Reunion - A Beer For Hope 2007

From a 22 oz. bomber with no freshness date, a blurb about the worthy cause on the back of bottle, sampled at cellar temperature in a dimpled mug. Poured a dark reddish hued brown with a large foamy, rocky, off-white/pale tan head, decent retention, minimal amount of laced sticking. Aromas of toasted nuts and coffee mixed with caramel, a light herbal pine with citrus in the background, earthy, and a subtle fruitiness. Good, even carbonation and a crisp, dry, velvety smooth medium-light bodied mouthfeel. Tastes of nutty coffee malt bitterness, an earthy bite, a light fruitiness, the herbal pine again with a citrus hoppiness, grain and chocolate emerges towards the end, and a dry, nutty, grainy, fruity finish with the alcohol finally emerging in the aftertaste and providing a late warmth. Not great, but not bad, a slightly unique brown ale taste, enjoyable drinkability, but not something I could spend an entire night with.

Bomber. Poured a medium iced tea brown with a creamy cap of beige head and nice lacing. Aroma picked up soapy and nutty notes with dry chocolate. Flavor had a dusty cocoa base with sharper coffee-influenced bitterness and some herbal alcohol bite at the finish. Decent feel on the palate, but a bit too sharp at the finish. Brown sugar and cocoa on the finish. Decent one.

This brown ale pours a deep reddish brown color from a 22oz bottle. Large sized, beige colored rocky foamy head. Aroma is malty, roasty, nutty, earthy and sweet. A full bodied brown ale. Malts are caramel, nutty and sweet. Very intense malt flavors. Hops are earthy and floral. There are some citrusy hops at the finish. Big beer, lots of flavors going on here; big sweet malts, tons of hops, nuttiness and some spiciness. Interesting beer. Definitely an imperial brown ale. Touch of alcohol at the finish. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean, crisp and dry. Aftertaste is bitter.

(Bottle) Organic beer blind tasting at Brouwers’s in Seattle, March 3, 2007. Tan foamy head with a deep ruby body. Molasses, vanilla and iodine. Flavour of brown sugar, coffee and salted corn chips. Below average.

This has a very handsome pour, a deep brown body with ruby highlights, a tall rocky tan head, great lacing. The aroma is toasted malts, a touch of barley, rootbeer, and bitter nuts. The flavor is much the same, although a touch of sour milk and alcohol come in at the finish. Warming and drinkable. I’m happy that my purchase includes a contribution to the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research, but I doubt that I’ll buy any more of this.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=3984>Sam’s Wine & Spirits, Downers Grove, IL<font size=-1>

22 ounce bomber sampled courtesy of DYCSoccer17. Dull orange brown. Voluminous head, no doubt egged on by a surfeit of carbonation. Aroma is buttery, nutty and evocative of root beer and anise. Funky, somewhat rancid buttery tone to the flavor. Burningly carbonated initial sip, saltiness and lots of buttery toffee to finish it off.

22 ounce bomber purchased at BevMo in Stockton, CA 1 week ago. Aroma has a ton of anise in it with some light, sweet notes as well. I also get some sasparilla as well. Strange aroma, which is mildly reminiscent of Sam Adam’s Colonial "Root Beer". THis is not a good thing. Moderately hazy dark amber/light mahogany body present, with a huge, overly carbonated yellowish head. Damn, the flavor and mouthfeel of this is so overcarbonated to the point where it is difficult to taste the beer. More licorice to start, which becomes very burnt--in a burnt popcorn kind of way. Lightly sweet chocolate flavors come in at the end with lots of lingering bitterness. This is very flawed and not very good at all. If they’re trying to raise money for cancer, they should at least make a half-way decent beer that is drinkable and that people will buy over and over again.

A very nice beer, in taste and in purpose. Has a nice pour, dark brown with a thin lacey head. Aroma is sweet. Mouthfeel is crisp with little to no aftertaste. Flavor is strong and has a great palate.