Iron Hill Old Ale

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

Serve in English pint, Snifter

2005. Slightly hazy, deep orange/amber body. Thin, light beige head, moderate retention. Thin lacing. Aroma is of fruit galore! Caramel malt is plentiful as well. So vibrant and lively. Malt and oaky notes in a happy marriage. Some toasted grains are noted. A slight cereal graininess is pleasing. Flavor is massive fruit again, fun and so focused. Super tasty. Peaches appear first and foremost, then tangerine and apricot, some dates too. Though sweet, even for the style, an excellent sense of balance is here. Finishes semi-sweet and somewhat balanced. Mouthfeel is full bodied and creamy. Very good.

Bottle... Murky, caramel-colored ale with a small, creamy, white head. The aroma is of caramel, toffee, red apple and pear. Big, bold, crystal/caramel malt backbone balanced by earthy, minerally hops. Full-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel and tingly carbonation. Very Scotch Ale-like to me. State Fair-caramel apple finish. boboski, boboski, he’s our man, if he can’t do it, no one can!

Courtesy boboski. 2005. Poured a slightly cloudy reddish-brown with a thin white head. Caramel and dark pit fruit notes are up front with a good malt presence. Slight alcohol aroma. Smooth moderately sweet caramel taste, with a mild spice component and a mild sour finish. Sweeter than I expected, but never. Very drinakble.

Courtesy boboski. Pours a glowing dark red, with a very thin, brilliant white head. Big, fruity caramel smells dominate the aromas. Almost like candy. Cherry and sweet fruits come to mind. The taste is sweet as well, a lot of caramel, low carbonation, but very full flavored. Pretty smooth finish, a touch bitter, but mostly sweet. Quite tasty. Really good old ale, that doesnt taste too old.

2002 bottle courtesy of Hopdog. Pours copper with a nice tan head. Smells of spices, roses, caramel, toffee, some tea, and dough. Tastes of spices, pepper, sugary and sweet malt. Mouthfeel is velvety with a syrup/sugar/semi-bitter finish.

2004 Holiday vintage bottle shared by MIBRomeo on 12/16/06: Pours a hazy mahogany with a nicely-lacing tan head. Aroma of sweet, slightly oxidized caramel malt with some toasty notes. Body starts sweet and caramely malty with some mild complexity. A pretty decent old ale.

25 oz bottle, 2005 vintage, from Phoenixville location. Pours a slightly hazy chestnut brown colored body under a foamy beige one finger sized head. Generous carbonation retains head for the duration. Aroma is malt dominated with just the slightest hint of sherry like oxidation. A hint of alcohol, lots of toffee and caramel, and ripe dark fruit. Flavor is an all out malt bomb, but not as much depth or complexity as I was hoping for. Heavy caramel malt without much sweetness thankfully, finishing with that light oxidation note. Some light alcohol and tobacco flavors throughout. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with a slight chewiness, and a little stickiness on the finish. Moderate slightly fizzy carbonation doesn’t really add or detract. This was decent, but not among the best I’ve had. A commendable effort.

Sampled at Argo0’s tasting. 2004 vintage. Dark amber with an off-white head. Brown sugar, light smoke and apple in the aroma. Flavor of toffee, dark caramel, brown sugar, light earthy grassy hops and a hint of pear. Full, round and creamy body with lively, fine-beaded carbonation. Good stuff.