The Tap Cobblers Thumb

On draught, January 2005 @ the brewery. Hadn’t read the description or read up on the beer so I was expecting a Dortmunder because all it said was Export beer. Very deep cherry red-orange beer, quite hazy, transluscent and with a large, light beige head on it. Aroma smells of sweet oranges, candi sugar (though it’s just a heavily sweet malt I assume), and a touch of bitterness. Flavor starts out very malty. Tons of thick, sweet honey and sugar notes pour from the malt. Halfway through, there is a fruity, yet bitter hops sensation. After reading the commercial description, I definitely agree there is a unique hops flavor. It has a slight metallic, rusty flavor, but also an earthy, juicy, almost pine-like bitterness. Very cool beer. Finishes fairly balanced between hops and malt, though in the end this is just too heavily sweet. Creamy, easygoing mouthfeel. Fresh tasting and flavorful.