EVERETT, WASHINGTON
Alongside the Everett marina one-half hour North of Seattle and three miles Northeast of Diamond Knot, Everett’s family-owned SCUTTLEBUTT BREWERY is situated inside a white industrial building with garage door, plate-glass windowed brew tanks, and small front-covered patio. Cafeteria-styled seating surrounds small bar and banners decorate the walls.
Bought bottled versions of Scuttlebutt’s Gale Force IPA, Amber Ale, and 10 Degrees Below Ale (listed in Beer Index), December ’09.
Succulent perfume-spiced hop prickle absorbs fruit chocolate-y goodness. Molasses-like caramel malts and floral pineapple-peach-tangerine sweetness counter grapefruit peel bittering. Resinous pine lingers through lemon zest midst before slim nuttiness reaches biscuit-y spine.
Smoothly creamy chocolate-spiced winter seasonal reaches sublime heights. Sugar plum, fig, and date ride shotgun next to cinnamon-nutmeg-coriander-ginger spicing and macadamia-hazelnut-pecan propensity.
Luxuriant nut-roasted molasses-smoked mocha malt creaminess gives lactic tan-headed brown-bodied stout inviting opening. Brown chocolate, vanilla, and cocoa subdue mild bourbon-sherry-port whir as well as espresso-cappuccino-induced finish. Dark rum soaks ripened black cherry, raspberry puree, stewed prune, and raisin illusions at backend.
Amiable light-to-medium-bodied softie provides easygoing drinkability. Plaintive caramel malt setting highlights spiced apple modesty, mild orange-grapefruit tang, and dinky chestnut-almond nicety. Peat-y tea-like earthiness settles below thin mocha-fruited finish. Well-rounded, though needing to push standard ingredients forward a bit more.
Creamy Scotch sweetness and nutty brown chocolate-y center hold up well against dry fruited plain of formerly known Fat Bastard Ale (named after Austin Powers character). Praline, hazelnut, macadamia, and chestnut reinforce rum-soaked dried cherry resolve and sugar plum reminder. Smooth.
Creamy wintry weizenbock retains soft, fluffy texture for cinnamon-spiced brown chocolate theme. Prune, raisin, and cherry gird cocoa-dusted molasses malting as vanilla, cappuccino, and walnut illusions emerge. But seasonal clove and gingerbread spicing lacks stamina.
Similar to Scuttlebutt Amber Ale, though a slight bit better and more resilient. Still, for hop-notched India Pale Ale, proper yellow-orange-fruited tang and piney bitterness lack while toasted cereal graining takes the lead. Phenol walnut-charred dryness gets exhaustive. For contrast, nominal butterscotch, pecan and candy apple nuances simmer through sugary almond-pasted marzipan sweetness.
Wavering mocha-spiced sweetness fades into honeyed wheat spine. Nominal citric twang falters, leaving sugared date, dried fig, hazelnut, and tobacco illusions to wallow in the delicate caramel midst. Under-whelming and uninteresting.
Frothy brown chocolate-vanilla creaminess rises above hop-oiled walnut toasting and tannic grape tartness. Roasted Brazil nut, cola nut, and macadamia illusions sharpen bittersweet mocha-influenced black cherry-pureed backdrop.
Well balanced copper-hazed delight with tingly hop-spiced bittering countering barley-roasted caramel malting and candied apple sweetness. By midst, cinnamon-baked apple influence overrides peach-pear-orange fruiting as well as cocoa, tea, and honeysuckle illusions.