6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Appreciably bitter, yet a bit off-balance, although I’m not quite sure how. Let’s figure this out: starts with an immediate pungent dose of vegetal hop mixed with heavy orange-grapefruit citric bliss, yet the malts feel a tad weak for such a heavily hopped IPA. Gains a dry, yeasty middle, leaning towards pepper and pine, then hits a black pepper and IBU finish. Fades with a resinous bitterness, yet never really separates itself from the IPA horde. Needs...something. I’m not a brewer; I don’t know. Just kinda blah, good but not a standout.
Tried
on 06 Mar 2017
at 20:08
6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Pour is a hazy orange with a large white head. Aroma is a old school west coast IPA with lots of pine and grapefruit. Flavor is pretty much the same very citrus forward with a bite of bitterness on the back end. No sweet malt was used and that’s a good thing letting the hop bitterness come through. This is as old school as it gets for IPA’S.
Tried
on 18 Feb 2017
at 19:14
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
3 week old bottle into an IPA. A: Clear tawny light orange with 1" of foam which fell in 3-4 minutes. Busy carbonation and good lacing. S: Very citrusy with orange and grapefruit dominating. T: Bitter and citrusy. Orange zest, pith and pine with a hint of sweetness all coming together nicely. A woody malt note finishes the sip. M: Fairly light bodied, crisply carbonated and refreshing. Slightly resinous finish. O: Maybe my favorite Highland IPA, the standard one is probably a bit tastier but I prefer the lower ABV of this one.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Feb 2017
at 17:41
8.3/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 10
Texture 6
Overall 8
Sample at NC Rare Beer Festival in Durham. This one exceeded all my expectations. Opaque dark brown color, beige head. Nice aroma of thin mints. Taste is rich chocolate and espresso and a subtle edge of bright mint. Delicious.
Tried
on 29 Jan 2017
at 07:31
7/10
Tried
on 18 Jan 2017
at 22:47
7.3/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7
Draft. Clear golden color, medium white head. Aroma of bready citrus. Taste is lightly bready fruit and straw. Decent.
Tried
from Draft
on 15 Jan 2017
at 16:52
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Can, Total Wine, West Richmond. Pours golden with an inch of white head. Immediate aroma of orange... also pine, grass... more candied orange. Flavor is orange peel, grass, bread and toasted crust. Boring.
Tried
from Can
on 13 Jan 2017
at 18:13
7.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
This brew pours a dark brown color with a medium beige head that dissipates steadily to an outer ring. Stringy lacing on the glass. Aroma of roasted malt, caramel and fruit. Medium body with flavors of caramel malt, spiced fruit and a touch of hops. The finish is sweet with a malty aftertaste. Above average overall.
Tried
on 03 Jan 2017
at 20:42
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Draft at Duckworths. Hazy amber brown color, see pic please. Aroma of mixed Christams spice. Taste is boozy spiced and sweet. Tasty.
Tried
from Draft
on 03 Jan 2017
at 19:56
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
22 ounce bottle into pint glass; no bottle dating, but is a recent seasonal release. Pours crystal clear deep ruby red/brownish color with a 1-2 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toffee, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, hazelnut, ginger, and toasted biscuit; with lighter notes of chocolate, cocoa, raisin, plum, berries, herbal, floral, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/bready/light roast malt, spices, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste big caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toffee, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, hazelnut, ginger, and toasted biscuit; with lighter notes of chocolate, cocoa, raisin, plum, berries, herbal, floral, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light herbal hop and spice bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toffee, vanilla, cinnamon, hazelnut, toasted biscuit, light chocolate/fruitiness, and herbal/yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roast malt, spices, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spice balance, and zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Light dryness from hop/spice bitterness as well. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, and slightly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.9%. Overall this is an excellent winter warmer. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roast malt, spices, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink. Follows the English style for the most part. Great malt complexity and underlying fruity yeast notes; nice spice balance without being overwhelming. A very enjoyable offering.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Jan 2017
at 20:43