Gearys Hampshire Special Ale

Brewed by D.L. Gearys Brewing Co.
Style: English Strong Ale
Portland, Maine USA

Bottle thanks to porterhouse. Beautiful slightly hazed auburn amber pour with a fading off-white head. Decent lacing. Aroma of berries, caramel, a bit husky, and light english yeast esters. Maybe even some chocolate. Taste is wet grain, a bit husky and bitter. Lightly fruit esters. Light tinge of alcohol. Medium bubbles, medium to strong mouthfeel.

12 oz. bottle from Total Wine in Chesapeake, VA. Muddy, thick brown pour reminiscent of a barleywine. Big citrus hop aroma with some brown sugar and molasses (again, very much like a barleywine). I wish it got better from there but for me the flavor doesn’t pack the same wow factor that the aroma packs. Still, the flavor is good with some tangerine hop flavor mixed with malty sweetness. Along with the flavors that I picked up from the aroma is an oak barrel flavor that does not enhance and certainly dulls what seemed like it could potentially be an extraordinary beer. Overall, good but not great.

Pours very clear deep amber with ruby highlights and a thin white head. Aroma is sweet and malty with just a touch of pine. Medium full body with a rich maltiness. Lots of caramel and toffee flavors. I wouldn’t call the hops assertive, but they help keep the beer from getting cloying. A little too much carbonation gives the beer a bite

Cask (handpump) at NERAX North, Haverhill MA, 7 November 2009. Good copper colour. Slightly estery aroma. Pear drops. Clean hoppy flavour. More pear drops. Also a touch gluey on the nose and palate. Odd. May be something to do with the cask treatment. Marked for re-rate when the opportunity arises.

Orange in color with a good head, looks like it will be a decent brew.It tastes slightly English if that makes any sense but it is a little too strong and I usually don’t say that. This is a decent beer but not one I will seek out again, doesn’t suit my tastes. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 09-05-2007 16:33:47

Location: 12 oz bottle from the Brickskeller, 7/31/09

Aroma: Caramel, fruits, raisin, apple, biscuit, light grassy hops in there as well
Appearance: Reddish-copper color, thin white head
Flavor: Bread/biscuit, caramel malts, a touch of fruit, some earthy hops
Palate: Medium body, creamy mouthfeel
Overall Impression: This was an interesting beer. Nice enough, with a decent complexity. An interesting nose. Balanced and enjoyable, but leaning toward the malt side for sure.

Bottle at the Brickskeller in DC. Deep copper color with a small white head. Aroma is mostly malty with some fruity notes and mild hops. Flavor is bready malt, caramel, dark fruit, herbs, and grassy/earthy hops. Medium body with a smooth palate. Pretty good overall.

Bottle of the 2001-2002 production tasted July 2009. Pours a deep rich copper color with a thin white rim. Aromas of cocoa, leather. Flavor seems a bit past it’s prime, dried out and tired. Interesting, but I have a feeling it’s better when younger and sweeter. Not really that built for aging. Will re-rate with a new bottle.