Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Review from notes, Sample at The Microbrew Invitational 6/3/2017 Dark brown bordering on black. Rich chocolate aroma and flavor somewhat sweet but pretty tasty.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Shut Up Kelly! from Bone Up Brewing Company 9 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Draught at the brewery, 10/14/16.
Dark black with deep mahogany highlights and a dark beige head atop showing moderate retention.
Very roasty in the nose, but with a balancing chocolate-tinged sweetness. Almost a lactic character and definite notes of soy, prune and light vanilla. Very aromatically straightforward for a porter, but clean and I like the extra acidity and fruitiness here. No alcohol noted.
Tons of chocolate and easygoing coffee-like flavors in the mouth with a fairly dry, medium body showing moderate to low carbonation and some light softness from the malts. Vanilla, light prune and caramel all linger nicely on the end, with the roast keeping things dry and snappy. Quite drinkable. Glad mine didn’t taste like the previous rater’s!
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Bullhead from Bone Up Brewing Company 9 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5
Draught at the brewery, 10/14/16.
Dark copper-caramel-amber body is clear and topped by a beige head that is small and moderately-well retained.
Red fruits, vegetal, green hops and lots of grassiness in the nose give way to bready grains, light roast suggestions and pepper and herbal notes on the end. Some light honey-vanilla-like malts in there as well.
Bready, rather monotonous flavors with light pepper and grass and moderate bitterness. Fruitiness is low and the hops add light pine and grapefruit, though most of it bitterness. Probably could stand to use a whole lot less hops in the boil and more on the whirlpool, not just in this beer but in most of their beers. Slick, somewhat hard texture and peppery carbonation. No flaws or alcohol.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Jimbo Jaliper from Bone Up Brewing Company 9 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4.5
Draught at the brewery, 10/14/16.
Good clarity throughout this copper-blonde beer. Off-white head atop is small and shows moderate retention.
Lots of clove with light bubble gum and bananas soaked in vanilla sugar. Breadiness comes on quickly from the specialty malts and dries things out, somewhat, while the finish has more peppery phenols and light alcohol heat. Peachy fruits and piney hops make it rather messy, all around.
In the mouth, it’s got a rather hard, specialty malted texture, with moderate carbonation and lots of alcohol warmth. Too much hop bitterness, alongside bready malts and strong, aggressive esters. Way too forceful all-around and quite messy. Not sure what was intended here.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Key Lime from Bone Up Brewing Company 9 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Draught at the brewery, 10/14/16.
Pale, straw-golden body has a light haziness to it and is topped by a fairly small, off-white head with moderate to moderately low retention.
Lime, lemon, cake icing and lots of honey in the nose allows only a bit of pepper phenol and a touch of light apple and bubble gum ester. There’s a good acidity from the lime, which helps break some of this up, and there is light biscuity malt in the background, further breaking up the sweetness. Didn’t get any of the lactose in the nose, which is probably a good thing. Otherwise, very, very vaguely witbier-like, but more of a golden ale with lime juice. No alcohol or flaw.
Tart and citrusy in the mouth, though it certainly has a grainy and malty texture. The lactic, milk character is hidden, though the sugar itself is felt. There is a light funky, earthy element to it. Lots of vanilla sugar and cake icing-like notes on the finish with the lime acids lingering sharply. Innovative, for sure, but a little too punchy with the citric acid and sweet/sour combination. Moderate, somewhat sharp carbonation.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Redeemer from Bone Up Brewing Company 9 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Draught at the brewery, 10/14/16.
Dark mahogany with good clarity and a large beige head atop that faded steadily to cover.
Dry coffee in the nose mixes with granola and light plums to add a very grainy, crunchy, roasty, mildly vinous feel to it. You can smell the slight tannin/astringent character from such a low abv beer here, but it’s not problematic. Could definitely use a bit more softer honey or caramel character, perhaps, but it smells like a dark mild, to be sure. Low on the hops with just a light smattering of pepper and grass. No alcohol or flaw.
Fairly soft, if somewhat slick texture with a good dryness to the beer and lots of dry cocoa and coffee. A hint of sourdough and tannic grain, with very light honey-vanilla coming late. Ends on a light milk chocolate-like note. Quite drinkable, with a good helping of bitterness from both roast and lightly from the hops.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Draught at Buk’s Cambridge, 7/8/16.
Quite dark, is this an English-style pale ale? We’re talkin’ dark amber with some deep copper-golden highlights. High clarity and a beige head atop is small and shows modest retention.
Honey, caramel, lime, pine, orange rind and iced tea in the nose shows a pretty straightforward East Coast IPA-style grain and hop bill, it seems. Thankfully, it’s not too heavy on the crystal malt apparency, with only a touch of iced tea and no big toastiness or intense caramel. The hops are a little lackluster; certainly nothing innovative, but at least they’re not overly resinous. More orange rind, black pepper, earth and dried herbs linger with no alcohol or flaw.
Tons of orange, caramel, honey, biscuit and light graininess in the flavor adding up to a medium-full bodied take on the style with straightforward, moderately bitter C-hopping complemented by light floral and peppery hop notes. Malts distract somewhat, adding lots of grain, caramel, and light iced tea. A fair bit of softness at times and an engaging carbonation really help keep it drinkable.