Yards Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale

A lightly misty coppery orange pour. Musty hop and wood aroma; yerba mate, old oranges and pineapples, dried caramel and spruce tips or dry pine needles. Malt presents in starchy biscuits and plain honey; the cleanness and earthiness of it is a careful and pleasant balance. Lightly astringent, and thoroughly normal.

Burly, damp, bitter yerba flavor, livened with citrus oils, and girded with crystal and pale malts; needly and sharp, seemingly, but soft underneath, with a smooth herbal character rather than an astringent wooden bitterness, surprisingly. It’s a lot of soft tea flavor, and little else, though it has a fresh peppery kick toward the back that livens it up nicely.

Syrupy, medium-full palate, but brisk and bitter. Some acerbic citrus character finishes, coupled with a bite of raspberry, again more in the vein of flavored tea than authentic fruit flavors. Considering that it’s really all crystal malt tastes I’m surprised that it seems pretty tolerable overall. Its somewhat floral disposition is probably what saves it for me. Thanks Adam!

[1274-20080410] 355mL bottle. Mild alcohol grains aroma has a bit of floral citrus and sweaty grains. Hazy, dark orange amber body with a big foamy off-white head. Fruity yeast flavour hints at bitter raspberry and finishes grainy and sweet and more interestingly than it began. Medium body. Interesting delay in flavour.
(c/o GregClow, w/ blankboy, HogTownHarry, jerc, tupalev)

Bottle (12oz) shared with HogTownHarry, tupalev, jerc & mabel -- courtesy of GregClow. Pours a cloudy bubbly golden-orange with a massive fluffy white head. Slightly sweet aroma with yeast, caramel malt and alcohol. Flavour of sweet malt, yeast, alcohol and a light bitter finish. Medium bodied, watery mouthfeel. Smells and taste a tad past it’s due date but at 8% that shouldn’t matter. Either way, I didn’t care for it.

Bottle at the no Greg tasting, courtesy of, of course, Greg, shared with Hogtown Harry, Blankboy, Jerc, and Mabel.Dark yellow, huge gigantic thick creamy head - looks almost nitro like! Soapy Slight alcohol aroma. Good taste - Strong golden ale - some malt, lots of alcohol, decent medium body - as advertised. Simple, strong, decent.

Bottle (12oz). No ClowGr’s tasting, shared with blankboy, jerc, mabel and tupalev. Cloudy amber, huge lasting fluffy off-white head, tons of small black floaties. Not much aroma, peppery yeast, lemon tartness, celery, slightly herbal with alcohol hovering. Taste - quite earthy, a little sour, a bit of rhubarb - odd. Watery, acidic, quick-finishing, oddly like cooked swiss chard in the aftertaste.