Magnolia Out With the Old Ale

Brewed by Magnolia Pub and Brewery
Style: Old Ale
San Francisco, California USA

Serve in English pint, Snifter

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Though I wasn’t aware of it at the time, this is my 2000th rating. I had big plans for this rating and was turning over what I’d do for it in my mind for months. Just as in life, w/ craft beer sometimes the big moments come about unexpectedly and you just gotta roll w/ it.

I had this on draft at the brewpub. It pours nearly black w/ a big creamy white head of mostly fine bubbles, which is rather long lasting. This one reminds me quite a lot of port wine and w/ a boozy, well-aged sort of character. Subtle earthy hopping and a rich, toasty grain character round things out. This is a pretty nice example of an old ale from a brewery that seems to make some really nice English-style brews in general.

on tap @GABF-pours dark copper with a tan head. Aroma is soft medium malt. Taste is sweet medium malt-toffee, some earthy/spice hops. Slight sour. (Told that its showing its age a bit)

On tap at Magnolia. Light brown almost no head but what there is, is light tan. Booze, plum, prune, little sour but also slightly sweet. Over carbonated, taste is actually combination of sweet, slightly bitter and a bit of tang and unfortunately not well balanced. Dry and and slightly sour on the finish. Interesting beer, might have enjoyed more if it hand’t been at 10am with brunch but still seemed like it needed a bit of work.

On tap at Magnolia. Where to begin with this one? Pours a dark dark amber with a thick off-white head. Complex aromas of roasted malt, hops, butterscotch and caramel. More bitter than I expected, although the sweet tastes of caramel and chocolate still linger. The menu indicates this guy is around 9 percent, and I believe it. Heavy as hell... took me a good hour to polish this off (although I had just finished their Pub Burger, so don’t fault me there). Reminds me of a cross between an Arrogant Bastard and Porter... very interesting.

Sample at the brewpub on 8/4/10. Pretty sure this isn’t the bourbon barrel version, so I entered as a new entry. Clear copper pour with a medium beige head. Fruity aroma with dank malt and a bit of hop. Caramel malt flavor with some fruity character and a thick sweet finish.