 GAManiac (290), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
May 25, 2008
Pours a deep amber with a dense one-finger off-white head that dissipated fairly quickly leaving a slight swirl of foam on the top and minimal lacing. Smell is a balance sweet caramel malts and raisins along with a strong citrus hop smell featuring grapefruits. There is a faint oak smell but certainly nothing overpowering. Taste is a balance between the citrus hops and caramel malts. There is plenty of vanilla sweetness but the taste is much more hoppy than the smell and the finish is slightly bitter and crisp. Mouthfeel is light to medium for the style with moderate carbonation. This is a very good beer and I get the subtle differences between the original, but it’s not my favorite representation of the style.
CaptBier (252), Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Sep 3, 2008 ttled. A dark amber beer with a dark orange head. The aroma is extremely hoppy which gives it strong notes of grapefruit, but it also has strong notes of alcohol. The flavor is sweet malty with strong notes of caramel and grapefruit, and only hints of vanilla, leading to a dry bitter end. The oak can be a tad astringent, but it also adds a nice softness to it.
TOSG55 (32), Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Sep 3, 2008 Bottle. Pours a deep reddish brown with a medium head. Pleasant aroma of floral hops. The flavor is complex, with malty sweetness nicely balanced by hops - it has a bit of a barley wine characteristic to it. Caramel, toffee, and dark fruits are discernible. The oak isn’t heavy in the flavor, but the beer is noticeably more mellow and well-balanced than its non-oaked counterpart. Very nice beer.
branspra (12), Arlington, Virginia, USA
Sep 2, 2008 Bottle. Very good beer with a frothy head and cask aroma. Long flavor with a moderate bitter flavor. Very good beer with BBQ and other spicy foods.
aleyin (11), Murrieta, California, USA
Aug 31, 2008 sample at Stone Brewery. Reddish brown with tan head. Good balance of hops/ malt/oak. My favorite of a great brewery. Some fruity,floral. Very satisfying
MartiniFiend (93), Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, USA
Aug 30, 2008 Bottle. Dark brown color and no head. Hop aroma with only a hint of wood. Medium bodied. Flavor is a hop start with a malty middle and a bitter finish with just a hint of alcohol. This is the first oaked beer that I’ve had that didn’t go overboard with the oak.
|
