Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
Sample in a flight at the Unknown Brewery. Pours black, with a small, but persistent tan head. Nose is coffee, anise, pumpernickel, and some light spice. Sweet, with a significant bitterness, and a touch of spice. Heavy body, sticky, and a little chalky. This is a nice, interesting porter. Very different.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
In the can @ home, thanks to jcnielsen for sending. Pours a deep brown appearance with a huge brown head. The aroma is pretty nice with notes of toasted nuts, smoke, char, and coffee. Medium body. Moderate plus bitterness. Moderate low sweetness. Lots of char and tar on the tongue. A bit smoky. Pretty good.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
Keg at Foggy Mountain BP, Asheville, 16/02/15. Lightly hazed golden with a moderate off white head. Nose is spice, ginger, light citric peel, straw. Taste comprises Jamaica Ginger Cake, spice, toffee, dark fruit notes, light honey tracer. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close. Ok for the style, does what it says on the tin!
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Bottle shared at a tasting. Pours a slightly hazy golden with a medium sized creamy tan head. Good head retention. Aroma of pepper, salt, pale malt, floral hops. The taste is citrus, tropical fruits, peppers, pale malt. Medium bodied, nice balance. Not overly done with the peppers, thank you!
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
22 oz bottle shared by a friend. Amber with off-white head. Aromas of pine, floral, citrus, biscuit. Tastes of citrus, pine, floral, malt, bitter hops. Medium body with a dry finish.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
Location: Draft at Brixx - Uptown Charlotte, 1/28/15
Aroma: This beer has a lightly hoppy aroma, with citrus and a little pine.
Appearance: Pours a gold color with a small, sheeting head and fairly heavy lace.
Flavor: The taste is pretty similar, it is mildly sweet with a mid-plus bitterness.
Palate: It is a medium bodied beer, leaning light, with a fairly dry finish.
Overall Impression: I thought this was a solid, but slightly flawed/underwhelming pale ale. It is decent for the style, it just isn't great.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
12 oz can poured into a Spiegelau tulip, thanks to a friend! Hazy dark orange with a large four fingers of beige head. Aromas of citrus, floral, biscuit. Tastes of citrus, toasty notes, biscuit, spiced bread. Medium body with a dry finish.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Location: Nitro at World of Beer, Charlotte, 1/19/15
Aroma: This one has a mostly coffee and chocolate aroma.
Appearance: Brown color with a thick, creamy, lasting brown head and heavy, coating lace.
Flavor: Balanced between sweetness and roast, mildly bitter.
Palate: It feels creamy and smooth, super easy drinking, with a lightly dry finish.
Overall Impression: This was a pretty nice one. I honestly really didn't expect this level of quality. The nitro treats this well.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
12 ounce can from Whole Foods Tunnel Road Asheville. Appears to be dated March 2014 though I bought it two days ago. Pours a hazy copper with a large frothy off-white head. Good head retention. Aroma of earthy, piney hops. The taste is bitter earthy, resiny hops, caramel malt. Medium bodied, lingering bitterness. Solid.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Location: Drafts at BBQ place in Charlotte, 11/24/14
Aroma: Fairly hoppy aroma, some citrus/tropical notes, grassy hops, and a little toffee/caramel
Appearance: The color is orange-amber, with a decent sized off-white head and decent lacing
Flavor: Tastes clean and fairly hoppy, nicely bitter, with a good amount of balancing sweetness
Palate: The body is medium, a smooth, clean feel, average carbonation, and a fairly dry finish
Overall Impression: I thought this was a solid, drinkable IPA. One of those beers with the clean hops that make it go down easy, maybe even dangerously so. Paired well with the BBQ. I'd drink this again.