Gales Conquest Ale Masterbrew

Dark orange red, still. Pretty unpleasant IMO. Some rotten fruits, like rancid raisins. Cork was semi-disintegrating and showed signs of leakage, but despite some mild sherry qualities in the finish it wasn’t overtly oxidized, nor was it obviously corked. Finish was mildly tannic and vinous.

(7 yrs)Dark Brown. No head. Aroma: Fruit wine, caramel. Flavor: Fruit wine, vinegar, sour to alcahol finish. OVERATED!

2001 vintage. Deep ruby red with no head even with an aggressive pour just a few stray bubbles collect against the glass. Some floaties, but not much. Not looking good. Strong nose of tobacco, some malt sweetness, more alcohol. Strong tobacco in the mouth, thin for a barley wine, thick for a pale ale. Some syrupyness, bland on the front, nothing but earthy tobacco in the back. Pretty offensive. Drain pour. Would consider a second bottle to see if any left in my area are any good, but it seems unlikely. Re-rates: Second bottle was just like the first, got a third from a different store this one with red wrapping at the top not green and doesn’t state Brewed in 2001 on the label, so vintage is unknown even though it says all were brewed in 2001. Dark clear amber pour, weird little floaties that don’t look like yeast, Sherry or Port type liquor aromas, boozy. Still seems to be past its prime but this one is at least drinkable and I think fairly rateable. Sweet but sharp tastes of wood and sweet malt. Still has that earthiness but this isn’t as foul. Booze and a bit of cloying bite in the finish make this still not that enjoyable. First rating is a throwaway but I gave it a 3;3;3;2;5 Total 1.6 New bottle rating 5;3;5;3;7 Total 2.3

Bottle from Healthy Spirits in S.F. It’s the old style bottle with a cork, but I can’t find any dates. God knows how old this is. A remnant from the single batch in 2001? Ripe apricot color with an off-white head that went down rapidly. Aromas of rich, light stone fruit (cooked) and light malt. Rather thin in body with very light carbonation. Flavor is leather, stone fruit of the lighter sorts, wood. Finish is dry with fruit notes. Worship. Hop bitter is present, but balances against fruit sweetness. In a strange way, this could be considered a sour ale. I’ll consider it an ale with a tinge of sour. Died and gone to heaven. Wish I’d bought them all (and there were not many). Bottle conditioned rules. Yes, it does.

Pours copper with no head to speak of. Smells spicy and cloyingly sweet. Tastes like a mess of sweet malt with a boozy finish. I wish I had started instead of ending with this one.