Gearys Hampshire Special Ale

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

Clear orange, little to no head. Surprisingly intense aroma. Extremely sweet fruity apricot, pears, and orange hoppiness. This is another fruit blend (had with wachusett winter ale) that seems to work pretty well though this one is a lot hoppier. Wet juicy mango flavor with malt closing to earthy. Generous hoppiness is rather complex, something of a cascade hop, but with more depth. Perhaps a bit cloying at the end, but still pretty enjoyable.

Poured a medium to darker amber color with a smaller off white head. Malty aromas and tastes (caramel & nuts) with raisins. The hops come through in the end. Nice balance to the malts (starts off sweet with a hoppy finish). This was good.

Nutty/buttery, tart malt with excellent bitter finish. Not sure why, but I had less expectations and was very happy to find all that’s packed into this. Truly a pleasure.

Geary’s HSA pours out a clear, dark bronze color into my glass, and gives off a thick, bubbly, tan head. Aroma is mild, soft, sweet, sensual, lightly fruity, more from malt, no hops detected at all. Taste: bright and sharp are the first adjectives to jump to mind, followed by delicious and divine. This is a devil from the start! Juicy, thick, constant texture, considerable presence on the palate, round, full, fantastic. Rich and malty, with an increasing alcoholic presence, even at a mere 7%. Just the sort of wickedly delightful brew that sends you into a particular bliss from which you never wish to leave! Long, tasty finish. Quite impressive. I could easily make this a favorite, if it were native to my environs. So good!

08.18.04 12oz bottle. Dark amber-red pour; smallish head of fine bubbles. Big, boozy, malty aromas. Almost smells like an English barleywine; dark fruity, raisinish esters - but also bready and raw. In many ways, this makes me think of a cross between alt and barleywine. As it warms, a hint of musty funk emerges - cobwebs. How about that?

Nice red copper ale with a pleasant raisin and malt aroma , like a good barley wine. Nice fruity grape taste , caramel, resinous notes and very malty. Nice bitter finish. Nice bodied, very enjoyable on dreary days.

Brown with red and orange hues and an off white head. It is quite clear with nice carbonation. It’s got a big malty aroma with carmel, roasted and nutty tones. Very enviting. The flavor is smooth and very full. A roasted and carmel malt is most noticable and it’s finish is a bit bitter and then covered by a smooth round malt flavor.

Geary’s HSA is a great bitter beer. It starts first with a caramel flavor that trails to bitter. Nice color, only thing i dont like about it is the somewhat grainy texture it has.