Heavy, gorgeous looking 750 mL bottle with that “thick” silver foil on the neck and blue screen printed label details. $13.99 for Marty’s in Boston. Looks impressive in terms of presentation.
Shared this one with Dave at The Brick Store.
Poured out as a unattractive, dirty brown turbid body with no lace and virtually no head either (as expected considering the ABV). Looks VERY ordinary, I would even go as far as to say disappointing. Another unattractive note is the fact that there seems to be degree of brown color, almost like pond water when sediment has fallen via gravity. However, I didn’t see and sediment. Odd and not good looking at all.
Aroma is as expected with alcohol taking the lead ahead of the stron malt base.
An extremely edgy beer with a lack of subtlety and smoothness. I think this beer is caught between the American and English Style which makes it rather awkward. It has all the sweetness that you would expect from the English version, but none of the smoothness. American style big hop notes still prevail which meld poorly with the sugary malts, for frankly, a bit of a mess!
After the Wee Heavy, this is the second Alesmith beer that I have been sorely disappointed by after some really great experiences. I guess they have been relegated to a “hit and miss” brewery with me. Shame.