528) - Waterbury, Connecticut, USA - OCT 10, 2009
On tap at Delaneys. Fruity malt aroma. Dark amber or light brown color with a large tan head. Fruity beginning that is slightly tropical. Fades slowly in the finish and I don’t want it to go. Great beer.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 beerguy101 (4925) - Newark, California, USA - SEP 19, 2010
Sampled at GABF on 9/16/2010. This rye beer pours a medium brown color from the bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is fruity and sweet, rye and juniper berries. A medium bodied rye beer. The malts are fruity and sweet, hints of juniper, perhaps a touch of vermouth and bourbon. The hops are herbal. Nice balance. Lots of different flavors here. Very smooth tasting. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20 Rciesla (5499) - Exit 15W, New Jersey, USA - OCT 1, 2009
Draft. Pours a dark brune ruby hues with an off white head. Malty cinnamon spicy, light cloves. Raisins and dark malt a hint of chocolate incense, and a mild cinnamon spiced finish. Very very NICE!
4.1 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 Pwn3d (1911) - Manhattan, New York, USA - SEP 23, 2009
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.
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