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

Glenturet 8 yr 40% abv

Speyside

Nose: Some sweet oak, very floral with hints of heather

Palate: Lightly spiced with honey. Very smooth and creamy

Finish: Medium long finish with lasting spice

Comment: Very nice and very drinkable. No water needed here at all. The perfect starter for the summer evening

Kilchoman Summer Release 2010 3 yr 46% abv

Islay

Nose: The farmy peat freshness with layers of smoke, fruity sweetness and citrus

Palate: Nice smoke with that sweetness coming through along with the peat at the end

Finish: Pleasantly long with spice and peat and some late smoke

Highland Park 8 yr 40% abv

Orkney

Nose: Musty damp oak, peaty, and some late smoke

Palate: Wonderfully full bodied and creamy with honey, a bit oily on the tail

Finish: Light and smooth with a little smoke and some late sweetness

Comment: Great dram for the money and age.

Bladnoch Lightly Peated 6 yr 58.5% abv

Lowland

Nose: Yes, there’s peat! loral notes with vanilla and raisins

Palate: Nice oak, barley sweetness, and the vanilla coming through with some late peat

Finish: Short and pleasing with a nice balance of
the above

Caol Ila Unpeated 8 yr 59.8% abv

Islay

Nose: Big 1-2 punch of vanilla and oak (the old right cross/left hook combo)

Palate: Nice, with that vanilla and oak again somewhat dominating the middle, and a bit oily

Finish: Short & sweet, slightly peppery

Bruichladdich X4 + 3  3 yr 63.5% abv

Islay

Nose: Very “spirited”, slightly floral & fruity with a bit of vanilla

Palate: Creamy and voluptuous with vanilla and again fruity

Finish: Long and fresh, with sweetness and notes of vanilla still pondering

Just perfect for that late summer evening!!

    

A fresh selection of 3-8 year old single malt

Jolly Pumpkin “Oro de Calabaza” Artisan Ale 8% MI

Nose: Sour pickles

Palate: Couldn't get past the nose and dumped it. Those that did couldn’t handle it. Sour, lemon, citrus, salty :-(

Finish: What were they thinking

Comment: As experience has it all the JP brews have a similar character. We won’t visit this brand again.

The Bruery “2010 Anniversary Coton” Ale 14.5% CA

The Bruery “2011 Anniversary CUIR” Ale 14.5% CA

Nose: Sour pickles - go figure.

Palate:

Finish:

Comment: This brand seems to either be too sweet or too sour. Another one for the scrap heap.

McNeill’s “Extra Special Bitter Ale” 5.5% VT

Nose: Flowery, sweet, hoppy, and citrus

Palate: Balanced hops and citrusy (lemon)

Finish: Sort but clean & crisp with no bitterness

Comment: Very nice and drinkable.

Haand Bryggeriet "Dark Force" Batch 217 9% Norway

Nose: Coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt

Palate: Chocolate explosion and very smooth, sweet

Finish: Short

Dark Force Brewing Co "Fore" Smoked Stout no abv listed MI

Nose: Sweet & malty with chocolate and a bit of smoke

Palate: Roasted malt, chocolate, bitter coffee and again some smoke

Finish: Short

Dogfish Head "My Antonia" Continually Hopped Imperial Pils 7.5% Italy

Nose: Very hoppy with lots of citrus

Palate: Hops, smooth, some citrus, malty, with good body

Finish: Light finish and well balanced.

Comment: Great job DFH!

A small bunch but still enjoying every drop, except for two of the brews as noted below.