Church Brew Single Malt

Formerly brewed at Church Brew Works
Style: American Strong Ale
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Draught: This was quite the interesting brew. It was served in a snifter. There was absolutely no head or carbonation at all to it. The color was a dark amber. The nose was quite full: it was a bit sweet, with hints of port wine, bourbon, alcohol, perhaps some fruits also. The taste was rich. Malty sweetness, hints of bourbon, fruits, and a bit of alcohol. I think that 6.7% is a low estimate. Silky taste, no evidence of the hops. Very Good!

Quite a serious brew compared to the rest of their offerings I’ve sampled. Notes or raisin, cheey, plum, banana, vanilla and oak in the nose, and oh yeah alcohol. Bourbony sweetness, along with some more noticable fruity sweets were the most noticable in the flavor. The palata is quite viscous, which made me think this was tipping the scales higher than 6.7%.

Served in a snifter - just look at it - only 3 bubbles sitting up top, whiskey colored center with clear sides and very clear lacing. Aroma is malt and lots of alcohol - I was very surprised to learn that the abv is only 6.7% - from the aroma and taste I would’ve guessed 11%. At first the taste was sweet caramel malt and an equal helping of alcohol, but the flaovrs were so smooth - this is a very still beer - that it all just seemed to roll around on the tongue. As it warmed, I got tastes of maraschino cherries and milk chocolate. Very little hop presence, but the finish was dry with continued alcohol presence. I’d suggest they put this back in the oak barrel and age it until their 20th anniversary.