2.7 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 10/20
UPDATED: SEP 14, 2008 Name: Blue Ridge Hempen Ale
Date: 05/17/1997
Source: Brewfest, Richmond VA
Appearance: dark amber, thin head,
Aroma: toasted malt with floral hop aroma,
Flavor: malt flavor with a definate earthy hemp touch that substitutes for bitterness
Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.7/5.0
Score: *4
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The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.
2.3 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 9/20
Respectable enough brew, but with very little of the hemp seed character.
3.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
This was an interesting beer. A novelty, really. Very, very good, but not great. No, it doesn’t taste like pot. Try one if you can find it. Good luck.
3.1 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
Bargain bin at my distributer for $0.79 for a 12 oz bottle. I dont really know what hemp seeds are supposed to taste like but if they did substitue all the hops for hemp bitterness and flavor it kinda tastes just like a regular ale. This is not to say it is bad however, I actually enjoyed it. Deep amber color with a pretty good head. Some spice in the aroma, which is otherwise dominated by malt as is the flavor profile. You can clearly tell they used lots of crystal and caramel malts as well as a hint of chocolate. Just a brief hint of those cascades in the aroma as it warms. Different in its approach, yet very middle of the road as far as overall taste and uniqueness.
3.5 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Dark Brown Color, Medium Head. Roasted Malts, lightly hopped. Full complex taste ’Brown Ale with a twist ’brewed with the seeds of the hemp plant added. Did not notice any ’mellow herbal flavor’. Finish is clean, aftertaste is slightly bitter; malt sweetness shines through in the aftertaste. 2nd tasting much better than initial tasting
2.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
Notes on a ticket stub from The Other Ones 1998- Golden brown, fluffy head. Caramel and chocolate malts on the nose. Creamy mouth-feel with notable hints of nuts upfront. Finish’s with malty/hoppy blast
3.6 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottle, cellared 4 years. Like most of the aged beers I've been enjoying, this one opened with a dark, syrupy smell. Pours a very dark brown body, with a few tiny particles of stirred up sediment, under a thin, clingy head. Nice molasses malt flavor with a café note. I could catch the herbal spiciness of the hemp more than I could any hoppiness, possibly because of its age. There's also a nice alcohol warmth that slowly insinuates itself.
I notice the link for Frederick Brewing is no longer active. Anyone know if they're still in business? Oh, and here's a <a href="https://www.jatox.com/abstracts/1999/oc to a research article that suggests drinking this won't fail you on a drug test.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
UPDATED: MAR 28, 2003 What an interesting beer. I can't quite put my finger on what the hemp seeds add to it, but this is a nice sweetish brown ale. The aroma and flavor were chock full of chocolate, caramel, and coconut (yes, coconut) notes. Perhaps the hempseed oil is similar in character to coconut oil?? That combination led to a general impression of german chocolate cake - sounds strange for a beer but rather enjoyable. Sweet without cloying. Nice brown color and lacing. I also should add that this beer does not contain any part of the hemp plant except the seed. There should be no expectation of special herbal qualities because it contains no herb other than hops.
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