Iron Hill Old Ale

Brewed by Iron Hill Newark
Style: Old Ale
Newark, Delaware USA

Serve in English pint, Snifter

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2002 750mL. Light copper-apricot shade with a serious cloudiness, quickly losing its small white head. Fruity example and lightly tart, hinting at vinegar and I can’t say I dislike that part, it suggests gently of apricots, tomatoes and just juicy fruits, but is accompanied by sulphuric matchstick evasions. In mouth, it surprises with a richness I had not suspected, old-ale like indeed with sweet and correct aged maple flavours, lightly floral, honeyed nectar, all soft and straightforward. I kinda liked the taste, but it didn’t have much mouthfeel to go along with toward the further step. Medium bodied tired juiciness. Little flavour carrying there, dulled out carbonation. Why age it at all?

UPDATED: APR 20, 2008 Any first impressions?
-A ring of head sticks to the blood orange dress.
-Creamy yeastiness and sweet fruity esters rise calmly.
-Fruity caramel and meek roastiness dominate the yeastiness.
-The creamy body offers a pleasant malt complexity.
-This is definitely on the malty side of things.
What if you dig deeper?
-In the 2002, dryness appeared in the back, as is a void, probably due to its old age. The 2004 showcased an earthy, leafy hop bitterness which was quite pleasant.
-Toffee character is nicely fitting with the earthiness.
-The 2002’s flavors seemed to be disorganizing with time; it must have been more cohesive earlier on. The 4-year-old 2004 was in fine form though.
-I didn’t see any reason to age this 2002 as long as it had been aged; yet another strike for vintage beers in my book. On the other hand, the 4-year-old 2004 had aged very nicely, even though I would have loved to try it earlier on.

Bottles from the 2002 (3.3/5) and 2004 (3.7/5) vintages.

Sitting here waiting on Santa Claus and this beer fits the bill. Courtsey of hopdog, the 2004 bottled version pours caramel brown with a small white head. Man is this a good beer. Aroma is pure caramel. Flavor is malty sweetness balanced by mild hop flavor with light alcohol notes. Reminds me of Fish Tail Old Woody.

Cloudy dark orange amber with off-white tan bubbly head. Vinuous, earthy, caramel aroma. Flavor is sweet, earthy, roasted caramel, hop. Smooth, soft palate.

750ml bottle shared courtesy of egajdzis (thanks!). 2002 vintage. Poured a dark and cloudy amber color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of caramel, light smoke, cherries, lightly vinous, and dark fruits (reminded of a barley wine). Tastes of dark fruits, nuts, caramel, and light smoke. Enjoyable.

Thanks to egajdzis for this rare vintage treat (2002). Pours a cloudy reddish orange with barely any head. Aroma of vanilla, dark fruits, caramel and some roastiness. Flavor is a bit roasty and then some of the same vanilla, dark fruits and maybe some nuts that I picked up in the aroma.

Aroma: Grassy, hoppy aroma present, although it was very fleeting and not real profound. Some caramelly malt in the nose also. Appearance: Murky light brown, with head that didn't stay. Some lacing stayed on the sides of the glass and top of the beer while cold/cool, then as it warmed it subsided. This wasn't the most attractive beer. Flavor: Flavor is carbon copy of the aroma, some grass, some caramel, some oxidation. Crystal malts are prevalent. Mouthfeel: Creamy, silky, syrupy mouthfeel with enough bitterness to balance. I really did like the mouthfeel of this beer. Alcohol not noticeable. Overall: Non-offensive, however its nothing great. Iron Hill does an excellent job, and this is a drinkable beer, but not one of their best. Very one dimensional. Try the Porter, its to die for.

Cask at the Grey Lodge in Philly. Malt and actually wood is the flavor I got from this one. Different. Good beer.

UPDATED: OCT 15, 2006 Cask 2/13/04... Poured a hazy mahogany color with no head or lace. Mild fruity malt aroma, caramel sweet malty taste. Nothing very special. 6 3 4 3 12 (2.8)
2002 Vintage 11/22/05... Poured a hazy amber red color with a small white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of dried fruits, nuts, caramel malts, and light oxidation. Taste of more dried fruits, vinous, sweet malts, tart fruits, light alcohol as well. 8 4 8 4 17 (4.1)