rhoadsrage
Well-Known Member
Last night was the Fruitcake Old Ale from spyder2723 and it did not disappoint. For a brief moment I was in a British Pub described in a Dickens book while my kids were busy hitting ornaments of the Christmas tree and the wife was speaking a foreign language about camera lenses and warranties?
The nice psst while prying the cap of the bottle lead to a pour of dense woody brown beer that glowed a walnut color at the base and a thick film of bubbly tan head that fades to a sticky ring and clings to the glass in little dollops with each sip. There was a gentle carbonation of microbubbles that would trail up the side of the glass. Even during the pour the full aroma had a well blended slightly musty tartness that was soon overtaken by walnuts and paper straws with some vinous notes and a nice dry treacle note in the finish. As the beer opened quite a bit there was a hint of diacetyl butter character that I love in british beers and lends itself to a toffee quality and a faint spice warming comes through aswell. The initial taste has that cherry stone tartness that I love in Flanders reds and really adds depth to Old Ales. That flavor fades and the softer dark fruit notes and gentle molasses, brown malt and nutty qualities all come together, There is some toffee character that comes through aswell but the beer remains just on this side of dry in the finish. There is a wet wood and faint fruity tartness that come out after each sip and linger for a moment. The medium-full mouthfeel has a bit slippery with a gentle alcohol warmth on the back of the throat. Micheal Jackson would be proud of this beer. If you told me this had some age on it I would believe you. The alcohol is gentle but warming and all the depth of yeasty esters and malt flavors blend into a great old ale with some Port characters. This beer needs a fireplace and leather chair.
The nice psst while prying the cap of the bottle lead to a pour of dense woody brown beer that glowed a walnut color at the base and a thick film of bubbly tan head that fades to a sticky ring and clings to the glass in little dollops with each sip. There was a gentle carbonation of microbubbles that would trail up the side of the glass. Even during the pour the full aroma had a well blended slightly musty tartness that was soon overtaken by walnuts and paper straws with some vinous notes and a nice dry treacle note in the finish. As the beer opened quite a bit there was a hint of diacetyl butter character that I love in british beers and lends itself to a toffee quality and a faint spice warming comes through aswell. The initial taste has that cherry stone tartness that I love in Flanders reds and really adds depth to Old Ales. That flavor fades and the softer dark fruit notes and gentle molasses, brown malt and nutty qualities all come together, There is some toffee character that comes through aswell but the beer remains just on this side of dry in the finish. There is a wet wood and faint fruity tartness that come out after each sip and linger for a moment. The medium-full mouthfeel has a bit slippery with a gentle alcohol warmth on the back of the throat. Micheal Jackson would be proud of this beer. If you told me this had some age on it I would believe you. The alcohol is gentle but warming and all the depth of yeasty esters and malt flavors blend into a great old ale with some Port characters. This beer needs a fireplace and leather chair.
