Enjoyed at gabf 2014. This 2010 vintage pours with a deep copper body that has amber hues and that supports a dark tan head of foam. The aroma offers up malt sweetened pine, some booze enhanced molasses and it almost seems like there’s a light barrel character going on here but I could be wrong. The light “barrel note” seems kind of bourbon like. Oh my! The taste is rich and delicious. I get smooth malts, sweet nectar like molasses, slivers of aged pine hops that blend in oh so well. This slides effortlessly into the finish creating a terrific sipping experience.

This 2005 vintage hand bottled 12oz-er is courtesy of the Schooner’s brewer Craig, thanks buddy! Pours clear clean copper with gold edges and nice tan head. The aroma is big with chewy sticky caramelized malts mixed with well aged pine hop bitterness that has rolled over into a nice semi sweet smelling pine hop flavor. The taste begins with a soft pine hop flavor that grows malty with slices of dark fruit like figs and raisins. Then midway pale malts with caramel candy surface along with a bit of alcohol warming. YUM. Toward the finish I get a pine hop leaf vegetable type sensation from what I would guess to be prolonged dry hopping. If so it has been blunted with age. There is also a orange hard candy note that rides along into the after taste along with thick chewy malts and a lingering soft pine hop flavor. 4.2.