Olivers 3 Lions Ale

A hazy red beer with a lazing off-white head. The aroma is sweet with light notes of berries and diacethyl. The flavor is of diacethyl and fruit, combined with a light note of citrus, and with a dry bitter toffee end. Served too cold - is that to hide the diacethyl?

Lightly hazed dark copper body with tan head. Aroma is moderately sweet, caramel, light spice. Taste is medium sweet, caramel, earthy, some anise, light cherry. Light-medium body with light stickiness.

Nitro... Mostly clear, deep amber ale with a, mid-sized, creamy, eggshell head. Malty, vineous aroma and flavor. A bit sweet and alcoholic. Toffee, vino sherry and a hint of butterscotch. Decently bittered, but the nitro eliminates much of the character of both the nose and taste. Medium to full-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel and light carbonation. Finishes a little sweet.

On tap at the brewpub on 9/9/09: Pours a transparent dark amber mahogany with a thin, spotty-lacing off-white head. Aroma of sweet toasty dark caramel malts with some nutty character. Starts with some dark malty sweetness and some caramel toffee and light fruity tartness before a drier bittersweet finish. A decent brown ale.

Draught @ The Wharf Rat in Baltimore Brown amber, light head and lacing. Nose of caramel, nice and rich, some hops. It has that vegetal garbagey smell though. The flavor is a little sweet; fruity raisin

Cask at Max’s. Dark mahogany. Ruby around the edges. Slightly foamy tan head. Nose is nutty, flowery, light caramel and toasty malts. Taste is floral hops, burnt nuts, toasted malts, and caramel. Body is creamy and smooth but light. Finishes with sweet malts, lightly burnt caramel, flowery hops and some nuttiness.

Sample at the brewpub. Pours a murky dark amber-brown color with a thin and compact off-white head that burns away steadily. Stringy lacing on the glass. Sweet caramel malt in the nose along with a bit of citrus fruit. Medium, smooth body with flavors of malt, toffee and mild hops plus some roasty notes. The finish is soft and malty with a sweet aftertaste. Above average overall.

Candied, dark malty, acidic, moderately sweet. Finishes bitter and slightly salty. Some woodiness, some soapiness. Slightly chalky finish, which is bitter, but still acidic. Aroma was faint. Good but a bit off balance somehow. Dull chocolate in the finish.