 CharlesDarwin (1412), State College, Pennsylvania, USA
Feb 23, 2006 Updated: Mar 10, 2006
Pours a clear ruby sienna with a nice even head of super creamy ivory tan. Pungent sticky aroma of what seem to be strong Cascade and Centennial hops, including a backing of strawberry candy, fresh orange juice, pine, more citrus and all the inclusive flavors of a severly hopped up beer, excluding any grassy harshness. A wicked sweet caramel and brown sugar glow from the background, drifting down from the hop mountain. Flavor is a saccharin hop candy, like freshly boiled pine tea and squeezed droplets of grapefruit juice rolled into melted sugars. Hoppy, but in my opinion not destructively so. There are some almost gentle floral and citrus movements, melding with the current of malt. Honey-sweetened blood oranges with glowing resins. A little flat from the ride. The alcohol glows in the nose, bringing with it the aromatics of the hop cones, as it should. The sweet candy characterisitcs and gentle alcohols are good vessels from the hop abuse; almost a sweet salve. Yet, it bites in the end. The smack is a strong kick in the ass, almost spicy awakening as it leaves. Again, forgetting the parching grassiness. A deft use of hops, in reality. If this beer didn’t get total raves from me, it’s because it didn’t seem entirely balanced, the malt was overpowered, and the alcohol at tinge hot at times. Also, I’m not an avid fan of double reds.
Styles (1653), Taylor, Michigan, USA
May 23, 2008 Bottle shared by footbalm, May ’06. Thanks brotha. Dark mahogany, nice head, great for a handbottle. Aroma has a nice balance of sweet tropical fruit and bitter citrus zest. Not much malt showing. Flavor is sort of the opposite, huge malt character, caramel syrup and toffee, hops rather subdued/mellow. Resinous mouthfeel. Nice brew overall.
spector (906), Lancaster, Ohio, USA
Dec 6, 2006 Shared by OhioDad at CTV3.Aroma is of citrus hops.Pours copper with a white head.The hops are well balanced with the malts in the flavor.Full bodied with a gnice hop finish.
moejuck (1111), Ohio, USA
Nov 24, 2006 Big thanks to OhioDad for sharing this at the last Columbus tasting. Great hop and malt aroma with some spiciness present. Murky brown color. Very full palate. Tons of citrusy hops and caramel malt are evenly split up in the flavor. The finish carries a nice bit of floral and spicey hops. Very good beer.
nolankowal (827), Dublin, Ohio, USA
Nov 2, 2006 Hand bottle CTV3, shared by Ohiodad, thanks! Once again Scott knocks another one off the ol’ want list. Pours an orange-brown with a yellowed off white head. Citrus hops, caramel malt and some spice fill the aroma. While the flavor held a good bit of caramel malt with a pine/citrus bite torwards the back. Smooth and malty with a nice bitterness with a nice warming finish. Held up pretty well in the hand bottling and I’m glad I got to give this one a spin.
sliffy (1951), Columbus, Ohio, USA
Oct 30, 2006 Hand bottle shared by OhioDad: Copper color with a white head. Aroma, caramel, earthy, citrus, and piney hops. Flavor, caramel, piny hops, a very nice malt backbone, and some citrus in there as well. Great bitter kick to it. Just a great beer, very happy that this bottle held up as well as it did.
|
