Middle Ages Wailing Wench

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

Stylistically to my tastes, this beer would fall into the American Red/Amber Ale category. The 22 oz bomber bottles even sport a very sexy and firery red headed wench on the label. Middle Ages version is unique in its own right, as it uses imported UK malts, and of course the distinctive ringwood strain. While this beer is loaded with pungent hop character, it also has really great sweet malt and fruity character. Coming in at 8% abv, it has some alcohol strength making it a malty, fruity, hop cocktail of a brew. Call it what you will, this beer is very flavorful, delicious, and loaded with character. Wailing Wench Ale pour to a beautiful, bright deep amber to ruby red color, with a thick and creamy white head, and a good bit of carbonation. The nose on this beer really hits you with big, pungent waves, of spicy and citrus hop aromas paired with some aromas of sweet malt. The palate is firm with lots of good sweet malt flavor, some buttery notes, and tangy fruit flavor. Wailing Wench Ale finishes with more good malt and fruity flavors up front, then ends earthy/yeasty with a very zesty, very bitter finish, that lingers on the tongue. This beer is fantastic. I reminds me a lot of Stone Brewing’s Arrogant Bastard, and makes for the perfect aperitif beer, or a great beer to sit and relax with. Retailing for $4 a 22oz bottle, Wailing Wench is a steal at that price, and is a beer you should seek out if you find yourself in Syracuse, or select markets where Middle Ages beers are sold.

22 oz’er. Poured a deep mahogoney reddish-brown with a big, thick and juicy head of airy foam. The aroma is bountiful ... hinting at a hoppy stew of malty goodness. And that’s what this beer is ... a nice robust and meaty glass of good ol’ beer. This comes across first as a deeply roasty medium amber brew. But then the stark hoppiness strikes your palate, fruity and delicious. Exceptionally well made brew. (#3150, 10/21/2007)

on cask at david copperfield's. wow. a wonderful example of the style. it's a deep reddish brown with a simply lovely nose. it's sweet-ish, but certainly not overpowering. heavily hopped, but not unbalanced. gorgeous aftertaste. i approve, whole-heartedly.

In the current age of hop one-uppmanship, it is refreshing to find a brew that stops short of novelty, but, rather, balances a strongly hopped ale with large quantities of well roasted malts. This wench is tall and dark; she gives great and prolonged head, yielding to a happy finish of dark malts with coffee and molasses layers without the typically cloying sweetness that accompanies such a strongly malted treatment. In every glass there is first love, followed by oblivion. Amazing!

An awesome ale from Middle Ages. Dark amber brown colored...looks filtered. not murky. Very nice hop bitterness throughtout. Thick caramel hop syrup aftertaste. Perfect malt and hop balance, not as one dimensional as some double IPAs. Great beer.

Yes indeed, this is a mighty tasty ale. Pours a ruby chestnut color with a thick, frothy head. All pacNW hop aroma - the usual suspects - stong grapefruit with some pine. Mildly rich flavor, some caramel malt, some butter, alcohol at the finish. Not overly bitter, but packs a nice wallop. This beer is a nice English Strong Ale spiked with American Hops, a nice hybrid breed for sure!

Not a bad strong IPA. A bit darker than I expected. A bit of fruitiness, but the hops seemed understated.

Beautiful mahoganny color topped by a lasting tan head. Deep hop aromas matched with very big hop bitterness and rich malty flavors. Nice body and full mouthfeel. A great "big" ale, well done.