Reunion - A Beer For Hope 2011 (Shmaltz Brewing)

Shmaltz Brewing Company
Brewed at Olde Saratoga Brewing (Mendocino Brewing Co.)
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Brooklyn, New York USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tumbler

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Pours a very dark brown with red highlights in the sun. A foamy, taupe colored head forms quickly and stubbornly lingers. Aromas of toffee, white chocolate, sorghum, and wood. The mouthfeel is viscous and smooth. Sweet flavors of chocolate and sorghum occur first. The bitterness of fresh chili pepper and coffee acidity compliment the hop finish. it’s ok. Not super. I was excited to try it, so I was a little let down.

This was nice. I don’t like many beers with chili peppers but the balance with the cocoa nibs works. A nice finish, a good beer.

650mL to flute Cocoa, vanilla, nutmeg, and blackstrap molasses. Deep brown in appearance with a thin creamy off white head. Taste is chocolatey, with late vanilla and chilies. Mouthfeel is creamy with a warm finish.

Dark brown body, light brown head. Arom ahas sweet vainilla, raisins, alcohol, vegetables, chili, milk chocolate. Surprisingly thin, chocolate vainilla soda with alcohol. Bit like cola with ice cream and chilli burn at the end.

355 ml bottle. (State Line Liquors) Elkton, MD.
Dark brown almost black colour with small tan head. Aroma is sweetish malt, chili as a vegetable, milk chocolate, mild vanilla and some chili burning in aroma. Flavour is milk chocolate, milk, vanilla sweetness, some hops and sweetish malt. Flavour is not very good. Chili is only somewhere in the background as a warming effect. I’m slightly disappointed.

Bottled. Poured coffee colored, compact head that stayed around. Some lacing from the thin head. Aroma was chocolate and coffee, roasted malt. Maybe some vague vanilla. Not strong. Flavor was sweet coffee leaning to mocha, toasty and smoke, a little cinnamon and nice hit of chili pepper at the end that lingers and brings a sweetness out. Body was medium, thought the carbonation was OK. Overall liked the taste and it was enjoyable enough. The pepper tingle is pretty long lasting and I like that.

12oz bottle, served at around 55F.

Pours clear dark brown to black with red highlights and a one finger light tan head that leaves some sheets of lacing and recedes to a light wispy cap.

Aroma is chocolate/cocoa, roasted malts, grain, hint of vanilla and chillies, some mild oxidation. Good strength.

Flavor starts with nice chocolate, cocoa powder, roasted malts, and coffee, the chilies move in with a touch of heat, some vanilla, moderate sweetness, mild bitterness, chilies come back on the finish with some warmth and spice, but not overly hot. As the beer warms the chili finish diminishes and is replaced by more chocolate instead. Flavor is much more robust than the aroma.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, somewhat creamy and sticky, light to moderate carbonation.

Took me longer than I anticipated to try this...had it stuck away in the cellar and forgot about it. Pretty good. Never tried the Terrapin version, but I heard this one was better anyway. The chocolate is the star here, with the chilies and vanilla playing just minor supporting roles.

Bottle. Pours the color of medium coffee. Aroma of coffee, caramel, toffee and maple syrup. Taste of sweet toffee and biscuit. Nice but needs a bit more hop bitterness.  

17NO12. Bomber from Finger Lakes Beverage Centre, shared with Billy, cold, tulip. Deep brown-black with a so-so tan head. Nice dark chocolate with green hop notes, some vanilla, big chocolate and coffee, a bit fruity, molasses, nice stuff. Huge chocolate and molasses, pleasant vanilla, really rich and lovely; dry? With fair bitterness and a huge chocolate and vanilla finish. Dang. Beautiful.

Bottle. Deep black color. Vanilla, cocoa and malty flavor. Ver flavorful with rich honey characteristics. Better then the terrapin version IMO ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone