Blue Cat Big Bad Dog Olde English Ale

Brewed by Blue Cat Brew Pub
Style: Old Ale
Rock Island, Illinois USA

Although an unrepentant hop-head, on occasion I enjoy a good malty brew, and this is that. The body is a deep reddish brown sporting a fluffy, good lacing off-white head. The aroma is rich and malty without getting too sweet, having some burnt toast and smoke to keep that in check. It has a nice toasted malt flavor to it, sweet with touches of stoned fruits, and a hint of woody smokiness to it. A good robust ale.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Pig Co., Champaign, IL<font size=-1>

The body was a light brown and red. The head was a light white color. The aroma was sweet donuts with some apples and a little tea. The taste had toffee with some apples and a little honey. This was well balanced.

On tap at Goose Island Stoutfest.. odd selection for the event, but certinly enjoyable! Poured a murky deep brown with a nice initial beige cap. Aroma was not overly pervasive, but pleasant with dark fruits, caramel, and a little alcohol representin’. Flavor was fuller with sweet malty fruits, caramel, earth, and a mildly warming alcohol presence. Solidly balanced with floral hoppage. Smooth on the palate with well-placed mild bitter accents. Very good brew all-around.

Draught at the brewpub. Clear ruby color with off white head that laced the glass. Not uch aroma other than some dried fruit and light alcohol. Sweet and roasty on the tongue with a touch of cherries. Tart finish,

On tap at the brewpub. No aroma. Very sweet, as though it has not quite attenuated. I like the mouth feel. Roasted, chocolaty, and malty. Lots of boiling hops present. Low alcohol for the style.

Another road tripped Blue Cat brewery beer we tasted. Great dark color and flavor that is a hapy suprise. Good stuff!

Served a raspberry-hued amber, rather dark with a tan, filmy head leaving minor, watery lacing. I found the nose to be a bit adjuncty. There were peppery, herbal bitters to a roasted, grainy background, but I was a bit put-off. Flavor improved with a mild caramel sweetness followed by a decent meld of malts and earthen bitters.

<font size=-4>Sampled at the "The Pig" (with the previous two knuckleheads) whilst at the <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Events-Detail.asp?Eve 2007 Chicago Group Gathering</font>

Growler: light on the nose. earthy & molasses. Nice dark reddish brown color. sweet malt. coffee and bitter chocolate. creamy smooth with a slight bitter finish. kinda porter like. pretty good though i'm not a old ale drinker. this was a pay back for a patriots win over the bears last season. cool growler though.