HeBrew Jewbelation Eleven

Shmaltz Brewing Company
Brewed at Olde Saratoga Brewing (Mendocino Brewing Co.)
Style: American Strong Ale
San Francisco, California USA

My bottle (22oz) shared with HogTownHarry, GregClow, jerc & tupalev -- courtesy of gunhaver. Pours a very dark brown with an average size foamy tan head -- looks nice. Aroma of lightly roasted malt, dark fruit, light green hops, chocolate, some alcohol and more. Flavour of lightly roasted malt, a good amount of floral hops and hints of alcohol (for 11% it’s very well hidden), coffee and dark fruit. Long bitter finish. Medium bodied. I did not expect to like this as much as I did -- this is really good stuff.

The pour is actually pretty. Did a belgian mate with a chocolate stout? Aroma is mild and complex. Nice foam...slow decline. Taste malt, chocolate, raisin, hops and then many mild things. Makes me feel I have taste buds on the bottom of my tongue. I felt the 11%abv before I tasted it. I see cascade hops as well.

I have had this on the shelf for six months, and as I approach rating number 900 (this is 899) have decided to pull out some of those bottles I have been saving for a special occasion. I actually enjoyed the 11 theme. From a 22 oz bottle this poured a dark brown with a big tan head and lots of sticky lacing. Nose of sweet and chocolate malts, fruits, nuts, and complex herbal hop aromas. Mouthfeel is thick and sticky. Flavor is complex and interesting. Finish is slightly bitter. Alcohol is well hidden during the drinking, but you know it was there after you are done. I notice this is called an ASA, but seemed more like a barley wine to me.

Bouteille de 22 oz partagée lors d’une dégustation Ratebeer Montréal chez Cathschlag. Arôme: Odeur de caramel avec une pointe de noix grillées. Apparence: La couleur est brune foncée. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de caramel avec une pointe de noix griilées et d’anis. Longue durée de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture huileuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Légère présence de café en arrière goût. (Rating #1655)

Objectively speaking: A beefy anniversary ale that adopts the bigger is better philosophy and fortunately fails at it.
I like: Firm rich mouthfeel, albeit a bit loose. Fair fit between the strong brown ale like malt base (roasted caramel, chocolate, vague fruits, almond, stouty...) and the herbal, leafy concluding hops. Well concealed alcohol - quite impressed with that. Soft smokey whispers. By far my favourite from the Hebrew line. Sweetness kept under control.
I dislike: Almost headless. The whole gimmicky obsession with number 11. Not as complex as its recipe. Hops lacking in aromatic definition.

pours really dark brown with small head that leaves lots of lacing. hops are in the forefront, but not totally overwhelming. great beer, especially for the price.

My Bottom Line:
Roasted malts and piney hop bitterness gravitate towards the nutty caramel sweetness of this flavorful and drinkable mammoth, which drinks like an Imperial Brown Ale with Imperial Stout aspirations.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A veil of foam tops the dark brown.
-The nose is rather timid for such a strong ale.
-Alcohol is very well hidden for a beer this size.
-Carbonation is well calculated and, with the lean body, makes this very easy drinking for a 11% brew.
-Complexity and nourishment are lacking, but I can’t say this is not well brewed and satisfying.

Bottle.

2008-05-01. Dark brown body with a modest ta head. (3+) Boozy aroma at first, modest malt and hops are pleasant but a tad overshadowed by the alcohol. Flavour has a fair bit of hoppy bitterness over a malty base. Pleasant interesting character of something I want to call anise but its really not. Lingering hops with lightly warming alcohol into the finish and aftertaste. Alcohol fades as you go. (7+) Average to medium palate. (3+) Pretty decent. Bottle shared by Blankboy<P>"Don’t write that down!!!" - Anonymous