Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Growler from Dirtymike at the 6/4/05 Mondial Gathering. Orange-amber, with a rusty sheen to it and hints of auburn waves giving a lightly layered appearance. Thin white head is fleeting, with little to no lacing. Clear consistency. Candied apples and chocolate in the nose, decent bocky-yeastiness. Definitely some sweet and tart fruits in the nose, cherries, plums, raisins. Flavor begins lightly dry, with an oily feel to it, but some yeast to chew on. Toffee and rich barley grains, giving a lightly roasted edge. Candied-roasted almonds on the end, moderately dry, with a touch of orange peel. Easygoing, low carbonation and mouthfeel. As it warmed and breathed, I got to liking it far more than my first sip, which seemed to dry, pale and oily.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Growler from Dirtymike at the 6/4/05 Mondial Gathering. Deep orange to light amber-auburn. Mostly clear with a small white head that recedes to ring. Oranges and honey, cascades and caramel. Citrus fruits/orange-rind in the flavor, with lightly dry herbs. Quite bitter, some orange-candy notes and a very bitter finish. Light yeast and doughy chewiness on the end, with a low, pleasant carbonation and medium to medium-full body. A traditional take on the American IPA, very classy and well-hopped, but does not leave out the malt (though it still is a bit too overly bitter for my tastes).
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Growler from Dirtymike at the 6/4/05 Mondial Gathering. Pale-amber color, with light violet tinges and a hint of auburn on the edge. White-pink head is ample-sized and lasting, with light lacing. Smells of blueberry juice, lightly tart, hints of pale grains and perfumey esters. Flavor of blueberry juice, blueberry skins and dry, grainy malt. Good malt sweetness and a wonderful balancing tartness that I have not found in other blueberry beers. Low carbonation, medium body. Not sweet and artificial in the least. A great introduction to the brewery! Kind of like the first batch of Au Courant, which I also absolutely loved. That smooth, honeyish malt in good quantity with a spicy/perfumey, tart fruit flavor.