Otter Creek Double Decker Olde English Holiday Ale

Brewed by Otter Creek Brewing
Style: English Strong Ale
Middlebury, Vermont USA

Date: 10/23/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

muddy brown, whispy beige head, a bit of drippy lace, creamy body, rich chocolate malt aroma and flavor, a touch of dry cocoa character, slight spicyness caused by light engligh hops, light balancing bitterness

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.2/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4

(22oz bottle) Clear red-brown body with small beige head. Aroma is medium sweet, chocolate, some herbal. Taste is medium sweet, chocolate, caramel, herbal/grapefruit. Nice hop burp. Medium body, light stickiness. The first few sips are malty, but gradually the hops begin to assert themselves.

Orange to copper body is crowned by a filmy off-white head. Mild roastiness accompany the straightforward toffee malts for a direct sweet and toasty global feel. The hops surprise though, they are much more present than you’d expect, very herbal. A beginning of oxidation is betrayed in mouth by developing oldish apple notes coming through in a tartish fashion. Otherwise, it seemed pleasant enough, well herbal and gently caramelly with active rather than passive hops. Sparse bubbles, medium bodied.

Draft… Clear, dark amber ale with a small, creamy, khaki head. Great retention. Malty, fruity nose with a big whiff of golden raisins. Likewise, the flavor is malty and rich with notes of straw and toffee. The alcohol is completely buried underneath additional notes of orange/yellow, dried fruit. Medium-bodied and velvety with lively carbonation. Dry, grassy finish.

Deep amber mahogany ruby pour has a thin light tan head with thin lacing. Lightly spiced, cinnamon and dry malty caramel nose. Body starts sweet, spiced, and malty with a dry earthy spice balance. Smooth, yet full, body finishes lightly toasty, crisp, and bittersweet. A nice winter warmer.

The Lure:
Earth-wearing prunes nearly cover the caramel maltiness and butterscotch grease. All is subtle, but cohesive.

The Festivities:
Roasted malts lend a little bitterness after their wise flavoring, aptly blending in with the earthy tones. Grapes and berries render complexity to it all, but on the whole it remains laid back and unassuming.

Transcendence:
Guided tours only scratch the surface.

Pours copper with a white head. Smells of earth, some spice, tea, some sweet hints. Tastes sweet and earthy with a light spicy finish. Enjoyable.

22 oz bottle. Deep amber beer with a thin off-white head. The aroma is quite fruity initially with notes of red grape, cherry and berries. As the temperature comes up a bit there is a fairly nice chocolatey/earthy maltiness. Flavour is fairly sweet with a bit of licorice that really picks up as the temp comes up even more. Light orange marmalade, raisin bread toast adn a soft earthy hoppiness with a light spiciness. This is quite a nice brew.