Signature Ale

Thanks to KingG for hooking me up with this 750ml. Strawberry-blonde beauty with a hint of honey color under a bright white head of fine bubbles and lace. Very delicate floral hoppy aroma, slight honeyed nose. Very fresh smelling. Biscuits and honey with spicy floral hop bitterness. Light, yet complex and refreshing with the hint of dry funk. Slightly sweet, but pretty clean finish. Dangerously drinkable. Very memorable.

2007 bottle sampled Feb ’08

Pours a deep golden orange with a modest head. Spicy-hop aroma, floral, pepper, bready tripel notes, and then this american IPA citric undernote - relatively subtle - that is quite nice. The beer really comes into its own as it nears and reaches room temperature. Dusty floral flavors, very soft brett, pear, pepper, mild tropical fruit (papaya, pineapple), small measures of candied orange rind, bready malts. Not exactly dry, just dusty, some sweetness throughout but with citrus-peel oils on the tail. Nice mouthefeel, small bubbles emerging to form a gentle but full body.

I like the beer a lot. It’s interesting but not self-absorbed or ostentatious, it’s quite drinkable (could be 6.5% instead of 8.5% for all I can tell), and it’s just very nicely crafted. I hope I have another bottle or two in the cellar because I’ll be interested to try it with a bit more age.

2007 bottle May ’09 Not sure the age has been entirely kind to this one. The citric hops have faded to an aged-barleywine style, which is nice but a bit out of place in this particular beer. At the same time, the banana esters have come forward, again a bit misplaced. I think I liked this one better fresh, but it’s still in the 3.8 range.

Deep golden to orange in color this poured a thick head of fine bubbles that dissipates steadily. The aromas were of flowers, yeast, coriander seeds (lemon), orange pulp and spices. The palate was medium-bodied with a bit of funk showing through the midpalate and finish. This seems a bit disjointed now and in need of a bit of aging. As a side note, the sample tried last month at Port Brewing Carlsbad was more in synch with a balance midpalate and finish. It also showed a bit more sweet malt which led to this balance. Note, the score is a balance of the two tastings.

Bottle from Winking Lizard. This beer is a lightly hazy amber-yellow color with a medium thick off-white head that diminishes steadily. Earthy hops, spice and citrus in the nose. Medium-bodied with a flavorful array of herbs/spices, fruits (banana and citrus), hops and malts. The finish is spicy and floral with a lingering citrus and yeast aftertaste. Overall this beer was a pleasant surprise.

Big thanks to BeerZach for sharing this bottle.
Pours a light hazy amber to golden color with a white head. Smell is honey-like floral and floral hops. Light pollen like smell along with a hint of funk. Very delicate, soft flavors and the 8.5% was hidden very well. Pretty nice.

Pours a pale amber with a decent off white head. Has a fruity cinnamon smell. Sour astringent taste that is difficult to nail down. I get citrus, spices, and an off wild yeast flavor. I know this sort of thing is a favorite with many, but I’m not one of them. Although I must say that I’m not a big fan, this did have some interesting qualities.

750 mL bottle purchased at Liquor Max in Loveland, CO. Pours clear amber with a small, frothy, white head, lasting with spare lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (hay, straw), average hops (grass, citrus, lemon), heavy yeast (horse blanket, barnyard, earth) with notes of coriander and dust. Light bodied, gritty texture, lively carbonation, and an astringent finish. Average duration, moderate sweetness and bitterness, light acidity. Flavor of band aids and plastic mixed with lemons. I was disappointed in this, especially having Tomme Authur contribute.

Bottle courtesy of jimbowood, thanks! Pours a cloudy golden color with a thin white head. Very attractive aroma of bubble-gum, fruits, spices and brettanomyces. Excellent flavor of bubble-gum, fruits, spices and brettanomyces, it’s also very dry. The body is medium with a creamy texture and moderate carbonation. This fruit of Tomme and Dirk’s collaboration is extremely well done and worthwhile.