Middle Ages Wailing Wench

Brewed by Middle Ages Brewing
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Syracuse, New York USA

I don’t consider this a DIPA, It reminds me of a better version of Nugget Nectar from Troegs. It’s like an imperial amber or somethng. VERY easy to find here in Syracuse and very decent session beer. This is a better beer than their SPA or their ImPaled Ale IMO.

22oz Bomber I was lucky enough to get this in a recent trade with Kempleton. Thanks Andrew! My first offering from Middle Ages. Wailing Wench pours a dull ruby that ends up glowing when backlit. The off white head grew to three fingers of dense rockiness on the pour. The head eventually settled to one finger and left remarkably chunky lacing on it’s way. Smell is big and buttery. There’s a healthy does of caramel and toasted grains. The hops come along nice and citric although more subdued than I expected. This would get a little better score from me but the butter just seems to detract from the smell. Flavor is much the same as the aroma but without as much of that pesky butter. The buttery caramel is still there but not as pronounced as the aroma suggests. The grapefruit hoppiness balances out the caramel, unfortunately I tend to prefer my IIPAs on the hoppierside as opposed to balanced. Spicy alcohol notes on the swallow. The mouthfeel seems to fit the bill. Decent crbonation keeps this one flowing and awakens the tongue. A mild lingering bitterness continues throughout. the big abv keeps me from drinking more than a bomber but so does the butter. This isn’t a bad IIPA but the buttery character just seems to detract from the overall expierence. I’ve got a bottle of Dragonslayer in the fridge, I hope the butter isn’t a house characteristic of Middle Ages. 2/9/08

Bottle; have wanted to try this one for the last few years, after seeing in on tap at the Grey Lodge in Philly. Poured an amber color with a lingering, yet small to medium head. Aroma was fresh; with melon, grapefruit, and toffee. Aroma reminds me of Legend’s Imperial IPA. Very distictive for the style, and again reminds me of Legend’s version. However, there was something about it that didn’t work as well as it could have. Maybe a lack of balance. Was pretty bitter. Wanted to like it more, but overall it was about average overall, and below average for the style.

Dark amber with a fine medium sized sustained head. The aroma is a little malty, with a good level of citric hops and some alcohol. Caramel and fruit flavours are well balanced with a very clean refreshing bitterness. Pretty good

Poured a brown color with a small white head. Aroma was quite fruity with some definited apple character. I was not sure how old this was so I didn’t know how well the hops had held up. Taste is apples, light fruitiness, fruit loops, nice hop bitterness, with nice drinkability and hop punch on the finish. Something was slightly funny but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Good brew though.

that was a nice brew!! big aroma hops golden amber color not alot of head, the flavor is hops but sweet citrus hops juicy, very nice some alcohol presence but good.

22oz bottle-pours a big shaving cream light tan head with lots of lacing and mahogany color. Aroma is nice citrus/earthy hops, some medium malt. Taste is nice citrus/earthy/metallic hops-bitter, some medium malt, nutty, alcohol. Surprisingly on the light side of medium body for a some what thin mouth feel, although a good American strong ale.

22 oz. bomber, no bottling/freshness date, sampled in a snifter. Poured a bronze crayon-like brown with an robust tan head of frothy foam that slowly dissipated into a creamy lacing. Fair amount of sticky lace accompanies the head down the glass as you consume it. Pungent floral perfume and oily citrus peels aromas are on top, underneath are butter toffee and cookie dough-like malts. Further whiffs reveal estery alcohol and a light nuttiness. Active carbonation gives a creamy firmness to medium body that has a crisp and rounded feel in the mouth. The hops dominate the taste, herbal oils, grapefruit rinds and hints of tropical fruits, finishes with an drying herbal spiciness. Beneath the hops are tastes of buttery dark raisin bread with roasted Brazilian nuts coming out in the end. The alcohol flavor is a mix of citrus and raisins, providing a low grade warmth in the palate. This is a good winter strong ale, balanced and tasty with an enough alcohol warmth for a cold moonless snowy night, recommended.