Gales Millennium Brew

Bottle during Tropical Storm Fay- about 8 years old. Corked had dried and disintegrated when I tried to pull it. I srtained most out. Beer was quite fortunately not corked! In fact the aroma was a gorgeous mix of berries (raspberry, strawberry) and spring flowers. Color a ruddy brown, with the expected lack of carbonation or head. No oxidation, the flavor is berryish, with a sweetish vinous finish that hints at dry red wine, with a mild tannic quality.

Bottle: Consumed at eight-years-old. Pours a headless hazy amber/maroon color. Sweet aroma of sticky British malts, maple, plum, dark berries, cardboard, mold and other oxidized notes. Slick and thin body. No carbonation at all. Flavor has a very odd phenolic character. Some candied berries and papery oxidized notes. Hints of molasses (but not sweet), band-aid, and alcohol. Vacant, and what is there is somewhat repulsive. I wonder if it just didn’t hold up over the time.

Pours brown with a reddish hue and still. Smells of sherry, pronounced sweet malt, lots of fruity hints. Tastes of sherry, tarte, some sweet malt creeping in. Finishes with a nice spicy hint and some warming alcohol on the end. This is a good brew. I’m not getting the low scores for this.

9.3 oz bottle, via puzzl. Pours a completely flat slightly murky amber body with just a few bubbles around the edges. The aroma is a thick mixture of fruits, oxidation, and alcohol. Some cork, sherry, vanilla, and dark toffee. The flavor is pretty heavy on the oxidation but it really works with this beer giving it a sherry or even brandy like flavor. Some cork, toffee, dark fruits, worchestershire, and surprisingly very very little alcohol. Mouthfeel is completely still with a slightly thinner texture than I was expecting. Some warming and drying alcohol sensations on the finish. This is just another classic example of Gale’s house character. I could see where a lot of folks may not get into this, but I’ve liked everything from this brewery.

I’m not really sure why puzzl sent me such an excellent high quality brew, retired none the less. This beer is too good for me. Corked 9.3 oz bottle Aroma is intoxicating alcohol. All kinds of cool looking sediment in this bottle. No indication of carbonation what so ever in the pour. Taste is like wine and there is no carbonation on the palate. No hop bite and for some reason I was expecting a hop bite. The taste is surprizingly enjoyable for a flat brew. Very fine and reserved in the flavors. Easy to drink without any alky apprehension. I don’t think I have ever tasted a beer such as this. The closest thing I can think of that tastes like this is the wine my grampa used to make down in the basement of his Italian house in big wooden barrels. Finish is again winelike and mellow. Thanks Andy!