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Lightning Old Tempest Ale

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74
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bottled
available

on tap
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
663.34/5.03.29/5.0Autumn9%49English pint, Snifter
Commercial Description:
Old Tempest Ale is Lightning Brewery’s Winter Seasonal beer. This beer is a classic “Winter Warmer” or a beer that has an alcohol level that causes a “warming” feeling on sipping and drinking. This is an Old Ale or Strong Ale made in the tradition of UK brewers for centuries. We have used strictly “earthy” types of UK malted barley, UK strains of “grassy” flavoring and aroma hops, and our house strain of British Ale yeast in brewing and fermenting this beer. Also note the slight haze we have retained in the beer. That is because we avoid filtration, a process that can remove some of the complex flavors that make a big, malty beer more enjoyable. It is simply settled in the fermentation tank for months and then directly packaged for added flavor. Extensive aging is an investment for the Brewery in terms of tank space and at the same time an added value for enjoyment.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 bb (2919), Martinez, California, USA
2.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/55/103/511/20
Aug 16, 2008  
Bottle. Hazy amber beer with a big dark cream colored head. Toffee, earth, caramel, and stone fruit aroma. Big stone fruit flavor with caramel. Medium body. LIngering stone fruit/summer fruit with toffee. There was this undertlying earthy, slightly ropey flavor that got bigger and more annoying and I’m pretty sure the bottle was lightly infected.


 kp (8396), Woodstock, Georgia, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/103/513/20
Aug 13, 2008  
Date: 06/20/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: opaque burnt orange, wispy off white head, bits of lace,
Aroma: caramel and crystal malt aroma, touch of fruity sweetness, lots of earthyness,
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, light fruity character grows along with the sweetness as it warms, nice earthyness, touch of citrus,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4


 bhensonb (4286), Woodland, California, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/105/57/104/514/20
Jul 7, 2008  
Sort of an orange/amber color with a 3-finger beige head - rather frothy. Strong fruit aromas - almost like kiwi or strawberry with yeast spice. Body is medium and the carbonation is very frothy. It’s a bit astringent, a little bready, lightly yeasty, and fruity in a berry, but not citrus, way. Finish is not all that dry, but it fits the style. Pretty good drink. Kind of earthy/fruity.


 golubj (1288), Sunnyvale, California, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/103/516/20
Jul 5, 2008  
Bottle. Beastiefan2k shared a bottle of this at a tasting a couple months ago, so when I saw it in the store, I decided to get a bigger sample. Orange /g gold pour w/ lots of head. Aroma is sweet fruit, plum, crisp green apples, yeast. Flavor is the same, fruity and malty, same yeastiness, with plum coming in the finish. I think this was supposed to be an English style, but it tasted more belgian to me.


 FoolishMortal (965), San Diego, California, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/512/20
Jun 28, 2008  
22oz bottle. Yellow orange color with a towering rocky white head. Heavy alefruit and sugary aromatics. Figgy, raisiny flavors dominate with a pronounced sweetness. Ruddy, herbal hop component. Some grassy bitterness in the finish, with persistent caramel sweetness and dark alefruit. Distinct alcohol presence. Mouthfeel is heavy, somewhat chewy, somewhat hot.


 ChainGangGuy (2568), Kennesaw, Georgia, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/104/514/20
Jun 28, 2008  
Appearance: Pours a hazy, dark orange body with a scant, off-white head. Smell: Overall, a fruity aroma, with lesser notes of wood, brown sugar, dried grasses. Taste: Tangy fruitiness, some orange and apricot. Earthy underlying maltiness, lightly sweet, and with a hint of brown sugar. Vague woody taste. Grassy hop character with a medium bitterness. Splash of good, clean alcohol. Another helping of fruit and tang for the finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Fairly mild carbonation. Drinkability: Not exactly spectacular, though a fairly tasty beer in general.


 goldtwins (4080), Nesconset, New York, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/103/513/20
Jun 28, 2008  
Poured a hazed copper color with an off-white head. Fruity malt aroma with the smell of raisins. Sweet caramel malt flavor. Even some hops mixed in.


 WeeHeavySD (2990), San Diego (Hillcrest), California, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/103/514/20
Jun 23, 2008  
Bomber @ The Linkery. Overall this was interesting, I liked it overall but it was pretty sweet, and I don’t know if I liked it a lot or not. It was tasty and I’m glad to see more old Ales coming out of SD.



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