Brewed with cinnamon, ginger, and orange, this well-seasoned ale scores points for brevity and originality. Spice-fueled adjuncts arouse lactic chocolate malts and impending plum-fig-cherry souring, but tangy orange flavor gets lost in wintry barleywine-sherry mix. Peculiar for starters, but top notch for seasoned pros.
Tag Archives: old ale
SOUTHAMPTON 10TH ANNIVERSARY OLD ALE
Fitting coppery red ale celebrates ’96 commencement with expansive offering. Initial raisin-pecan-date affluence slips into mushy overripe peach, bruised orange, and strawberry-raspberry sanctuary underlined by casual roasted nuttiness. By brawny finish, sinewy molasses malting picks up cask-like rum, bourbon, and whiskey illusions.
(THEAKSTON) OLD PECULIER ALE
Creamy plum-hued, tan-headed, mocha-scented Yorkshire ale exposes fruity Fuggle-hopped thrust to inescapable chocolate-covered raisin, port wine, and cherry puree illusions. Cedar-stained clove-anise-gingerbread add wintry spirit to burnt caramel prompt. Richer and sweeter than a red ale, with its countered dry oak finish increasing efficacy.
THE UNDERGROUND OLDE SUDBURY PREMIUM ALE
Light, watery, unobtrusive New England ale brags about its ‘hoppy’ 19th century history. Bitter nuttiness forms at back of the throat but slim fruitiness, spritzy carbonation, and unstable barleymalt spine lack assertiveness. For amateurs ready to crossover from run of the mill pilsners to microbrewed ales only.
(BROUGHTON) OLD JOCK ALE
WEYERBACHER BLACK HOLE ALE
GEORGE GALE PRIZE OLD ALE
Ambitious bottle-conditioned dark amber with cork set up and 9% alcohol ballast proves well-rounded. Aromatic caramel sweetness gives way to robust port wine palate, prominent cocoa-dried chocolate presence, and sticky black licorice finish. Creamy barleywine thickness underscores unique bock-like essence. Must be extraordinary on tap.
WOODSTOCK ST. JAMES ALE
GREENE KING OLDE SUFFOLK ENGLISH ALE
Wonderful oak-aged English ale gains superb sweet-candied sherry-burgundy resonation, overriding tartly vinous grape tannins and sturdy coffee-mocha insistence. Frothy cascading head and bristling carbolic hop thrust perk up plum-raisin-grape conflux for lusty dried fruited undertow.