Pizza Port 547 Haight

On cask at PP Carlsbad. Appearance is a clear amber hue, lively patch of bubbles on top, minimal lacing. Smell is big caramel and toffee malts, dark fruits, and piney hops. Taste mostly follows the aroma, the sweet malts dominate throughout, alcohol warming also hits the palate strongly and doesn’t let go, pine hops, anise, molasses show up in the middle, finishes bitter and malty. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, thick and chewy texture, mild carbonation (cask!). Drinkability is moderate, the alcohol is definitely stiff at 10% and the malt/hop profile is in your face, might be a little less edgy on draft.

Sampled at ’08 BSAF. Beer is cloudy, medium/dark mahogany brown with a small, off-white, frothy, mostly and quickly diminishing head.<P>The aroma is malty with a light notes of toasted nuts, caramel, moderate toasted grain, cookie, singed bread crust; Hoppy with moderate notes of resin/pine, light/moderate notes of flowers, vibrant lemon zest, trace of grass; Yeasty with a light sweat note; Light miscellaneous note of alcohol.<P>The flavor is moderately sweet, moderately/heavily bitter, lightly acidic with a very long, heavily bitter, light/moderately sweet finish. Slightly nutty retros.<P>The body is light, the texture is watery and the carbonation is average.

2008 Strong Ale Fest (Boulder, CO): Finally getting back to some notes ... Red-brown hue. Lively carbonation. Chalky texture. Very toasty, with rich notes of toffee, chocolate, caramel, candy. Sprightly hops and a healthy bitterness rounded things out nicely.

Tasted at the 5th Annual (2008) Triple Rock Firkin Fest. This American Strong Ale pours a medium red amber color from the firkin. Small sized head. The aroma grapefruity hops, caramel and sweet. A medium bodied American Strong Ale. The malts are caramel, fruity and sweet. The hops are grapefruity and citrusy. This beer is a veritable hop assault, there is a lot of hop bitterness, mostly at the front. The soft carbonation is kind of weird in a beer this hoppy, but it works. The hop bitterness at the start are mellowed somewhat my some sweet malts in the middle, leaving you with a somewhat bitter beer at the finish. Nice. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is crisp and dry. Aftertaste is bitter.

On tap @ PP Carlsbad. Nice red color. Super hoppy nose. Flavor is just as you would expect from PP: Floral, citrus, hoppy. With a nice malt background A fitting tribute.

On tap at Hamiltons and Pizza Port Carlsbad. Pours with a deep red body topped by a medium thick to thick, off-white head with lots of lacing. It’s sweet and malty yet bitter and hoppy with an underlying note of fruit and alcohol. full bodied and smooth yet warming.

Draught at 6th Boulder Strong Ale Festival. Pours clear tawny with an average, fizzy, off-white head, lasting with good lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (grain, cereal, meal), average hops (flowers, herbs), average yeast (sweat, leather) with notes of dates and apple. Medium bodied, sticky texture, average carbonation, and an astringent finish. Average duration, light sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.

On tap @ Boulder Strong Ale Fest poured a clear reddish amber with a small lasting amber head. Aromas of orange, grapefruit, pine, earthiness and carmel. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of carmel, grapefruit, earthiness and wood with a smooth dry lingering bitter finish.