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Williamsburg AleWerks 400 Ale

 (RETIRED)
Percentile
66
overall

bottling
unknown

on tap
unknown

distribution
unknown

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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
773.23/5.03.2/5.0Special6.5%13.7Snifter, Trappist glass
Commercial Description:
"400" Ale commemorates the founding of the first Virginia Settlement and with it, the founding of the American brewing industry. Beer was an essential component of everyday life in Jamestown, only the security and shelter provided by the triangular shaped fort and cultivation of edible (no doubt including barley) crops outranked the production of beer in importance. Fresh water flowing in local streams and the recently excavated well provided a source of potable water, but beer and other "processed liquids, primarily beer" were preferred drinks.
This ale, like the ales of the time, is brown in color. This beer may be more robust than 18th century brews, a liberty we chose to take. How could we possibly do justice to so important an event of 400 years ago, with anything other than a truly robust, full flavored contemporary "Imperial Brown Ale." Cheers
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 Barrios (858), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
1.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/53/101/55/20
Oct 18, 2009  
Pours a lasting ring of beige head with a copper-brown body. Aromas of brown sugar, roasted, band-aids. Flavor is roasted, toasted, brown sugar, infection. Sour, metallic, wrong. Let me down big time. Was really hoping this beer was gonna be good and right. Thanks Butters!


 blklab2007 (961), Connecticut, USA
2.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/55/103/510/20
Jul 25, 2009  
bottle poured a dark brown in color with a thin head. aroma has dark malts, earth, and some over ripe dark fruit. mouth feel is really thick and light on the carbonation. flavor is richly malted, bitter nuts, and some funk. has not aged so gracefully.


 arrogantb (701), Denver, Colorado, USA
2.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/51/103/58/20
Feb 20, 2009  
This smelled really like a nice brown ale, roasty, nutty, cool! Unfortunately the taste was sour but not in a good way. I don;t know if this was intentionally sour or not but it does not work for this beer. Sadly, this beer ended up as a drain pour as I could not drink it. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 06-21-2008 01:57:36


 JCB (1760), Durham, North Carolina, USA
1.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/102/54/103/56/20
Nov 18, 2008  
22oz from Once Upon a Vine, Richmond. Nice dark brown pour, almost mahogany with bits of amber in there. Minimal carb, almost looks soupy once it’s in the glass. I was all keyed up for something malty and nutty, but I got a dank, vegetal funk instead. I’m not talking oud bruin, and happy dank. I’m talking infected. Mild yeasty notes are detectable if you’re looking for something palatable and somewhat to style. But there’s some serious oxidation going on to top off the likely infection. Shame, as other ratings seem to suggest the ale is - when healthy - exactly what I’d hoped for and expected. As is: drainpour.


 SpringsLicker (2043), Tennessee, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/103/513/20
Nov 2, 2008  
Bottle in trade from Butters. Tall tan head that floats over a clear dark brown body. Coffee dark chocolate malt aroma. Tastes like your typical brown ale with a slightly sour/bitter note in the finish. I would probably pass on this one next time.


 BeerHawk (1175), Huntsville, Alabama, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/514/20
Oct 5, 2008  
Bottle from trade with Butters. Poured a dark brown with a creamy tan head that left light lacing. Aromas of molasses, nut, malts, and a hint of hops. The flavor roasty coffee, chocolate, caramel, and hop background. Medium body, sweet up front and a bitter ending. Roast and nut aftertaste. Decent.


 mwelsh13 (483), Maryland, USA
2.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/102/54/102/59/20
Sep 16, 2008  
22 oz bottle poured deep brown with very little head. What was there left quickly. Peat, dark fruit and molasses aroma. Flavor matches the aroma. Not sure what they were going for. No hops at all. This is the third of three bottles. Did not get any better rover the time.


 jgb9348 (2497), Arlington (Pentagon City), Virginia, USA
2.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/102/512/20
May 27, 2008  
Nice deep brown coloured body with a thinnish tan head and some bubbles rising from the bottom. Aroma of sour grapes, malt, tobacco and even a bit of nuts. Medium-bodied; Strong malty flavour with the potent sour qualities tucked in with a bit of sweetness. Aftertaste shows more of the same, something funky going on for the majority of the taste. Overall, a decent beer - not absolutely horrible, but I was expecting a bit more from this one. I sampled this 65 cL bottle purchased from Grape & Gourmet in Virginia Beach, Virginia on 25-May-2008 on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.



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