Tonight's beer: Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog Ale
Dark bread, caramel, lots of spice—cinnamon, cloves, allspice—with dark fruits like cherries, plums, and raisins, all dried/candied/burnt, right behind. Some earthy-grassy bitterness rises up through the middle, backed by gentle touches of peat and smoke. Alcohol is present but mostly restrained, though it's probably responsible for most if not all the fruity and spicy flavors; those aside, it's mostly a touch of whiskey and dark rum around the edges.
Mouthfeel is on the heavy side of medium-bodied, decently carbonated, with a good deal of bready chewiness and syrupy stickiness, and a fair amount of alcohol heat—nothing unpleasant, though. Finish is long, drying, warming, and filling.
A very tasty and drinkable old ale, obviously strong but carrying it with a good deal of grace and aplomb. Big enough and intense enough that it encourages sipping; subtle enough and complex enough that it rewards the close attention. Nicely integrated. The beer seems as though it would age nicely, but it doesn't really need to. Another winner from Smuttynose.
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| Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog Ale |
Dark bread, caramel, lots of spice—cinnamon, cloves, allspice—with dark fruits like cherries, plums, and raisins, all dried/candied/burnt, right behind. Some earthy-grassy bitterness rises up through the middle, backed by gentle touches of peat and smoke. Alcohol is present but mostly restrained, though it's probably responsible for most if not all the fruity and spicy flavors; those aside, it's mostly a touch of whiskey and dark rum around the edges.
Mouthfeel is on the heavy side of medium-bodied, decently carbonated, with a good deal of bready chewiness and syrupy stickiness, and a fair amount of alcohol heat—nothing unpleasant, though. Finish is long, drying, warming, and filling.
A very tasty and drinkable old ale, obviously strong but carrying it with a good deal of grace and aplomb. Big enough and intense enough that it encourages sipping; subtle enough and complex enough that it rewards the close attention. Nicely integrated. The beer seems as though it would age nicely, but it doesn't really need to. Another winner from Smuttynose.
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