Freetail Old Bat Rastard

Brewed by Freetail Brewing Co.
Style: Old Ale
San Antonio, Texas USA

Serve in English pint, Snifter

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Murky mahogany with a pale head. Has kind of a fruitcake thing going on, which is better than it sounds. Dark fruits, brown sugar, maybe even a hint of rum.

My 2012 bottle shared at Hunahpu’s Day. Dark brown pour with translucent edges. Aroma is chocolate roast and slightly acidic. Taste is light molasses with an underlying wine like character. Not as full bodied also there representations of the style. Very drinkable for the ABV which is exceptionally well hidden.

Draft at the brewery. This was one of the best beers we enjoyed at the brewery. I purchased two 22 oz bottles for the annual meeting at the Hyatt. The old ale poured a dark brown with a light brown head that lasted throughout the beer with nice lacing. The aromas were complex with sweet barley, toffee, caramel and some alcohol. The friend that was drinking with me had two of these they were so good. The flavor starts with dark fruits and chocolate at the end. The ale had average carbonation and the finish was enjoyable. Take a swallow and let it roll around in your mouth. This is why you taste beer from craft brewers. They give their best every time.

Tap at pub. Dark brown/red brew with a light tan head that lasts for ages. I can't get much of an aroma out of it...maybe a hint of honey? Thick and creamy, a little sweet, a little bitter. Not a bad brew at all.

What a good-looking beer! It’s such a dark red/brown color that it looks almost black in some lighting conditions. One thing’s certain, though, from peering deep into its dark depths - it’s a clean beer. The aroma is mostly sweet, with medium/high-lovibond caramel malts dominating the nose. It does smell English in style, with an earthy smoothness and modest alcohol presence. In the mouth it initially tastes nothing like an Old Ale, but then the caramel beefiness eventually wears off and you’re left with a pleasant, almost nutty Old Ale experience. The sweetness almost reminds me of an imperial red or copper ale (much like Lagunitas Censored), but that only lasts for a split second before a moderately beefy, nutty, brown ale takes the stage. It’s not too soft, and I think the sweetness and cleanness of body really helps keep the beer on the brighter side. There’s an almost sour or wood-like flavor and experience that curls around the sides of the tongue, then buries itself deeply into the center of the underside of the tongue. Another distinctive flavor, one that reminds me of a wet leather belt, also works its way into the tongue to add to the gentle complexity. It finishes sweet and almost candy-like, very much like caramel, but with a nuttiness that persists with a hint of alcohol for a half a minute after swallowing. It’s a very soft beer, and completely non-offensive. I was expecting something a little harsher from the name. In fact, this could have been labeled as a brown ale and I might have believed it.

Pours a deep caramel amber with an off-white head. Nose is caramel, toffee, smoke, peat, and a bit of earth and big hops. Flavor follows with bits of smoke, caramel, and peaty earth. Not really my favorite, but a unique take on the style.

2012 Bottle:   Burnt brown sugar in color, super dark caramel, moderate frothy off-white head, spotty lacing.   Slightly vinous nose, some dark pitted fruit, but seems very prunish.   Heavy prunish notes on the tongue, slight dark pitted fruit like vinegar, sweet yet a little tart and sour.   Old bottle, or is that the way that this is?   Otherwise bready, but not too malty or heavy.   Body and mouthfeel are moderate.   Finishes with with a fruit cake like sourness, some dark pitted fruit and whole wheat breadiness.   Overall the prune aspect dominates.   Tiz okay, but doesn’t have a lot of depth.   I would sum it up as a lightly sour Prune like beer.   Thanks for the bottle Bill!

Pours amber with no head. Aroma of caramel. Taste follows, caramel and booze. Not bad. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

A: Poured a deep copperish color with good carbonation, nice dirty white cap, lacing S: A light funkiness, grains, dark fruits, faded hops and dark fruits T: Faded hops, some grains, caramel and dark fruits with a copper like taste to it. Just off and not so pleasant M: Medium bodied, overcarbonated, off putting copper like mouthfeel with faded hops, some obnoxious bittering on the end, dry O: Not so good, move on

Bomber 2012 version. Pours deep dark brown with a small head that disappeared quickly. Nose is a bit astringent, with hints of fruitiness. Taste has a hint of cherries, some cocoa, very pungent, some wine notes. Smooth and slick mouthfeel. Unique and delicious.