American strong ale – a loosely defined style I mostly associate with Stone’s Arrogant Bastard – from this somewhat old school, but never disappointing craft brewery in Texas. Bomber bought at Bierkoning in Amsterdam. Egg-white, mousy, medium thick, opening but stable head lacing in shreds ove a lighly hazy orange-hued, pure and deep amber coloured beer. Aroma of candied orange and marmalade, pink grapefruit, soggy toast, old biscuit cake, dried mango, cooked bacon (proteins), Cointreau. Cleanly fruity onset, dried mango and orange peel notes, softish carb; light umami accent from the proteins, again a bit cooked meat- or even cooked chicken-like. Smooth, oily body, toasty and lightly caramelly malt bittersweetness, the bitterness eventually highlighted by a drying, peppery and grapefruity, ‘old-fashioned’ U.S. hop bitterness, zesty and rooty, long and in itself accentuated by a whisky-like alcohol warmth. The aforementioned Arrogant Bastard must have been the ultimate source of inspiration here, this is a classically hopped, smooth and oily, malty and very American beer the way they were made fifteen years ago – and I still love them, amidst and at the root of all those tendencies towards sweetness we have seen in the past few years. Almost like a ‘light’ version of American barleywine. Lovely.

Bottle. Pours opaque black. large creamy brown head, dissipates slowly, good lacing. Aroma is milk chocolate, reeces, coffee. Medium sweet, reeces, medium bitter. Full body. IMO it is hard to to a PB stout well. Brash has succeeded.

Tap. Pours opaque black, small tan head, good lacing. Aroma is really rich espresso mocha. Flavors is light plus sweet, medium bitter, strong fresh espresso, mocha, hint of cigarette butts. Full body, creamy mouthfeel. Excellent beer, but much like actual coffee the flavor doesn't quite live up to the promise of the aroma.

Little stubby 33cl bottle pours a dark black with some khaki head. Nose is singular, plenty of spice, pepper, cinnamon, malt, cocoa powder. Flavor is sweet with cocoa and malt, molasses, cinnamon, raisin, ancho. Finishes with a peppery bite, but sweet too.

Tap. Pours black with a decent tan head and good lacing. Aroma of bourbon, chocolate, and vanilla. Taste is medium sweet, medium bitter. Full body. Gud.