Silphium (4309) reviewed Old Ringworm from McNeill's Brewery 20 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Reddish-brown body, thin off-white/buff head. Sweet, caramely aroma with hints of brown sugar. Quite light, at least compared to the other beers opened during the evening. Very sweet flavor as well, with brown sugar, toffee, and caramel, in addition to a touch of toast. Not very complex, but still decent. Thanks to OldGrowth for providing this as part of a trade.
Clarkvv (16760) reviewed Tartan Export Ale from McNeill's Brewery 21 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
2005 bottle. Unfiltered orange-tinted golden-brown with a rusty hue to it. Good off-white head recedes slowly to foamy cover. Smells of caramel, toffee, dirty yeast, a bit of rusty/iron-rich earth, caramelized sugar. Flavor begins dry and rather attenuated. But as it warms it gets lightly sweet. Some deep barley flavors, light roast, dark, lightly tart blackberries, salty mineral water and tons of dry toffee and faint hints of baker’s chocolate. Good mouthfeel, carbonation a bit on the high side, though. Runs a tenuous line of being not malty enough, but in the end, I liked the flavor profile. Medium body, smooth, easy palate.
Clarkvv (16760) reviewed Pullmans Porter from McNeill's Brewery 21 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
2005 bottle. Dark, unfiltered brownish-black color. Glossy and oily looking, with a good amount of beige head, some retention and lacing. Aroma has notes of light floral hops, green and distinctive, though not dominant by any means. More in the front is the roastiness and live yeast. Hints of dry smokiness, some dark chocolate and graham crackers. Flavor begins with some roasted barley dryness, a bit of chalkiness and yeast, with chocolate and light coffee, hints of bread. Finishes with a light green hops bitterness, just enough to add some complexity without being too bitter. Gains more malt sweetness, some sweet mocha tones as it warms. Body is medium, a bit watery at times, but to-style on that account. Take out some of the hops bitterness and throw in more yeast and you’d have yourself a lovely traditional English porter. The mouthfeel is certainly there, as it is in all of McNeill’s beers (low, soft carbonation, rounded, bordering on creamy feel).
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
[Cask at GBBF 2004] An amber beer with no head. The aroma is very grassy and the so is the flavor - it tastes like eating fresh hops - too much for me. The hops dries out the mouth.
Clarkvv (16760) reviewed Big Nose Blonde Ale from McNeill's Brewery 21 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
2005 bottle from City Market. Sampled with MartinT on 4/16/05. Hazy pale-golden body with a good amount of white head, lacing and retention. Aroma has light grains, some perfume, a whiff of vanilla and then mostly grassy, moderately bitter hops. Flavor is quite hoppy and dry to start, with a typical pale malt to add backbone. Never getting sweet, this beer stays dry, peppery and hoppy. The carbonation is natural, however and the hops flavor is very strong, though not overdone. Bits of herbal notes, lots of grass and flowers. Light fruitiness as well, on the end. Still, I would like a bit more sweetness than this one has. Comes off very dry and lightly papery/astringent on the end. Medium-light body does not get watery, however.
Lubiere (24605) reviewed Slop Bucket Double Brown from McNeill's Brewery 21 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Brown ale with a moka head. Caramel and porto in aroma, with light hops. Smooth sweet malt with torrefied coffee beans, caramel and molasses. Nice hops in finish. Good rich body. Dec. 2004.
Lubiere (24605) reviewed Old Ringworm from McNeill's Brewery 21 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5
1996 bottle, from Ray McNeil. Deep red brown ale with wonderful floating creatures. Vinous aroma with cinnamon overtones, complex and ever changing as beer warms up. Notes of rose water and candy sugar. Oily onctous body. Blended taste of malts, hops, lingering smooth bitterness, alcohol being camouflaged by all the ingredients. Wonderful, Thanks Ray. May 2004. Enjoyed with Capflu.
jgb9348 (11997) reviewed Imperial Stout from McNeill's Brewery 21 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Pitch black in colour with a huge thickness to it and a thin brown head. Aroma of roasted malt, coffee and a lot of fresh hops for the style! Full-bodied; Strong coffee & bitter roasted malt tastes with a good chocolate finish. Overall, great to try-many thanks to EyeDrinkAle for bringing this beer. I sampled this beer from a 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.
jgb9348 (11997) reviewed Green Mountain Gold from McNeill's Brewery 21 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Slightly hazy golden coloured body with a thinnish white head that dies down very quickly. Aroma of tart lemons, strong yeast, wheat and some light low a.a. hops. Light-bodied; Strong herbal flavours running in the palate with some good malt and even a subtle spiceyness. Aftertaste shows some of the hops, but not much, with a good malt backbone. Overall, a nice kolsch and another great beer to try! I sampled this 65 cL bottle at the November RB Party at Founder’s in Alexandria, Virginia on 20-November-2004.
jgb9348 (11997) reviewed Ruby Extra Amber Ale from McNeill's Brewery 21 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6
Clear amber coloured body with some subtle brown tints and a nice off-white head. Aroma of fresh hops, a pleasant freshness and some malt. Medium-bodied; Fresh hop flavour up front fading to malt. Aftertaste shows no signs of the hops nor any other strong flavours-just fades into a nice finish. Overall, great to try-this isn’t one you see around much! Thanks to BuckNaked for this beer. I sampled this 75 cL bottle at the November RB party at Founder’s in Alexandria, Virginia on 20-November-2004.