Eel River Triple Exultation

Brewed by Eel River Brewing Company
Style: Old Ale
Fortuna, California USA

22 ounce bottle. I purchased this at some little ghetto-mart type liquor store located on Howe Ave. in Sacramento. Unfortunately, I do not remember the name of the place, but it is about half a mile south of Arden Way on Howe. Their good beer is actually in a cold-cut cooler that can only be opened by the person behind the register. I also scored an 07 Old Guardian, too. Aroma has a fair amount of sweet toffee, along with some significant doses of caramel with a touch of buttery diacetyl. A bit of floral is also in there with some ethanol retronasally. Smells pretty good, but the ethanol is a bit too apparent. Mildly hazy rusty-amber body with a relatively frothy manilla colored head. Below average lacing present. Some lightly sweet sugary malts initially present themselves, before tons of caramel maltiness, roasted, burnt, hazelnut malty flavors come through in the middle. A little buttery diacetyl is also present, but it is not overbearing. Warming finish with some ethanol and some dry, bitter, grapefruity hops. This is pretty good. It’s not overly balanced for my tastes, though. The finish just doesn’t jive with the pleasant start and middle.

22oz - Aroma is loaded with caramel and chocolate followed by black licorice, tobacco and alcohol. Pours dark brown with a small head and good lacing. Flavor matches aroma. Palate is sticky, syrupy and sweet. A very tasty brew.

If this is what ales used to taste like, than charge up the flux capacitor, grab Marty, and let’s hit the road. Plenty of flavor, exceptionally smooth mouthfeel, and a sweet but not excessive finish. A good brew for bonfire and sweater weather.

Darker reddish brown, moderate creamy head, good lacing and retention. Aroma is caramel, toffee, darker fruits, earth. Fairly heavy body, sticky and syrupy. Sweet finish, but not overly so. Enjoyable.

22 oz bottle. Dark, but clear, russet with a dusting of tan foam. Aroma is a mix of raisin, apricot, caramel and orange. Starts like a stout with notes of coffee, portobello and tobacco. A bittersweet chocolate bite ushers in plum and tart blackberry. Tails off with smoky molasses. Nice coating mouthfeel with fine carb.

Pours a dark reddish brown with creamy tan head. Aroma of hops, sweet malt, chocolate, dark fruit, molasses, and citrus. Very well balanced flavor of hops and malt. Fruit and chocolate notes. Nice medium to thick, silky mouthfeel. Good beer!

White foamy head. Not the heaviest of heads, but still there. Cloudy brown in color. Light hops in the aroma. Wonderful flavor with lots of hops mixed with malt. Heavy mouth feel. Slight warming on the back of the throat in the aftertaste. Not something I’d consume glass after glass of, but it’d be a great beer on a cold Winter’s night!!

Bottle from Capone’s. Burnt umber pour with 2-fingers of khaki head. Aroma is hoppy, with Munichy dark scotchy malt, peppercorns, mango, canteloupe, and tangerine. Tastes hoppy, with a lot of dark malt presence, plus some warming plum/prune/merlot flavors, and even a slight bourbony flavor late. Very well hidden alcohol, with a complex, hoppy, fruity palate that is rather hefty without being cloying. Another great beer from CA. I wouldn’t say I’m triply exulted, but I’m definitely doubly exulted after this one.