Pike Tandem Double Ale

Brewed by Pike Pub & Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
Seattle, Washington USA

(Bottle) Pours an amber-brown body with a small beige head. Aroma of rich dark fruit and breadiness. Flavor of cola, malt, hops, and chocolate.

Sampled at Woodshop Tasting. Poured a hazed dark orange color with small head. Aroma was caramel malt and some mild citrus hops. Flavor was mildly bitter with a rosted malt taste and somewhat sweet finish.

Deep mahogany with a thick tan cap that clings to the glass nicely. Very chocolatey aroma with some earthy woodiness that hints at the hops lying in wait. Sweet and rich with chocolate and caramel malts, a little buttery and nutty (macadamia?). Surprising hop character brings a resinous bitterness to the finish that os very enjoyable. The more you spend time with this, the more you discover-- there is a faint espresso quality to be found in here too. Big and beguiling, this could be considered the love-child of a porter, a barley wine, and a brown ale. Fantastic!

Sweet round and malty aroma is complemented by citrusy and spicy hops. Clear deep ruby brown coloured body topped by a generous and lasting foam of creamy tan head. Very sweet up front with lots of caramel joined by some darker malts and hints of alcohol. Hops are notable more in the aftertaste as floral undertones and bitterness is surprisingly not all that pronounced. Sweetness flirts with becoming cloying and occasionally crosses that line. Medium full body with moderate carbonation. Almost seems like an imperial brown ale but not quite strong enough to be a barley wine. Tulip glass. Cellar temperature. Bottle (Brewery Creek, Apr-07).

Bottle thanks to bu11zeye: Pours a transparent deep copper ruby with a thin ring of dark tan head. Aroma has a touch of mild citrusy hops and some toasty pale malty notes. Body starts fairly full and sweet with some earthy caramel malty flavor and bittersweetness with some lingering English piny hops and grain. An interesting and fairly well-balanced beer.

Poured a clear deep ruby color with a brown tint and thinoff-white head. The aroma is sweet and fruity with notes of apples and raisins. the flavor is semi-sweet with fruity notes. The finish is dry and bitter with some warmth. Medium bodied.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 1   Light Brown(1)->Dark(5) : 3   Ruby : 1   Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 3
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 2   White(1)->Tan(5) : 3   Lasting: XX   Lacing : XX
Aroma:
Intensity : 4  
Yeast : XX   Bread : XX   Apple : XX   Esters : XX   Banana : XX   Phenols : XX   Leather : XX   Perfume : XX   DMS : XX   Diacetyl : XX
Malt : 4   Biscuity : XX   Toast : 2   Caramel : 3   Toffee : XX   Maple : XX   Molasses : XX   Nuts : 3   Candy : XX   Pumpernickel : XX   Cereals : XX   Fruits : 3   Chocolate : 2   Coffee : XX   Vanilla : XX   Grapes : XX   Blackberries : 2   Dates : XX   Cherries : 1   Plums : XX   Figs : XX
Hops : 3   Noble(1)->American(5) : 4   Leafy : XX   Floral : 3   Orange : XX   Herbal : XX   Spicy : XX   Pine/Spruce/Resin : 2
Notes :   Earth : 4   Wood : XX   Cloves : XX   Smoke : XX   Pepper : XX   Ginger : XX   Peach/Pear/Apricot : XX   Candi Sugar : XX   Anise : XX   Vinous : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 3   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 2   Sourness : XX   Bitterness : 3   Complex : 3   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 2   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 3   Clean : 3   Sharp : 2   Watery : XX   Oily : XX   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : XX   Mineral : XX   Oxidation : XX   Metallic : XX

Comments: A surprisingly drinkable offering for its gravity.

This poured from a 22 oz bottle a very rich red. The head was moderate in size and attractive, and left good lacing rings as it slowly settled. A first sniff provided a mild nose of malts and mild hops. Å swish of the glass released some citrus, spices, and this time some roasted malts. Body is rich and a bit oily, and feels good in the mouth. Flavor was malts, citrus hops, and a hint of coffee. Finish is good, and has just a touch of bitterness. While on the mild side for a strong ale, it is smooth drinking, and quite enjoyable.