Middle Ages Grail Ale

Brewed by Middle Ages Brewing
Style: Amber Ale
Syracuse, New York USA

This ale really went down well with pork chops but it has a few bitter ends in what seems like a malty beer with a touch of citrus and a somewhat clovey flavor. I wasn’t overly impressed by this good ale but am excited to sample this brewery’s other wares. I purchased the bottle at Half Time in Poughkeepsie, NY.

(12 oz bottle: Obtained in trade with bkelley68, thanks Brian!) This is a pretty unique tasting and complex beer. It’s quite malty and caramely, with a fair amount of roast throughout, but also fairly sugary and fruity in the finish. I detect a good amount of spices in the mix, especially in the finish, but I can’t pick out anything specific, it just seems spicy and actually is reminiscent of some winter holiday beers. The spicy finish helps to balance out the sugary sweetness that emerges late. Hops are more floral in nature than citric, and between the hops and the roast, bitterness is moderate and nicely in balance overall. The sweet, caramel maltiness really stands out in the nose. Medium to full bodied, round and long-lasting on the palate. Deep amber color shows some mild haze, and along with the light tan head makes for an attractive beer. The head does fade to a patchy film with a wide rim around the edge. Lacing is mostly spotty, with a few streaks and small patches here and there. I could do without the sugary finish, but that’s kind of a nitpick for a pretty nice beer.

Dark amber ale with a white head. Malty aroma with red licorice notes. Funky malt with fruity esters, butterscotch and nutty notes, oily mouthfeel. Medium bodied.

This would be a great session beer. Pours a nice dark amber colour with a small white head. The aroma is initially fragrant hops, but then fades a little bit. The flavour is well balanced with caramel malt and some citrusy hops.

Ruby red color, tan head, good lace. Aroma of some caramel and light chocolate, mild hops. Flavor starts out a little fruity and caramelly and fades into some graininess and some herbal hops. Light to medium bodied. Fairly enjoyable, leaves a slight metallic taste in your mouth, though.

12 oz bottle - Habersham Beverage Warehouse - Savannah, Ga. Light caramel colored pour with an extremely frothy mocha colored head, good lacing. Has a bit of a fruity aroma with a faint presence of chocolate. Flavor has some earthy and smoky notes with a faint chocolate undertone. Reminds me somewhat of Bass Ale. Mouthfeel is a tad thin and metallic. Overall, decent though.

Appearance: clear, dark amber to reddish hue, with a large, fuzzy, off-white head. Aroma: Earthy, malty, and a little bit spicy. An interesting mix, I like it. Taste: hops are absent, light maltiness, nice toasty flavor, simple and clean mouthfeel, with a short, but pleasant finish. To swipe from Clairol, Nice’n’Easy, are the words to go by. Better than a bitter, in some ways, and a step above many amber, but a rather rudimentary pale. An excellent session ale, eager to please, with no demands.

Bottle, from Halfime. Good aroma, Sweet. carmel, honey, apple, Nice orangy red color. Ok head that fade quickly. Bitter sweet flavors, Buttery, lemon/grapefruit, M.edium body, creamish mouthfeel, Citrusy dry finish. Thats a really good amber