The Tap Albert Anderson (A.A.)

@ The Horseshoe Pub. Good nose, sweet. Subtle, yet complex. Spice, corriander/clove. Dried fruit, fig/date. Vanilla/brownsugar. Tad hazy reddish brown, small head, minor lacing. Sweet & spice flavors. Like aroma with the corriander and vanilla standing out the most. Medium to thick body, creamy viscous mouthfeel, Sweet finish that lingered. Nice, has hints of Berkshire Holidale (to me anyway). Nice to see the Tap distributing.

Draught tulip at the brewpub, 12/18/2005. A beautiful, deep and unfiltered magenta-garnet backdrop to an amber-auburn body, with a neat off-white to beige head that is well-retained and provides light lacing. Aroma is at first spicy (cinnamon, clove, allspice), though not evident of actual spices being used. Notes of sweet dates, figs and a fair amount of caramel malt/caramel sugar residues. A slight drying touch of vanilla and bits of plums and cherries. The flavor is fully malty, very sweet and full-bodied, with cherries, dates and raisins, light alcohol warmth and a touch of breadiness, though not too strong on the end. Hops are spicy and at times soily and green, while there is some faint toasted grain notes. Supple, creamy texture and low carbonation. Alcohol well-concealed. Another exemplary rendition of the classic English style. Perhaps a little malt heavy, preventing the yeast from really shining (not as much playful, light fruitiness) and not allowing some of the more subtle malt notes to develop and thus not as complex as a Fuller’s vintage ale, but a remarkable texture and very clean on the end.

Brown sugar and molassas aroma. Hazy light brown color with a spiced malty flavor.