Mishawaka Seven Mules Strong Ale

Brewed by Mishawaka Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Mishawaka, Indiana USA

Date: 07/21/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Indy

clear gold, frothy cream colored head, drippy lace, big sweet candy malt aroma, big sticky body, huge sticky sweet malt flavor, only a hint of bitterness for balalnce to keep the sweet from running wild, a hint of alcohol in the finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: **4

12oz bottle acquired in trade with jimbowood (thanks!). Poured a deeper and cloudy amber color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of caramel, citrus, floral and a little buttery. Tastes of caramel, citrus, some cherries, and toffee. Very light trace of alcohol in the finish. I’m on the fence with this one. Some times I found myself really enjoying it, while other times it really wasn’t doing anything for me. Strange...

Bottle courtesy of ucusty: Pours a bright copper bronzed with a large clingy-lacing white head. Aroma of sweet caramel and honey with some graininess and noble hops. Body starts pale malty sugary sweet and slightly earthy bitter with a hint of diacetyl and light fruitiness. Finishes with a peppery bitterness and alcoholic warmth. Reminds me a lot of a malt liquor. Glad to see Mishawaka experimenting with bigger styles, just wish this one was a little more well crafted.

Bottle courtesy of stfun. Pours copper with a white head. Smells malty, sweet and earthy. Tastes moderately bitter with lots of caramel.

My bottle reads Seven Mules Kick-Ass Ale. The description calls it the brewer’s "version of a summer Barleywine," so I’m not sure why it’s called an American Strong Ale on the site, especially given its flavor and high ABV. I’m siding with the brewery, the folk who intended this to be a barley wine, on this one. Anywho - it pours a light golden amber body with a creamy white head that laces in slippery sheets. The aroma is light malts with a pad of butter and some floral bitterness. The flavor is a sweet fruity malt balanced by a citric zest bitterness that lingers long into the finish. Except for its quick warming effect, the alcohol remains well hidden. Not complex, but a very drinkable and enjoyable barley wine styled ale.

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Bottle. Poured clear dark brown color with medium off-white head that mostly lasting with fair lacing. Aroma was sweet malt and tart fruit. Flavor was a moderate balanced with a moderate bittersweet finish of moderate duration. Medium body with a sticky texture. Good brew.

Bottle: Honey hued with a short lived head but oily tears, some lace. The aroma has notes of fig, strawberry, honeydew, belgian candi sugar, floral and earthy esters, and vinous phenols. The taste starts candy sweet and noticeable malt backgorund. A good amount of hop bitters and spice keep it from becoming cloy. The feel is slightly sticky, astringent at the end. I like it and it is the one Mishawaka beer that truly could use some aging.

Poured a hazy light orange-copper color with a medium but quickly diminishing off-white head. The beer looked thick during the pour. Sweet fruity (light fruits) malt and a little citrus hop underneath. Citrus and fruity flavor. Some sweetness with a semi-dry and moderately bitter finish. Medium bodied. As the beer warmed more fruitiness came out. The alcohol is mostly hidden with a touch of pepper on the finish. Not as bad as others might suggest.