 ElGaucho (1721), Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Feb 11, 2008
Draft at Winterfest ’08. Honey is the pervasive element in the aroma. Honey beers never really wow me; I usually find them too sugary. Hazy gold body. Larger bubble ring. Not much head or lace. First taste reminds me of urinal patties. However, as it warms and as I get used to the idea that there are 10 varieties of honey melding together to create the flavor then it improves. Substantial alcohol and honey evoked the kamikaze at one point. As big a fan as I am of Town Hall and the vast majority of their beers, this one is just ok.
Pigfoot (2224), Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Jul 21, 2008 Eye of the Storm, 10th Anniversary Beer, 2007
10% alcohol, 10 varieties of honey.
Slightly hazed orange coloring, slimmed white head.
Aroma is sweetness and citrus, honey and orange...which blossoms where harvested here? 10 of them, we know, but what kinds are a mystery. Flowery, almost, but not quite perfumey...with a solid malt base behind. Quite intriquing and utterly unique.
Taste: slick, and sweet, with a bold, big flavor. One of the fullest bodied of any honey ales I’ve ever had. There’s a tidy hop buzz going on on top, and just the right malt ballast below, but this tasty honey base makes this ever-so delicious.
Supposedly 10% alcohol, for the 10 years of Town Hall, but I’m not feelin’ it...yet...no, wait...it’s starting to blaze!
Is it an ale? Or a mead? Or a honeywine? Or...???
Not that I care, it’s just super-delicious in my book. Any time a brewer takes chances and comes up with some incredible new wrinkle in the folds of the beer style catalog, I’m on the cheering squad...but, only if it tastes as good as this!
Big carbonation in the mouthfeel with this one, bristling along the tongue, who knows what hops are at use, but the honey is larger in the profile of this guy. Full-bodied, with a big, thick, nearly viscous mouthfeel.
Dang, it’s good! Wish their bottling lines were ready in time for this one, it’s one to keep, and share, and have around for the good times and celebrations!
Damn! Wow! Cool! Other! One! Word! Exhultations!
Honestly, outside of Dogfish Head’s Midas Touch, I don’t think I’ve had any beer quite like this...and that one was far too thick and un-beer-like. This is so nice...it’s good enough to salute 10 years of great beers and plenty of innovation, too! Hats off to Pete and Mike and the whole crew, long may they wave!
awaisanen (1131), Irvine, California, USA
Nov 14, 2007 GABF 2007. Pours a thick transparent gold color with a thin white head. The lacing on the glass is thick enough to suggest a viscosity close to mead. The aroma is sweet enough to also suggest this same fermented genre, bringing out rich honey and floral spice in the nose. Excessively heavy, syrupy sticky body. A big blast of blackberry fruit comes through strong and pleasantly up front on the palate, but this eventually gets muddied by the sweetness of the honey, along with a flurry of other spices. There isn’t anything off about this, but it’s just far to heavy, busy, over-spiced, and hot to be considered good. Interesting concept - the name is very fitting.
zeke626 (208), Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Nov 2, 2007 Beer release during the Town Hall 10th anniversary celebration. Yellow pale gold body with white head. Aroma was flowery hops and faintly spicy. Body is slightly heavier than one would expect. The flavor of the beer is interesting consisting of multiple spices, some grainy malts, and some kind of sweetness. Finishes with a slight hop bite and little alcohol aftertaste that is not as strong as the ABV might suggest.
BDR (1862), Roseville, Minnesota, USA
Oct 31, 2007 ABR 2007. Clear gold color with faint head. Very sweet with faint honey character and a lot of hops. A little harsh on the finish. Some spice on the nose as well.
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