I want something totally different from anything I have ever enjoyed!
Have you ever slowly savored Laphroaig at room temperature with just the slightest wee dash a cool water in a snifter. This is what I am seeking in a new beer. Not really a Scotch or even Scottish ale, but something truly unique.
Laphroaig instantly takes me to Scotland due to its peat notes, wonderful esters, smoothness, almost a light creaminess in terms of mouth feel, and, of course, the warm glow experienced even in sipping. Even before drinking it, as it warms just a bit in the snifter, there is the enjoyment of the aroma.
SO, applying the sensory perceptions of color, texture, flavors (all of them), and aromas, what does this mean in a beer.
The presence of rich, but NOT heavy, peat is a must. But this would have to be an authentic peat, not the cloying heavy aromas I have sometimes smelled that have been more musty than that natural, barely sweet aroma of GOOD peat.
Beneath the obvious distilled alcohol scotch aroma of Laphroaig there are many subtle complexities such as a barely discernable vanilla and caramel that combine perfectly with the peat
Mouth feel is important, but not a heavy, syrupy, sticky thickness like a porter or some stouts, nor a watery/too light texture.
This would not be a very sweet flavor either, but nor would it be an in the face hops flavor or aroma. In fact the hops would barely be noticeable in the flavor and minimally there in the aroma.
Certainly, minimal carbonation.
This is not a porter, a stout or similarly heavier beer. Body is fine, but NOT the super sweet or even heavily discernable alcohol for the sake of alcohol taste.
I think this would be a moderately rich beer, but made rich by its balance, aroma, and the layers and depth of flavors.
Your thoughts? How do we get there?
Have you ever slowly savored Laphroaig at room temperature with just the slightest wee dash a cool water in a snifter. This is what I am seeking in a new beer. Not really a Scotch or even Scottish ale, but something truly unique.
Laphroaig instantly takes me to Scotland due to its peat notes, wonderful esters, smoothness, almost a light creaminess in terms of mouth feel, and, of course, the warm glow experienced even in sipping. Even before drinking it, as it warms just a bit in the snifter, there is the enjoyment of the aroma.
SO, applying the sensory perceptions of color, texture, flavors (all of them), and aromas, what does this mean in a beer.
The presence of rich, but NOT heavy, peat is a must. But this would have to be an authentic peat, not the cloying heavy aromas I have sometimes smelled that have been more musty than that natural, barely sweet aroma of GOOD peat.
Beneath the obvious distilled alcohol scotch aroma of Laphroaig there are many subtle complexities such as a barely discernable vanilla and caramel that combine perfectly with the peat
Mouth feel is important, but not a heavy, syrupy, sticky thickness like a porter or some stouts, nor a watery/too light texture.
This would not be a very sweet flavor either, but nor would it be an in the face hops flavor or aroma. In fact the hops would barely be noticeable in the flavor and minimally there in the aroma.
Certainly, minimal carbonation.
This is not a porter, a stout or similarly heavier beer. Body is fine, but NOT the super sweet or even heavily discernable alcohol for the sake of alcohol taste.
I think this would be a moderately rich beer, but made rich by its balance, aroma, and the layers and depth of flavors.
Your thoughts? How do we get there?