Nodding Head Grog

Date: 07/26/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

clear dark brown, wispy white head, rich dry chocolate aroma with light earthyness, rich dark chocolate flavor, touch of sweetness brings out the chocolate, well balance by light earthy hops,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4

Tap @ Nodding Head. Poured a clear very dark brown color with an off-white head. The aroma was roasty with coffee notes mixed in. The flavor matched the aroma with the but this time the coffee showed dominant . The flavor was sweeter than the aroma. The finish was light and semi-dry. The roast stays throughout the finish.

On tap @ brewery. Gorgeous deep ruby/brown pour. Mild aroma of Fuggles or goldings in the nose, along with roasted grain and caramel. Mild coffee/chocolate flavors on the palate, very complex roasted character. A tremendous beer.

Pours a deep brown with amber highlights and a smooth creamy medium size tan lacing head. Aroma of nuts/toasty/roasty malts, hints of coffee and dark chocolate. Flavors of the same...very smooth mouthfeel. Well done brew.

Tap at Nodding Head. Deep brown with medium head. Spare lacing. Sweet dark malts, chocolate and caramel. Fairly hoppy (English-style hops). Tastes moderately sweet and lightly bitter.

Enjoyed a pint of this one on draught at the brewery in Philadelphia, PA. Pours to a beautiful, deep, deep brown color, with a thick, creamy, tan head, and a moderate carbonation. The nose on this beer is very inviting, with lots of good nutty, sweet malty, and chocolate aroma. The palate is soft and fat on the tongue, with lots of good nutty, toasty, and chocolate flavors. This beer finishes with delicious sweet malty and nutty flavors that linger. Hops are present, but just enough so this beer is not too cloying. Wow. Really a delicious beer, just packed with lots of good malt aromas and flavors, yet remains very drinkable. This beer is a great session beer, and would be a great beer to match with pub grub. Very fresh, and flavorful, an impressive pint of beer.

Draft at brewpub. pours deep brown with a thin off white head. Faint, sweet malt aroma. Flavor is primarily sweet malt, with a bit of chocolate in towards the finish. medium to full bodied.

Draught pint at Nodding Head on 1/19/07
Small mocha colored head tops a mostly clear, maroon-chestnut body with dark auburn tints on the edges. Head recedes slowly to partial cover, providing little/no lacing.
Very dry nose suggests light brown sugar, cola and toasted malts. A bit of phenolic activity on the finish is noted, providing light notes of anise. A dull, almost pretzel or soda bread-like note overlays the aroma, while heavy wateriness, it seems, cuts things short on the finish. Bare specks of chocolate and cinnamon, with more brown bread dough are about the extent of what’s going on here. Medium aroma strength, lots of carbonic/seltzer like dryness and cola notes. No alcohol noted.
Either Nodding Head is greatly skimping on malt or they are mashing at much too low temperatures because their beers have little malt presence, certainly little/no body and seem extremely dry and washed out. This one tastes of barren toasted malts that prove nearly astringent as the glass empties. Cola and very light chocolate notes add some flavor, but there’s just an awful grainy/dry/very hard breadiness that sits on the end. Very little body, no softness to the beer whatsoever. Acidity builds up to some extent as well. Moderate carbonation, light/watery texture.