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

Cragganmore Distillers Edition nas 40% abv

Speyside

Nose: Fresh oak with citrus and a light port hit

Palate: Wonderful spice and oak tannins with dried fruit

Finish: Medium long with and dried oak and a late hit of port

Ardbeg Blasda nas 40% abv

Islay

Nose: Peat, oak, young/fresh/underage

Palate: Sweet, light, and peaty

Finish: Medium with vanilla and spice

Even though this is supposedly peated @8ppm it gives a much stronger impression

Benriach Importanticus Fumosus/Peated/Port
12yr 46% abv

Speyside

Nose: Nice big peat hit with vanilla and warming tawny port

Palate: Sweet peat, light vanilla, citrus and port - very complex

Finish: Long & spicy with late port and stewed fruit

Really Nice!

Laphroaig Triple Wood nas 46% abv

Islay

Nose: Light peat, light oak, very grassy, some vanilla

Palate: Full bodied and fruity, toffee and vanilla

Finish: Smooth and creamy with a nice long finish and late hit of spice.

Much better than expected. Definite nust for Laphroaig fans!

Arran 100 Proof nas 57% abv

Speyside

Nose: Big burst of fresh fruit, citrus, rindy, then again a pear fruitiness and vanilla

Palate: Hello Arran, very islandish, full-bodied, slightly oily. Water brings out sweetness of honey and toffee

Finish: Very complex and long

Really good stuff! Best of the night.

Port Askaig Cask Strength nas 57.1%

Islay

Nose: Sweet and light smoke, syrupy sweetness

Palate: Like chewing peated barley, honey sweetness with a little spice

Finish: Long and warming with smoke, a little peppery on the tail. Yum!

Here’s the list and checkin’ it twice, gonna see which is naughty or nice.

Over the river and through the woods to TST we go....

Avery Brewing Co "Seventeen"

Dry Hopped Black Lager 8.69% CO

Nose: Big hop hit, yeasty, light sweetness

Palate: Roasted/burnt malt, hops

Finish: Short and bitter

Not all what it’s cracked up to be. I would rate it around 90.

Allagash Triple Reserve Belgian Style Ale 9%

ME

Nose: Fresh hops early, then yeast followed by a very intense banana split!

Palate: Nice citrus hit and very smooth

Finish: Short and again a late citrus hit

Terrapin Beer Co "Rye Squared" IPA 8.5% GA

Nose: Very fresh orange, hops, and light winter spice

Palate: Fresh citrus, spice, and light hop trailing

Finish: Short but pleasant with light hop and orange notes on the tail

Orkney "Dark Island" 4.6%  Scotland

Nose: Nice sweet nose of chocolate, figs, toffee and hints of fruit

Palate: Very smooth and well rounded with coffee, dried fruits, and a slight hop bitterness

Finish: Again chocolate with roasted malt coming in late

Beautiful!

Dogfish Head "Miles Davis' Bitches Brew" 9% DE

Nose: SW30! Light nose of hops, citrus, honey, with traces of soy sauce

Palate: Sweet hops, dark roasted malt, sweet

Finish: Medium and lackluster

After all the hype I was quite a bit disappointed. Not really a 99 but more like a 92. Still very unique and worth the experience.

Schlafly "Reserve" Imperial Stout 10.5% MO

Nose: Sweet, green hops, coconut

Palate: Very sweet, molasses, caramel, and again coconut

Finish: Nada

Merry Christmas to one and all!