750 mL, heavy glass bottle capped and finished with that thick, high gauge silver foil. $13.99 from Marty’s on my March 2008 trip to Boston.
Poured into the Terrapin 22oz snifter. Head was disappointing, but based on the ABV not all that surprising. No lace. Quite frankly the color and look of the beer is very disappointing too. A nasty, turbid brown body which on closer inspection looks really watery.
Nose is all sweet malts with quite a whiff of alcohol. The alcohol, although strong is also pretty smooth.
Tastes replicate the nose pretty much (which is a good thing). Slightly more edgy with the alcohol in the taste, and it finishes with a noticeable bitterness. A touch of smoke, but it’s barely there. In the aftertaste there is a definite liquor note as well – a slight Scotch element. In its favor, as it warms it gets better. Not a very subtle interpretation.
To be honest all in all I was rather let down by this. One of my favorite American brewers and one of my favorite styles, but the whole thing seemed out of whack to me. It seemed out of style and just too pumped up and not smooth enough, not subtle enough, not rounded enough and not malty enough. I dunno….