San Diego Headwrecker Strong Ale

Brewed by San Diego Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
San Diego, California USA

On tap @ San Diego Brewing brewpub. I don’t know how this isn’t listed as a barleywine. The brewer Dean seemed to make it with the style in mind. Hmmm.

Anyway, it pours crystal clear amber with lasting white foam ring. The mild aroma is full of dark fruity esters and just a bit of phenols. Nice nose. The taste starts thick and sweet with rich sweet and ever building dark fruitiness with some pronounced cherries then plums, prunes, raisins and a bit of fig. There is a hint of alcohol warming that works very well with the whole experience. Lip smacking good barleywine with a faint under current of caramelized malts and pine hop bitterness. This is a young beer and darn tasty now. I’d love to try it again with a year or so of age.

From tap at the brewpub. Pours clear and deep amber with a small off-white head. Solid hoppy and dark caramel malty aroma. Solid hoppy, light fruity and dense caramel malt base flavoured. Bitter and dense hops fruity flavoured alongside a lingering sweet malt base into the far finish. A bit young but that is the condition of the turnaround on beers at the place.

At SDBC. A deep amber pour with a light sticky lace. A nose of malt and hops. A very good hop profile and malt backbone make this semi sweet beer very good. Mellow smooth palate that has good carbonation. Very hoppy very well balanced very good:)

Name: Homewrecker American Strong Ale
Date: 11/30/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Tasting, Strong Ale Fest

Appearance: hazy dark amber, fine dirty white head, drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet crystal malt aroma with lots of citrus hops,
Body: creamy sticky body,
Flavor: sweet crystal malt flavor, lots of flavorful citrus hops, light bitterness stays away from the hop flavor to add balance without taking anything away,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4
-------- /> Date: 12/04/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

Appearance: clear dark red, wispy beige head, streaks of drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet dark caramel malt aroma,
Body: big sticky body,
Flavor: sweet candy malt flavor, warming, light bitterness adds just a touch of needed balance but lets the malt be the star of the show, hint of alcohol gives a warm peppery finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.9/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

On tap. Clear warm reddish brown with a creamy off-white head. Intense aroma of caramel, nuts and aroma hops. Very full-bodied, burned caramel, nuts and a woody edge. Fairly bitter finish. A huge beer. 070709

Draft at brewery. Deep orange color with a decent head. Aromas lived up to the promise, lots of tangerine citrus in there. More citrus in the flavor. Not so much caramel, but still decent maltiness with a nice hop finish. Pretty good.

On draught at the brewery. Pours a clear red-amber with a moderate white head. Nice crystal malt aroma, sweet with hints of caramel, plentiful hops, floral, citrus and faint spruce. Toasty malt backbone, lots of hop flavors, piney, citrus and grassy, a little molasses, a dry character as well and noticible alcohol. Medium body and gentle carbonation. Another new good beer from SD Brew Co and big kudos to Dean for his revitalization of this long time San Diego brewpub!

Tap at SDBC. Deep amber beer with a thin white head. Aroma is lightly hoppy with alight pine/citrusy character. Some light alcoholic notes as well. Fairly malty middle with a bit of light toastiness and soft caramel character. Fairly resinous hoppiness that is more apparent on the finish than it is in the nose. A light, berryish flavour as well that adds a bit of complexity. It’s pretty solid actually with a bit of peppery alcohol on the back, especially as it starts to warm. Quite a nice beer, really.