22oz
bottle decanted into a snifter. 9% ABV.
Appearance: Amber honey with rich, ruby highlights. Presented a decent beige head upon the pour,
but it faded quickly into a thin ring around the edge of the glass. Thin streams of bubbles rise in sporadic columns
to the surface, but can find no purchase upon their arrival. Absolutely
brilliant (both in visual perception and clarity). But watch out on the last pour because there's a ton of sludge on the bottom of the bottle (5/5).
Aroma: Perhaps one of the most aggressive aromas I’ve
experienced with the style. I’ve set the
glass aside to type out the appearance, and from almost two feet away I’m still
nearly overwhelmed by the smell. Grape
jam, brown sugar, and molasses. Figs and
dates. Old, blackened bananas. Everything you’d expect from an Old Ale, but
apparently dialed up to eleven (5/5).
Taste: A lot of what I got in the nose also shows up
in the flavor. I immediately get figs,
dates, and old bananas. That is followed
by a touch of dark bread crust and burnt marshmallows. There is a faint suggestion hop bitterness and
maybe just a hint of wood. Very easy to
drink for such a big, rich beer (5/5).
Mouthfeel: Full body and low carbonation. Silky smooth with a hint of alcohol warmth (5/5).
Overall: I am blown away. This beer exceeded my expectations in every
way imaginable. If I am looking for the
perfectly crafted Old Ale, I honestly don’t know what to change here. It is rich, smooth, sweet, and warm. I don’t like to give away perfect ratings for
free, but Old Tempestuous has earned
it. I guess the only thing that may improve it would be a few years in a cellar, but right now I'm glad I didn't wait. Well done, Lightning (5/5).
-Matt
No comments:
Post a Comment