Our Tasting "Gatherings": A malt, a beer, a malt, a beer. Who's counting!

Can anyone say peat!

GREAT bunch of malts, brews, and friends!

Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX nas 46%
Northern Highlands

Nose: Citrus and vanilla with fresh oak

Palate: Creamy and very sherried with a sweet, rich mouthfeel

Finish: Very long a spicy with dark toffee noted on the tail

Bruichladdich Black Art 1989 19yr 51.1%
Islay

Before we get to the nose let’s talk about the color. Beautiful claret, blush wine color.
Very appetizing!

Nose: Very fruity with a sherried wine attack, dessert like, fruit salad

Palate: Hot & spicey with oak tannins and wine coming through. Must try again

Finish: Warm and long with a peppery tail

Highland Park Earl Magnus Edition One 15yr 52.6% Orkney

Nose: Fresh oak, toffee, and fruit cake

Palate: Cirtus/orange notes with fried fruit and very smooth

Finish: Warming and very consistent, well rounded finish

Laphroaig Cask Strength 2009 Batch 001 10yr 57.8% Islay

Nose: Typical sweet and peaty with smoke and the end

Palate: Smoke & peat but rather thinner than the original 10yr cask as we compared them. But a great set of huevos!

Finish: Long and medicinal with some fruitcake sweetness

Glenlivet 30yr 55.2%
Speyside

Nose: Wonderful dark sherry with a little sweetness and a bit of the oak coming through

Palate: Nice spicy hit with oak, then stewed fruit

Finish: Medium long, chewy, old leather

Bruichladdich Octomore Orpheus 5yr 61%
Islay

Nose: Peat, and then not, little more rounded than the first version

Palate: Wine and peat with a heavy smoke orange note

Finish: long and stil that peat/smoke/wine with a little brine on the tail.

Thanks to Doug for 3 of the brews here! Most of us have had the Abt 12 also but it is a winner!

Southern Tier Imperial “Back Burner” Barley Wine
New York

Nose:  Hoppy! Hoppy!

Palate: Smooth, rich, and creamy with sweet hop notes

Finish: Medium with a very malty then bitter tail

Legacy Brewing Co. “Nor’easter Ale” 7%

Pennsylvania

BOOM! This beer was not finished before it was bottled. Both exploded and were just loaded with yeast. Bummer - no rating here!

Rogue “Double Mocha Porter” 8.2%
Oregon

Nose: Roasted malt, dark coffee, and piney

Palate: Burnt caramel with some light hop notes

Finish: Bitter & creamy

Not at all what I expected and not up to the Rogues I’ve known

St. Bernardus “Abt 12” Belgian Abbey Ale 10%
Belgium

Nose: Citrus, apple cider, fruity, sweet hops

Palate: Again sweet & fruity with a very creamy mouthfeel

Finish: Medium & sweet

Delicious!

Belhaven “Scottish Stout” 7%
Scotland

The Best of the evening!

Nose: Dark roasted malts of varying degrees

Palate: Smooth and creamy with very dark roasted malt notes

Finish: Bit bitter medium finsh

Great Divide Brewing Co “Hercules Double IPA” 10%
Colorado

Nose: Hoppy with very fresh citrus notes

Palate: Sweet hops

Finish: Short and a litter bitter

Excellent!