Holy Mackerel Special Golden Ale

Brewed by Florida Beer Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Melbourne, Florida USA

On tap, pours a translucent pale orange without much of a white bubbly head. Nice aroma of bananas and some sweet malt, not unlike a hefe. Taste is also similar to a hefe, with that banana and yeast flavor, as well as a hint of corn. There is a faint but distinguishable spice that I’d associate with a belgian, but only after it warms. Otherwise I’d call it a hefe in a blind taste test. Either way, this is a good’un

12oz bottle from Willow Bend Liquors (Tampa, FL). Rated on 3/1/08. Pours a honey-yellow-golden color with a think white head. Only minimal lacing of glass. Aroma is hops, ripe fruit, honey, fresh hay. Flavor is somewhat complex, with notes of tartness and bitterness initially that transition to ripe fruit and then end with a slightly sweet and sour taste. Medium bodied with a creamy, syrupy mouthfeel. We enjoyed this ale.

Pours a lightly hazy golden orange with a medium creamy/bubbly off white head that didn’t leave much lacing and kind of went away rather quickly. Aroma of banana, green apple, caramel, spicy Belgian yeast esters, on the sweet malty side with tropical fruits and a touch of citrus. Flavor was a bit on the malty sweet side as well, some bready notes, tropical fruits, green apple, banana and a little hot.

Cloudy yellow-beige colour with no head. Sort of dull-looking. Slightly footy nose with banana and pear accents. A hint of alcohol singes the nostrils. Slighlty spicy body with an alcoholic splash. The malts are very sweet and a little bit plasticy. Finishes quite spritzy, which cuts the sweetness a bit, but it remains a little too cloying, perhaps awaiting a proper bottle refermentation with a fun yeast like Duvel or Dupont.

Not impressed. Dont really know exactly what I dont like about it, but the taste was not what I was expecting.

The nose showed herbal hops along with a candied sweetness. In the mouth it was medum to full-bodied, concentrated and heavy. I enjoyed this much more than what the nose suggested. The flavors were still candied but balanced by the hops. I would not suggest aging this one as I would expect it to fall out of balance once the hops fade. Simple but balanced at this point.

12oz bottle-pours a dissipating white head and gold color with effervescence. Aroma is medium malt, apple/apricot, sugar, funky yeast, almost to sulphur. Taste is sweet medium malt-caramel, secondary apple/apricot, sugar, funky yeast. OK effervescence, occasional. Thanks to decaturstevo for sharing.

not sure about this one, i was reading these other reviews and they all said there was a small head, mine poured completely flat no sign of head whatsoever, the taste is a little flat, i don’t know if this is how it is supposed to be because i’ve never had it before. Overall i don’t care for this much, i’d rather have an actual belgian ale!