8.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Pretty opaque pour, with a thick ring of tan lacing - very prominent smoke in the aroma, earthy notes, chocolate - a very meaty porter - smoke flavors don’t overpower like in many other smoked beers, but rather, they intertwine with vanilla and cocoa, a bit of black cherry, oak, some caramel malt? - finishes quite dry, just some lingering wood and smoke - drinking this beer makes me feel like I’m camping in the depths of the alaskan wilderness, hunched over a roaring fire.
Tried
on 11 Dec 2005
at 20:07
5.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5.5
Bottle (Courtesy of FlacoAlto): Poured a clear deep amber color ale with a nice white bubbly head with average retention. Aroma of sweet malt with a subtle mix of spices. Taste is a mix between sweet malt and a subtle mix of spices. Body is a bit thin and I can’t say that I really tasted the spruce tips. I believe I would have appreciated this better with a stronger presence of spices.
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Nov 2005
at 10:34
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
On tap at Archer Ale House
Slightly muddy dark brown colour. Rich smoke character with sweet chocolatey porter notes and light hints of roast. Just meaty stuff this is. Flavour is very balanced, with good sustained smokiness and beautifully extracted milk chocolatey malts. I like the fact that I had it at Archer’s - Rick wouldn’t carry this beer because one year it was so smoky nobody would buy it.
Slightly muddy dark brown colour. Rich smoke character with sweet chocolatey porter notes and light hints of roast. Just meaty stuff this is. Flavour is very balanced, with good sustained smokiness and beautifully extracted milk chocolatey malts. I like the fact that I had it at Archer’s - Rick wouldn’t carry this beer because one year it was so smoky nobody would buy it.
Tried
from Draft
on 22 Nov 2005
at 04:08
5.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 2
Overall 6
This beer is for those who want to pretend they are drinking IPA.There is nothing wrong with this beer, a transition beer to be sure, but the lack of hops disqualifies it from being an IPA
Tried
on 22 Jun 2005
at 16:29
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
[At GABF 2004, Vintage 2003] A hazy copper colored beer with a lasting orange head. The aroma is sweet and very hoppy. The flavor sweet malty with distinct notes of hops - as well as notes of oranges slices dipped in sugar. The alcohol is very well hidden - it can only be felt on the tongue.
Tried
from Can
on 23 May 2005
at 15:29
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Dark brown, almost black body. Lovely smoked aroma. Nice rich, strong, smoked taste. Long aftertaste with dark chocolate and coffee. A very nice beer for relaxing moments.
Tried
on 08 Apr 2005
at 04:17
7.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Dark brown coloured body a nice tan head. Aroma of smoked peat and about nothing else. Medium-bodied; Full smokey flavour with a nice full taste. Aftertaste smokey and dark. Overall, great to drink and very nice to be able to sample. Thanks to EyedrinkAle for this beer! I sampled this 65 cL bottle after the RB party at Founder’s in Alexandria, Virginia at Mike’s (the_beer_god) hotel room on 20-November-2004.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Dec 2004
at 22:45
7.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle Pours a nearly black, very viscous with a medium foamy light brown head. This receded farily quickly and the lacing is coarse and blocky. The aroma is a very inviting sweet, molassas, chocolate and black licorice. Flavors are similar but a bit more smokey. A bit sour and somewhat dry for a sweet stout. Some hops here and a smooth feel but not particularly thick. Carbonation is quite lively. Finish is a slightly bitter smokey flavor.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Nov 2004
at 21:12
7.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottled. Reddish amber, fizzy head. Berries and toffee in the nose. Light-medium bodied with pleasant lively mouthfeel. Dry finish. Balanced and tasty.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Oct 2004
at 09:38
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle Pours a sparkling clear red/amber with a short fizzy head. Can't even maintain a little white skin so no real lacing. Aroma is sweet and fruity. Piney,apples, grapes, plums maybe. Flavor is a nice surprise. A bit fruity, spicy, raisons, ...busy. The spruce is not as obvious as I feared. The ABV is a touch high, you can tell. Feel is quite thin and somewhat watery, and the carbonation is very soft. Only a slight grassy aftertaste with just a trace of hops. Interesting twist.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Oct 2004
at 23:57