Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Pamola from Baxter Brewing Co. 12 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4
Draught at Deep Ellum, 2/21 and 2/22/14
At first I thought they gave me the wrong beer. An odd, rusty amber color with a small white head. Moderately hazy...
Not much in the nose, some light biscuity grains, bitter, mineral-like, almost metallic hoppiness.
The flavor was a strange mix of brown bread-like maltiness, bitter, straw/grassy hops and lots and lots of buttercream and earthy/dirty yeastiness.
My first thought was that this was not poured through the tap well enough, but I saw about 5 other people drinking the beer and it was late on Friday night so that was hard to believe. Next thought was that it was a freshly delivered, shaken up keg (still wouldnt explain the rampant diacetyl). Anyways, I wasn’t going to rate it, until, the next day, the bartender (coincidentally, my ex-girlfriend) gave me a free pint of it. While the haziness has mostly subsided, the dark brown highlights had not, nor had the diacetyl. Not sure what was going on but not good. Will try it again some time, however.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Fresh can, Winter 2012-2013
Plentiful dark beige head tops this magenta-tinged ebony beer. Not opaque. Medium retention.
Lots of berry character; plums, blackberries, even a tart cherry like note. This gives way to light vanilla and dry roastiness, with only an afterthought of sweetness from the malts. Alcohol is well-concealed. Medium strength overall.
Not nearly as fruity in the mouth as expected, rather standard chocolate-like sweetness emanates from the malts, with the roast building up on the end, providing liquorice, prunes and light berry notes. As it warms, more sweetness emerges, making it more malt-forward. Carbonation is moderate, providing a good drinkability. Very impressed how well reserved the vanilla and cocoa nibs are. They barely play much of a role at all (the vanilla being slightly more noticeable).
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Stowaway from Baxter Brewing Co. 12 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5
Fresh Summer 2011 cans
Darker than a "West Coast" IPA usually is, with deeper orange and ambers. Clear, with a fair amount of white head that shows moderate retention.
Bitter, acidic hops in the nose are immediately joined by bready, earthy, dry malts. The hop pungency is mainly citric, with a touch of pine on the end, especially with warming, where I also get a touch of alcohol. Medium strength of aroma, quite hoppy, but more acidic than aromatic.
Hard crystal malt and acidic, citric hops wash over the palate, with a strong carbonation that does its best to fight the high acidity and maltiness. Citrus and pine and very straightforward, while there is probably more malt depth than hop. Sweet, candied orange is produced from the malt and citric hoppiness, while some dry, earthy flavors linger on the finish, along with a fair amount of pine sap and heavy acid bite. Way too heavy-handed for my tastes, lacking any finesse or subtlety. Seems much more in the vein of the old "East Coast" IPAs.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed On The Count Of 3 from Baxter Brewing Co. 12 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
2014 can, drunk 2/6/14
Moderate off-white head tops a cloudy light-amber tinted golden body. Head recedes quickly to cover leaving quite a bit of lace. Would expect better retention from all the wheat, but anyways.
Lots of plastic phenols in the nose, that and lots of doughiness. Not sure what’s going on here but it’s pretty far removed from the cleanliness and pure banana-clove of the classic german hefes. While there certainly are some esters to be had, they are pushed aside by a somewhat resinous/floral hoppiness that dosent seem to go anywhere. Medium strength of aroma, maybe a touch of alcohol.
Hoppiness is pretty raw in the mouth, just bitter pine and orange peel-like notes that are carried quickly to the finish, via the slick, almost creamy texture and engaging carbonation. If you look at this as some sort of strong wheat IPA, I guess it comes across better, but I just can’t get past the doughy yeast dullness, nearly astringent, overly-bitter hop profile and slight alcohol sharpness on the finish. The malt is done well, on the plus side, being well attenuated and leaving notes of warm, sweet white bread and touches of caramel. Throw some sapphire or just plain old hallertauer in here and I’m sold.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Can. Pours pretty black with a medium creamy brown head that sticks around and laces well. Aroma is chocolate roast. Flavor is much the same with a bit of coffee, some ashtray, and the faintest touch of vanilla. Light sweet, light bitter. Medium body, creamy. Far finish has lingering bitterness and cigarettes. Pretty decent.
Bytemesis (16229) reviewed Stowaway from Baxter Brewing Co. 12 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
Canned on 08/19 - thanks JBPortland! Pours hazy butterscotch amber with a medium creamy beige head and nice lacing. Aroma is pretty standard pine and caramel. Flavor is about the same, medium sweet and light bitter. Medium body, creamy mouthfeel. Not too bad despite having a bit of age on it.
TBone (30139) reviewed Stowaway from Baxter Brewing Co. 12 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Tap @Bukowski, Boston
Amber-orange color, good creamy off-white head. Piney-hoppy aroma. Medium-bodied. Fruity, slightly herbal, piney flavor. Ok average IPA.
RuneBlix (26316) reviewed Stowaway from Baxter Brewing Co. 12 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
Gravicask, at the American Bar, GBBF 2013, day 3. Orange coloured body, slightly hazy. Citrus hoppy nose. Fine blended flavours of fruity hops, sappy berries and caramel malts followed by a rather solid bitter ending. Well-made IPA, likable (London Olympia 15. 08.2013)
Beese (811) reviewed Stowaway from Baxter Brewing Co. 12 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Cask at Great British Beer Festival 2013. Poured an amber/ yellow colour with a halo of rocky, white head. Aroma of citrus, pine and sherbet. Orange peal and tropical fruit flavours which turn to rounded, increasing bitter hop resin notes with a biscuity malt backbone.
solidfunk (21946) reviewed Pamola from Baxter Brewing Co. 12 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Strong honey smell. Malt and hoppy mouth with a little more honey, or maybe it’s just my imagination. Pours cloudy blonde with good head and lacing. Tap at Novare Res.