I believe that the latest batch of Siren Noire (late 2010/early2011) came out a few weeks ago, but this review is from a bottle that is just over 12 months old. 22 oz presentation in the usual, Heavy Seas Mutiny series bottle. I have been generally VERY disappointed with the Heavy Seas range of Mutiny beers over the last couple of years so i have had my expectations lowered considerably. Pour is a requisite dark brown, but fails to reach strong levels of black at any point in the glass. Quite...
Notes on beers brewed by
Clipper City Brewing Co. / Heavy Seas Beer
Heavy Seas-The Greater Pumpkin
I've been generally disappointed with the Heavy Seas, higher ABV (Mutiny) series. 22 oz bottle from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. The usual Mutiny series presentation. There is a turbid orange pour which disappoints. I really want a good clarity on any Pumpkin beer. Some low level head and a little bit of lace. The nose replicates the combo of pumpkin and light liquor notes very well. I don't get excited about the aroma much, but it does it well. There is also a VERY strong, alcohol note that...
Heavy Seas – Märzen
12 oz single from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. Having been fairly disappointed with the Mutiny, 22 oz series from CC/Heavy Seas, I was pleased to see a "back to basics" beer from the stable, and also in one of my favorite styles. Pour is a fairly light orange, amber beer with some scant head and lace. The beer has a medium carbonation that produces a decent mouthfeel. The beer does provide the typical element for the style- plenty of malt, yeasty aftertaste and a moreish and yummy taste,...
Heavy Seas Cabernet Barrel Aged Below Decks
22 oz bottle form Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. I've become really wary of this series from Clipper City because frankly, the beers have been pretty poor. I'm a little more optimistic about this one though, since I liked the original Below Decks so there would appear to be some solid ground to build upon. The pour is NOT attractive. A watery light brown with no head retention, lace or indeed much of a film. Underneath this beer is a decent ENGLISH styled BW. Obviously if you are looking for a...
Heavy Seas – Smoke On The Water
22 oz bottle from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. This is now a serious pattern rather than a few blips in the Big Beer series from Heavy Seas/Clipper. This is just not a very good beer - ANOTHER poor effort in the series. Pour is fine with the standard black body and a decent amount of early carbonation. Head fades quickly; no lace or retention to speak of. Nose gives virtually no smoke element which in itself is not an encouraging thing, but when the beer warms and there is only a tiny change...
Heavy Seas – Yule Tide
22 oz bottle from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. So far I've been pretty unimpressed with the recent Heavy Seas/Clipper City bomber offerings, with the DIPA being especially poor and the Pumpkin and Marzen not really setting the house on fire either, so I approach this with a bit of trepidation. I feel a little more optimistic about Yule Tide, since I love a good Tripel and this is the kind of beer that should sit well at the elevated 10% ABV level - we'll see. Pour is a golden orange which is a...
Heavy Seas – The Great Pumpkin
22 oz bomber from Green's, Ponce, Atlanta, GA, USA. Pumpkin beers are a strange beast as far as I am concerned, and this is no exception. Essentially pumpkin products are virtually unknown in England, and when one considers that amount of pumpkin related stuff that is shoved down your throat in the USA, the contrast is really quite stark. Also, given the disappointment that I had with Prosit and the horrible expeience of the Big DIPA (that was almost undrinkable), I'm a touch wary to say the...
Heavy Seas – Big DIPA
22 oz bottle form Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. Let me say right off the top that I love sweeter beers and beers that are malt based, BUT....this is a disaster in terms of sweetness and taste. The look is strong. A really nice clarity to the orange amber body and surprisingly good head, retention and lace considering the style. Rather well carbonated as well and a decent mouthfeel. The nose reveals a solvent like, paint-stripper, alcoholic assault which does not bode well. Sinus clearing and NOT...
Heavy Seas – Prosit!
22 oz bottle from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. I think that the basic idea of "imperializing" an Oktoberfest beer is essentially a bad idea since it's simply not a style that needs that kind of treatment, but let's take a closer look. Pour lacks much life, but that may be a function of the ABV. Golden orange body with a lack of much sustainable head, minimum carbonation and no lace at all. Nice color but overall a touch ordinary to look at. The nose is not really definitive and offers not much...
Heavy Seas – Märzen
16oz pour a Taco Mac, East West Connector, Austell, GA, USA. $6.00 - first time I've really noticed the increase in prices recently. Hazed ornage appearance with a decent head and some lace. Lots of sweetness in the nose and the initial tastes. Really quite fruity with plenty of juicy, semi-hard fruits present. Some apple character but also pears and other esters. Well balanced beer but the malts obvious take the lead. Nicely put together and tasty. well rounded in the mouth and the finish has...
Heavy Seas – Red Sky At Night (Saison Ale)
12 oz bottle, Taco Mac, East West Connector, Austell, GA, USA. Best before Oct 07 notched on the bottle. Bright yellow pour, but plenty of haziness about the beer. Some floaties. Aroma has a VERY strong funk and to be honest it seems reasonable to assume that this will be replicated in the taste, but it isn't. Relatively mild horse balnkets, and only a hint of apple cider. A bit of an easier Saison to stomach for the inexperienced. Crossover potential. Alcohol VERY hidden. A mild and...
Heavy Seas – Hang Ten (Weizen Doppelbock)
Bought as a single from Jax, Sandy Springs, Atlanta, GA, USA. March 2008 notched on the label. One of my favorite styles. Nice, rich looking brown pour with a creamy mouthfeel and plenty of body. Lots of bold malt upfront and all the way through to the finish. Slightly dry at the end. Alcohol is hidden very well; highly drinkable. Massive bubble-gum influence and some weaker banana flavors too, but the bubble-gum is the strongest flavor. Goes down a treat and with the alcohol so well hidden...
Heavy Seas – Below Decks (Barley Wine Style Ale)
12 oz bottle, 2006 vintage. I've been drinking this for a few months now, finally got around to reviewing it. Interesting beer. Has the taste (and aroma) of an English Barleywine up front (malty, sweet and fruity), but then finishes with a little alcohol kick and that telltale American Barleywine hop bitterness. The finish is sufficiently restrained to keep this in the English category, but it is a little more astringent than the typical, English version. Highly drinkable considering the style...
Heavy Seas – Holy Sheet (Über Abbey Ale)
=== Updated Review 02/10 === Now re-released in the 22 oz format as part of the Mutiny Series. The new big beers from Clipper City have generally been a disappointment to me with some serious hot character i.e. too much alcohol, and generally rough around the edges and ill-defined. To be honest they've been clumsy which is a shame for a brewery that before the BIG series used to generally impress me. This beer is one that ought to be able to cope with the large format and big alcohol. We'll...
Heavy Seas – Peg Leg (Imperial Stout)
This was described to me by a fellow BA as a RIS wannabe. I largely agree. Thanks to BA SilentSabre for this sample. Nice color (jet black) with some head (very small), well formed but pretty short lived. Some lacing. This may be advertised as a RIS, but this tastes and drinks like a lactose milk stout. Typical, slightly sour tastes with a rather thin body for the style. Very light for the style but still decent. Not a heavy RIS by any stretch, but a nice lactose, milk stout. Don't expect too...
Heavy Seas – Small Craft Warning (Über Pils)
12 oz single, Best Before Feb 2007. I'm an increasing fan of these "Imperial" (or whatever you want to call them) Big Pilsners. I like the way the higher alcohol seems to sit in the syrupy, thick body and they really create a large drinking experience. This was a good example. Really golden color to the body, plenty of head and lacing and a really sugary, syrupy mouthfeel evident. Sweetness up front, nice alcohol too. The higher alcohol Pils certainly detract from the typical, dry, hoppy clean...
Heavy Seas – Winter Storm (“Category 5” Ale)
On-tap, Taco Mac, Decatur, GA, USA. $5.00. Nice clarity to the reddish brown pour with a very nice head and good lacing. Cream wisps are left behind on the glass. Aroma and upfront tastes are thinnish but distinguishable as grassy hops. Immediately I think I am drinking an IPA rather than the BA categorized ESB. This beer lacks any kind of significant malt biscuit profile that I would be looking for in an ESB or equivalent. Finishes quite harshly with a burst of fresh hops. Quite green, sharp...
Heavy Seas – Loose Cannon (Hop3 Ale)
Very, very clear pour with some very good, persistent fine bubble lines rising from the bottom of the glass to create a small head and some nice lacing. Strong and heavy hop aromas obviously dominate. Taste is really fruity hops, with a serious grapefruit citrus bitterness and quite dry. Drinks well below the ABV, but at the same time is very satisfying in the alcohol department. Very tasty overall with the unusual combination of heavy hop bitterness but excellent fruitiness. As such, this is...
Oxford Raspberry
Light beer with a bit of a macro feel except the very nice head and good lacing. Very mild raspberry aroma and flavor, but not pronounced. Pretty average all around, but at the same time refreshing and non-offensive. A little bitterness in the finish, but not much else to report.
Clipper City McHenry Lager
This is a 100% forgettable, non-descript, adjunct that has only one redeeming feature - it's no worse than many other similar beers. The standard pale yellow, instantly disappearing head reveals the usual corny, grainy aroma and taste. I would find it impossible to distinguish this from hundreds of other adjuncts or macro lagers. Since this is a being brewed by a smaller brewer, it's a shame they have chosen to take the low road and not take the time and trouble to create something worthwhile....