Hook and Ladder Backdraft Brown Ale

pours deep brown with ruby highlights and a medium off-white head that quickly dissipates. More of a session beer than anything. Muddy flavours that are not a bad combo but just kinda miss the mark.

THOUGHTS: Nothing special. Run of the mill beer. Average or just below average brown ale. Made me unsure whether or not I’d want to try other Hook and Ladder beers. Lots of flavors, but they don’t seem to blend well. A cherry cola flavor and aroma comes out when it is quite warm. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a clear, dark brown with red highlights and an average-sized, off-white head that mostly diminished. The aroma was moderate roasted, burnt, nutty, molasses and caramel malts; very light hops if at all and slight cherry cola when warm. The initial flavor was light to moderately sweet, moderately acidic and lightly bitter; while the finish was moderately sweet, moderate to heavily bitter, and sour with an average to short finish. There was molasses, cherry cola, some metallic bitter roasted malt, and just a touch of bitter, sour, stale coffee. The light to medium body was like watered down syrup with very fizzy carbonation and a light astringent then metallic finish.

Pours a deep brown with a mid-sized off white head. Flavor is earthy with a back of the tongue dryness at the finish. Malt character is prominent and a bit sweet. Milk chocolate comes to mind but in a subtle delivery. Nice session brew and more flavorful than many other browns.

12 oz. Garnet-mahogany and clear with a small but lasting head. Earthy brown sugar and spicy grain aroma. Flavor is cola, earthy molasses and grain, coffee, and some slight tart apple and cherry. Light-medium body is too fizzy with carbonation, and slightly dry.

12 ounce bottle- poured out a translucent brown like a cola. The level of carbonation was also cola-like. Aroma was roasted hops with dry cherries or fruit. Taste was suprisingly sweet, but hard to identify. Not bad.