Arcadia Big Dicks Olde Ale

Brewed by Arcadia Brewing Company
Style: Old Ale
Battle Creek, Michigan USA

Very nice pour to one of my St. Bernardus goblets - frost-hazed caramel/orange body holding sparse yet determined channels of effervescence under a full, almost-tan head which all but crackles away to a wispy island. While the nose found incredible amounts of bubblegum from the neck of the bottle, pouring transmogrified it to a tart and tannic fruity-maltiness with splashes of cherries and banana laffy taffy.... rather how I’d imagine a Flemish Sour as served by a circus clown. The aromas come together fairly accurately in the flavor, with a focus on malts and fruit, a middle-ground of chocolaty cereal and a backdrop of earth, clove and yeasts. Mouthfeel is thick yet vibrant, substantial yet sharp. A hint of alcohol reveals, and that only late in the game (more so in effect rather than flavor). Lingers long and flavorful with low sweetness and a dry fruitiness. I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this after first viewing how it fared on RateBeer.

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22 oz bottle pours a bright amber with a one finger off white head. aroma is of sweet malt and some toasted malt. flavor is very mild and almost bland for a "Olde Ale" sweetness, some fruit, cardboard, and a slight bitterness. Won’t buy this one again.

Deep amber pour. Minimal head. Medium malt/dark berry aroma,hints of sweetness. Nice creamy mouth feel which is the best part of the beer. Malt,caramel and dark cherries in the background taste. Unlike others I did not find the ABV obvious but avg. I’ll agree that this brew is really under rated. I would not consider this an old ale but I’m not real experienced with the style. Try it,you’ll be glad you did.

A darker borwn/red pour with no bubbles and a large fluffy off-white head. Spicey metallic malt aroma, caramel. Big malt taste, sweet, cherry, with a decent amount of bitterness. Creamy burnt caramel, some dried fruits and oak, doesnt do a great job of hiding the alcohol. Palate is full and creamy, smooth carbonation. Reminds me of a milkdud or a barelywine. Seems underratered.

Figured the best way to finish up the old year was with an Old Ale. Hah. Funny, yup. Too bad the beer wa sort of mediocre. Medium amber, OK head, slight chill haze. Aroma is malty with some undefined hop bitterness. Flavor unfortunately has a serious astringent note, something not quite right with the process, methinks, as it has that grain husk quallity. Some apricot fruitiness, a bit of caramel and toffee, some prune, and then an earthy and slightly medicinal hop finish. I think they are getting close here with this beer, but unfortunately aren’t quite there yet.

Bottle and served in my Tripel Karmeliet big olde snifter: A deep russet brown with a initial big olde frothy tan head which left very good lace upon the glass. The aroma has notes of big olde aromatic pipe tobacco, leather, musty yeast, chocolate, prune, star fruit, mild grassy and herbal hops, and some phenolic vapours. The taste starts with a big olde malt profile of equal parts dark chocolate and bready pale malts with the same leathery notes found on the nose. Supported quickly by a big olde fruity character that is equal parts twangy citric and sweet over ripened flavors before heading off towards the bitter and mildly spiced finish. The mouth feel is lively and moderate sharp with dry and ashy finish. The alcohol is noticeable but is NOT big olde overpowering. This could still use a bit more age to mellow out more and melt the flavor together but I found it more enjoyable as I drank. A Big Olde Ale Indeed!

Pours cloudy dirty brown with a tan head. The aroma has dusty dark toasted malt with dark berries and cherries along with some cola. Medium biting body with some syrup and cardboard traits and minor carbonation. The flavor starts alcoholic and oxidized malt with yeastiness and elderberries. The finish is dry with light spice and light burn. Okay beer.

Slight fruity aroma reminds me of many Hereford and Hops brews I’ve smelled. Slightly cloudy light iced tea brown appearance. Not much bitterness on the palate and comes across quite interesting. Easy to drink and easy to enjy. Well mannered and has a unidentifyable lmild ingering bitter finish. Medium low amount of carbonation. A pretty decent brew but that mild bitter linger builds a little after the session. Not quite as good as Breckenridge Autumn Ale. On par with Railbender, winter warmer and gooses Christmas ale.