The Tap Blonde Bombshell

Formerly brewed at Haverhill Brewery, Inc / The Tap
Style: American Strong Ale
Haverhill, Massachusetts USA

Candied corn aroma with plenty of fruity esters and some dough-like yeast. Clear golden body with light white head that recedes to ring and partial cover with some lacing. Candied corn flavour (mild DMS) with some fruity esters, light malts, herbal hop flavour and a fair bitterness. Medium body with a creamy texture that is fairly sticky and somewhat still with mild alcohol warming. On tap at the brewpub with ClarkVV, MartinT, muzzlehatch and Rastacouere.

New England Road Trip Easter ’05 with MartinT, tiggmtl and Rastacouere, beer #28. Sample at the brewpub, joined by the locquacious and sagacious ClarkVV. Clear copper-amber with some lacing and head...buttery-fruity, lightly spicy nose...light yeastiness, thick malty corn sugar and some late herbal hops...really like a more flavorful, more drinkable malt liquor than anything.

Clear straw yellow body wears a sticky and well laced abundant white head. Straightforward yet complex hop nose is adorned with a bold yeastiness that adds a doughy aspect. Strong orange overtones come out spicy and efficiently spicy. The yeast imparts a whole distinct layer of spiciness on its own (cloves, coriander), but really, what leads the march remain the massive hops. Citrusy palate feels a bit fuelic though you’d never guess this is 9%. Aptly creamy texture supports the weight of the beer adequately. Unspectacular, but pleasant ale.

Creamy grain and honey sweetness converge over a soft yeasty bite...Oranges, bananas and chick peas extend the landscape into interesting valleys and peaks...A warm and classy cushion...

On draught, 3/25/05 at the Tap with Martin, Stephen, David and Barry. Sampled from David’s glass. Pours a thick looking pencil yellow with some lighter golden tinges and a small, fluffy white head, not very long retained. Aroma of honey, slight corn, a bit of flowery hops and lightly fruity yeast. Flavor has a good malt backbone with creamy sweetness, moderate carbonation to add a good texture and only a small amount of hops bitterness. Solid yeastiness, adds a unique flavor of slight musty/dustiness and a bit of sourness. Body is medium to medium-full and there is no thinning on the end. Flavor is, perhaps, a little simple, but it’s well-made, with low alcohol apparency.

On tap at Anam Cara. I guess this is an American Stong Ale, since according to their website it’s a beefed up version of the Haverale. It’s hard to nail down by flavor though. From what I could see in the dark bar it’s deep brassy golden color with white lace around the side of the glass. Aroma is of light fruit and malt with a little hop backing. The flavor is semi-sweet with light hops and yeast. Very smooth with almost no sign of the 9% alcohol.