3.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
Draft pint at Downers Grove. Big head that hangs around awhile as I sampled some of the Barley Wine first. Creamy Guinness type head from nitro pour. Body is solid black. The smell has some of our favorite American IPA hops, but not overwhelming. Underneath the head is the creamy texture of an oatmeal stout, with dark, carefully toasted malts in the schwartzbier vein. Sometimes I’m getting an impressions of something… agricultural; like old hops with stems and seeds. Hop palate favors bitterness over the usual citrus and pine. But the overall package works very well with the nitro push in this serving.
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Draught at Downer’s grove brewpub. Quite good, dark and roasty with potently floral hoppiness. More malt and roast character than I expected based on the color. Very good.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Pint on tap at the brewpub (Downers Grove, IL). My first visit to Emmett’s. A nitro pour was an odd choice as it arrives, but that is how it is. Pours a frothy cakey tannish head atop, thick and full lucious from the Nitro. A darker blackish pour with brownish ruby bottom and edges. Not opaque but dark. Aromas are mellow sweetness, toast and caramel mix with citrusy grapefruit hops, lemons, florals. A gentle kiss of pine into the fold with more grapefruit, roast, some tropical fruits moving in. Initial is medium bodied, offering a fluffy slick body and a good kick of grapefruit and citrusy hops, tropical and fruity, with lemons, florals, and a hint of pine in the fold. Biscuits, caramel, and pale malts come into play, some sweetness, toast, though no roast (as it should be) gets into play here. Backend throws more toast, hint of cocoa and coffee, faint roast and lingering dry florala nd citrusy hops. A firm hopping makes this beer pretty tasty, quite drinkable. Not too big of a body. I’m a fan of the hop profile and overall experience. Nitro was initially a strange choice, but worked well here. Try this if you get the chance.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Draft at Haymarket. Pours a deep brown black with a pale tan head. Nose is full of American hops. Citrus and resin dominate, though it’s a mildly generic hop profile. Some faint roast as well. On taste, some light burnt chocolate and strong citrusy hops. Some pine notes exist as well. Has a pretty robust bitterness. Dry finish. Not too bad.
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