Theakston Old Peculier (Bottle)

Brewed by Theakston
Style: Old Ale
Masham, England

12/16/06: Bottle.
Brown body with a malty, caramel aroma. Flavor is nutty with caramel, toasted vanilla and alcohol. Finish has a touch of bitter coffee. I have not had this one in awhile – it seems like it used to be a bit better.

Bottle Very carbonated looking dark pour, big head with huge bubbles. Mild nose, malty and a bit of nut or toffee. Nice rich flavor, roast and some toffee. Smooth but very carbonated. Good session.

Ahhhhh....to drink this on tap in Masham is magic. Toffeeish nut mystery with just a touch of the hop. A nice malty smooth pint with an even slow laceing that lowers the heartbeat by merely looking at it. Flat and calm after the head fades. Please theakston...keep it coming.

Malty nose with just a hint of esters and alcohol spiciness. Dark coppery color with some head retention. Rich and smooth flavor, nicely balanced, mild roast coffee aftertaste. Good session beer, very drinkable, but not as ’peculiar’ as I had hoped.

Tasted 21/11/2006. 500ml bottle from Rumble’s, Wellington. Dark chestnut with garnet highlights. Light tan head disappates and laces lightly. Mild nose, which surprises me a little, shows off fruitcake at first and then toffee and some warm alcohol notes. Toffee and liquorice noted in the mouth, some more fruitcake, with a dry toasty middle and spicy alcohol notes in the end. Medium weight, light medium carbonation, spices linger on the palate. More subdued than I anticipated but very enjoyable for it.

Aroma of a banana coated in caramel and chocolate. Fruity flavor. Pours very dark. Light-medium head. Overall, an above-average dark. Nothing spectacular but well worth a try.

Bottle. Tried this with friends at "Beer School". We were all dissapointed. Sweet, smooth malt flavor, but undeveloped in complexity/ Even after warming to the right temp it was quite bland. My English friend Steve assures me it is quite good on tap. Must try agail later.

First off, let me say that this is a great beer and anyone who likes em’ dark, will appreciate this brew. However, I have to admit that overall I was disappointed. This beer has a fantastic and original name, and looks delicious in the glass with it’s dark body and slim white head. But the smooth flavor leads to a the finish is a little hallow and remarkably ’unpeculier’. I guess I was hoping that a beer with a million dollar name would have a million dollar finish. There is absoluetly nothing peculier about this beer, but I would agree that a name like ’Theakston’s above-average dark’ just wouldn’t have cut it. Cheers.