Middle Ages X Double India Pale Ale

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

The pour reveals a slightly cloudy copper color with a thin white head. Aroma of citrusy hops with caramel malt. Good flavor of citrusy hops with buttery caramel malt and a bitter finish. Light body with an oily texture and low carbonation. Good but feels restrained.

A mostly lasting average creamy white head tops up a hazy medium yellow body. Moderate lacing. No particles. Few small bubbles. Aroma presents malt being medium biscuity while hops are moderate citrusy / grapefruit / orange... Yeast character is light cheese. Also, there are evident evocations of butterscotch and oranges. Initial flavor is medium sweet while development is roasted/toasted surronded by hops. moderate Finish is medium and bitter. medium body... oily texture... Soft carbonation...
[ Bottled ; chilled ; 2005 vintage ]

Hazy light golden pour, light white film. Lightly buttered Ringwood derived mostly fitting oiliness. Cheesy, well hopped, aromatic floral and citrusy (orange, pineapple) hops. The malt foundations appear solid, giving a comfortably carbonated medium body. Fluoride, minty, grapefruity finish, tannic, making the bridge between solid toasted, soapy well malted, toasty, earthy british example and the most expressive American IPAs, aromatic and potent. Soft for a beast, containing its alcohol tremendously and keeping the bitterness levels on par with the aromas.

Second try, from a different batch:
That butterscotch is not a factor anymore, leaving way for lots of piney, leafy, and orangey hoppiness to discuss loudly. Lots of earthy hop bitterness too in this highly drinkable (for its strength) hop fix. 3.5/5

First try:
Any first impressions?
-Creamy head and lacing decorate the misty orange.
-Butterscotch-covered oranges summarize the aroma. That butterscotch/diacetyl is bothersome for some.
-Biscuity malts form a solid base for the orangey, citrusy hoppiness.
-A smooth mouthfeel is created by the active but never overwhelming carbonation and the comfortable maltiness.

What if you dig deeper?
-End bitterness is relatively diplomatic, bordering on being chalky.
-The overall flavor profile is well-balanced for a Double IPA.
-Malt complexity could be increased/revealed if the diacetyl levels were decreased.
-All in all, a drinkable, flavorful example of the style, but perhaps not in the best condition.3.4/5

Bottle; 1 year old now.

Slightly hazy amber w/ generous finger of cream tan foam. Good lace. Firm, fresh citrusy hop aroma w/ notes of mint & vanilla over a caramel base. Medium, resiny feel. Big, bitter hoppy flavour w/ substantial malt to effectively balance. Some dry, woody notes in the finish.

"Poured a nice amber with a foamy head. Aroma was grapefruits and piney. Flavor was much the same. CItrus and pine with some carmel malts. Soild beer. "

On Cask at Mahar’s (anyone jealous?)... aroma: splendid hoppy mix with a farm kinda earthy, swarthy feel to the nose. bitter, smooth, and funky in the mouth somehow in a transformation on the tongue over time. Hop sweet chocolate in a light amber colored ale? Quite complex and fulfilling. Has a nice eggshell head with long retention (like the Germans, I appreciate me some good head. well, not that much head). So many flavors roll through consciousness: vanilla, caramel, citrus, and numerous shades of each and amazing combinations and complexity of flavor. Feel priveliged to have had this on cask, betting the bottles are pretty damn good, but this was a special experience and a great first beer to have as my reintroduction to Mahar’s.

Lightly hazed golden ale with a thin white head. very sweet malt caramel aroma, light and restrained, a bit buttery. In mouth, rich pinhous hops come out well, with smokey malts, like a fine scotch, long in mouth, warming, and smooth. Rich bodied. On Tap at Blue Tusk, Feb.3, 2006.