Advent Calendar Beers: Big Sky Brewing - IPA December 11
Beer 11: Big Sky Brewing - IPA
6.2% ABV
Poured into an oversize wine glass
Appearance - 4/5
Dark amber. Tight toffee coloured head with lacing throughout.
Smell - 4/5
Malt and chewy resiny hops. Bit of alcohol.
Taste - 4/5
Very 'deep' - really really deep. Makes you go 'wow' when you taste it as it tastes completely different to most IPAs. Dark, woody flavours along with toffee and brown / burnt sugar. Some apples? Little bit of alcohol.
Mouthfeel - 3.5/5
Good - correct carbonation. Smooth, if a little thin.
Drinkability - 4/5
Although a little 'thin' on the mouthfeel, it makes up for it in drinkability. One of my new favourite beers. Very interesting. Tastes light in ABV but massive in flavours. Goes down very well.
Advent Calendar Beers: Saltaire - Triple Chocoholic December 9
Beer 9: Saltaire - Triple Chocoholic
4.8% ABV
Poured into a standard pint glass
Appearance - 3/5
Pours very dark brown - almost black, with a loose tan head.
Smell - 3.5/5
Spicy hops with vanilla, coffee, molasses, stewed fruit and ironically, only a hint of chocolate.
Taste - 3/5
Coffee, some dried fruit or port, chocolate and some tobacco in the long dry finish.
Mouthfeel - 2/5
Over carbonated and a little thin for my liking. Very prickly in the mouth.
Drinkability - 3/5
Too carbonated. Improves a little over time as it loses some of the carbonation. On cask it would probably be a lot more drinkable.
Advent Calendar Beers: Dogfish Head - 60 Minute IPA December 8
Beer 8: Dogfish Head - 60 Minute IPA
6% ABV
Learnt my lesson with the snifter this time and poured less in to start so it warmed up quicker :)
Appearance - 3.5/5
Pours amber. Thin white head dimishes completely within a minute or so.
Smell - 3.5/5
Hops and bizarrely, chocolate. Slight wisp of alcohol and dried fruit.
Taste - 4/5
Juicy fruits and deep malts with some chocolate and then just enough hoppy bitterness to bring it back 'level'. Very balanced.
Mouthfeel - 3/5
Smooth. Nice carbonation with enough body.
Drinkability - 4/5
Very drinkable - slight notes of chocolate with nice bitter finish keeps it balanced and interesting.
Wasn't expecting this to taste like it did - tastes like there is more roasted malt in it than it looks but the end result is very good.
Advent Calendar Beers: Highland - Orkney Blast December 7
Beer 7: Highland - Orkney Blast
6% ABV
Appearance - 4/5
Pours gold and crystal clear with quickly dimishing white head. Some lacing throughout.
Smell - 4/5
Smells like a damn good golden ale. Some malt, caramel, a little fruit and possibly some vanilla. I thought I also smelt the scent of apple skins - in a fresh, good way.
Taste - 4/5
Lighter than it smells. Alcohol not apparent at all. Some toffee / caramel gives way to a bitter sweet finish. Very well balanced.
Mouthfeel - 3/5
Prickly carbonation but reasonably smooth. Would be lovely on cask.
Drinkability - 4.5/5
A very deceptive and dangerous ale. Tastes more like 4 - 5%. Incredibly drinkable and satisfying.
Overall, a very nice beer and one of my favourites so far. Very nicely balanced. Tempted to order more of this.
Advent Calendar Beers: Brewdog - Hardcore IPA December 6
Beer 6: Brewdog - Hardcore IPA
9.2% ABV
A chance to break out my new massive brandy snifter :D
Appearance - 3/5
Ruby red with a tan head - light lacing on the glass
Smell - 3.5/5
Piney, hoppy, lemon with biscuity malts. Alcohol becoming very apparent as it warms up.
Taste - 3.5/5
Resiny chewy hops, sweet malt, woody bitter dry finish. Alcohol is very warming.
Mouthfeel - 4.5/5
Lovely - soft and round, perfectly carbonated - fills the mouth.
Drinkability - 3/5
A big IPA. One is more than enough, but the perfect carbonation means it leaves room for one more if needed.
The snifter was lovely on it's first outing. Probably massive placebo effect but it the aroma was very strong on this one. It did warm the beer up but in doing so it made the alcohol even more apparent which if anything made the beer less drinkable.