 sfontain (502), Columbus, Ohio, USA
Apr 26, 2005
Many thanks to my super-hot girlfriend for this one! 750mL, purchased in December 2004, 5 months ago. Stored in 1st floor closet. Pours a quite dark brown with a small, creamy head; appears syrupy upon pouring. Initial impression of aroma is too highly alcoholic; letting it breathe a few minutes helps but it is still too heavy on the alcohol; at room temperature after sitting for an hour, the truly wonderful aroma finally begins to eminate: incredibly lush aroma of malts, caramel, oranges, flowers, brown sugar, alcohol, and cookies. Flavor begins to open up at room temperature; up front, there is an alcohol burn throughout this that I love, but it is a little bit overpowering compared to the rest of the flavors; very malty with lots of dark fruit; alcohol throughout; bitter finish. Mouthfeel is thick and slightly sugary syrupy; nice and chewy but a little too sticky. Overall, excellent beer. It seems Alesmith can do no wrong.
mfaulke (79), clemson, South Carolina, USA
Nov 28, 2008 I cellared it for a year, and don’t know how old it was before I got it. The flavors had meshed perfectly with age, and it was hard to pick out one flavor on its own. Smoky butterscotch is probably what I would say. Couldn’t detect much of the hops, and it was less sweet than other scotch ales that I have had. Great beer. I wish I had another to lay down for another year.
17thfloor (807), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Nov 28, 2008 [Spring 08 Bottle] Pours clear but thick very dark near black brown with a lovely gray frothy foam. Rich aroma, caramel malt, peat, some woodiness. First taste of sweet rich cotton-candy, butterscotch candy, lightly peaty, some faded pacific NW hops, rich burnt caramel, touch of smoke. Finishes with light chocolate and peated malted barley. Fantastic mouthful, medium/full but so soft and fluffy! Great aftertaste, leaves the checks puckered in from the bitter dry woodiness. Definitely a fan. [Ha! for my 800th rating I was played BagPipe music... fitting for my Scotch Ale!]
Hophead22 (359), Redlands, California, USA
Nov 19, 2008 750ml bottle. Nice dark red pour, really nice with a tan head. Very dark and rich aroma, hint of anise maybe, very nice. Big and bold flavor, dark fruits,v ery rich and complex. Awesome!
CaryTheDude (489), Ripon, Wisconsin, USA
Nov 2, 2008 Crushed with Honkeybra. One hell of a profile with wonderful warmth. Fruity and scotchy on the nose, which leads into awesomeness. Finish is bitter and dry, but the fruits are the real dominant party in this sexy bitch of a brew. Intimidating.
HonkeyBra (509), Lemont, Illinois, USA
Nov 2, 2008 Crushed with theDude. Pours a dark brownish color with a big old rocky, off whit head. Aroma is sweet, with caramel and brown sugar, a bit of smoke. Flavor has a bit of scotch in the beginning, with lots of dark fruits coming through. Finish is a bit of hops and caramelized sugar. Awesome beer.;
|
