Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
11/13/05 - Tower version: This beer is just as good as it was from the firkin. Served in a snifter. Pure black with a thin and lasting brown head. Big malt and bourbon aroma. Velvety smooth and rich body with a nice concoction of chocolate, malt and bourbon flavor. The alcohol is not dominant but you know it’s there. The finish is somewhat bitter coffee and hops. I score this the same as before, this will be a staple beer for me as long as they have it.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Sample at Barley’s Smokehouse. The beer is a clear bright gold color with a thin white and foamy head that diminishes quickly. Spotty lacing on the glass. Malty aroma with a bit of spiced hops. Light body with flavors of bready malt and mild hops. The finish is short with a lightly bitter hops aftertaste. Middling overall.
Dogbrick (24210) reviewed Ali Ali Ale from Smokehouse Brewing Company 16 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
On draught at Barley’s Smokehouse. The beer pours a clear dark orange-amber with a thin off-white head that dissipates to an outer ring. Vertical columbus of lacing on the glass. Malty aroma with hoppy spikes. Medium, smooth body with flavors of caramel malt and raw hops. Touches of ripe fruit as well. The finish is sweet and malty but leaves a bitter aftertaste. A different take on their flagship MacLenny’s, and a decent brew overall.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
On draught at Barley’s Smokehouse. The beer pours a lustrous reddish-orange color with a medium beige head that diminishes slowly. Stringy lacing on the glass. Malty aroma with a moderate hops balance. Medium, smooth body with sweet bready malt equaled out by an underlying hoppy character. The finish is malt up front with a lightly spiced hops aftertaste. Pretty good overall.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
@Pilsner Petes East Coast Gathering-bottle-pours a thin white head and amber/gold color. Aroma is resin/herbal/marigold hops, some sweet medium malt. Taste is resin/herbal/marigold hops with some bitter, some sweet medium malt. Thanks notalush for sharing.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Growler from Puddintane (thanks so much!), shared at Peter’s NY gathering - inviting, glowing cloudy golden beer - explosive hop aroma - every kind of hop character you can name - floral, spicy, grassy - the flavor is much the same - kind of an earthy hop onslaught - yea, the malt is there, but probably not in enough abundance to balance it to some people’s taste, which is completely understandable - I really loved the intense bitterness, though - finished peppery, with a hint of grass and citrus - yum.
Dogbrick (24210) reviewed 1516 Dunkel from Smokehouse Brewing Company 16 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
On draught at the Smokehouse. This brew is a dark brown color with a thin beige head that diminishes to a film steadily. Stringy lacing on the glass. Roasted malt aroma with notes of coffee. Medium, smooth body with flavors of toasted malt, moderately bitter coffee and hops. The finish is sweet malt followed by a lingering roasted coffee aftertaste. Not as sweet as many Dunkels but it kind of works.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
On draught at the Smokehouse. The beer pours a hazy orange color with a thin and bubbly off-white head that burns away to a film eventually. Craggy lacing sticks to the glass throughout. Citrusy hops aroma with a touch of malt. Medium-body with a robust bitter hops flavor. Notes of grapefruit/oranges, herbs and grass. Just enough malt balance to keep it from being harsh. The finish is hoppy with a lingering bitterness left over. Pretty solid overall.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
On firkin at the Smokehouse, served in a snifter. The beer pours a flat black color with a minimal light beige head that disappears quickly. Spotty lacing on the glass. Aroma of roasted malt and dark cherries. Full body with flavors of roasted malt, coffee and subtle sour cherry. The finish is dry with notes of coffee and dark fruits. Overall this beer is pretty good, as the fruit does not overpower the original recipe.
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 3 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4
Sample at Barley’s Smokehouse. This election-season beer is a hazy yellow color with a thin and foamy bone white head that recedes quickly. Stringy lacing. Aroma of astringent hops and bananas. Light-bodied with an harsh hops and yeast flavor that makes me wonder if there was an infection. The finish is sharp hops and sweet fruit. Not very enjoyable on any level. Ironically this beer is about as successful as the target of its namesake.