Grog D'Oer
Nodding Head Brewery

 

On tap at Nodding Head on 4/9/11 served in a ~7oz wine glass. This brew appears a dark brown color with a finger of creamy tan fluff about a finger strong with really good retension. Lacing appears in a wall around the glass that turns to a webbing as sips are taken. When held to the light, this brew displays lighter brown coloration around the edges.

The smell of this brew is fruity with light Belgian yeast notes and faint mineral character tries to poke it's way through the nose. There is a tangy alcohol presence that's lightly lactic and tart smelling almost cherry-like. There is an overall sweetness to this smell though that is enjoyable.

The taste of this brew is fruity with dark notes of fruit like prunes. It is tangy with alcohol and includes a smooth oak flavor through the body that I did not pick up on in the aroma. The oakiness mingles with anfaint fresh chocolate grain flavor that lasts inside the mouth.

This is a full bodied brew with a light amount of carbonation that is very smooth in the feel and easy drinking. The 7% abv was felt noted in a tangy flavor but hardly reveals itself in warmth. Overall well integrated and very enjoyable brew.

On-tap at the brewpub.

Pours a deep and dark brown color with a half-finger tan head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of syrupy dark fruits - prunes and raisins mostly with hints of lighter figs - along with sweet toasted malts. Also present are slight amounts of roasted aromas and dark chocolate.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Sweet toasted malts with slight hints of roastiness kick things off and are joined quickly by deep dark fruit flavors. The dark fruit flavors are joined midway through the sip by slight amounts of dark chocolate and nutty flavors that fade out into a mildly sweet ending.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a heavy thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I had no problems finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall this was a solid beer with a lot going on however it wasn't quite balanced enough to be a great beer - I would like the sweetness to be tempered a bit more. Still, even as it is it's worth a shot.

More transcribed notes, these dated Su, 24 Jan 2010.

An oak-aged beer fermented with yeast from De Dolle Brewery. Wow! It was presented to me with a finger of solid, deep-tan head with excellent retention. Color was a deep, dark-brown with cola highlights. Nose had notes of dark cherries to accompany the cocoa sweetness. My mouth began to water. Mouthfeel was super creamy for a CO2 delivery and gave flavors of cherry, chocolate and vanilla on the tongue. Finish had a slightly tart finish to accompany the scrubbing nature of its inherent carbonation. It was a much drier version of their house standard, Grog, and I preferred it this way.

Pours a rich, dark brown color with khaki head, good retention and lacing. Smell is earthy, wood, chocolate, prune, rasin, fig, vanilla, touch of booze. Taste is wonderfully complex at first sip and new flavors are picked out at each sip. One note is that the flavors seem more individually pronounced at a colder temp, and as it warms, certain flavors get loud and overpower the subtle ones. Body is medium, could use a bit more bulk to it in my mind, good carbonation. One of the best Nodding Head brews i have enjoyed.

*Commercial Description: A stronger (7%ABV) oak aged version of our Brown Ale fermented with yeast from the De Dolle brewery in Belgium... the chocolate notes of Grog mingle with hints of vanilla and molasses with a slightly tart finish.

Poured into a tulip glass. Dark, black cherry colored. Nice tan head that does not disappear. A thin coating of lacing sticks throughout.

Smells like prunes, plums, raisins, vanilla, a bit of oak (for this an oak-aged beer). Rather pungent brew, the oak and the dark fruits pack a nice little punch.

Taste - Wow, super complex. A big malty forefront. Chocolate and vanilla touches in the background, all backed up by dark fruits (plums, raisins). All the flavors come at you one after another rather than all at once. I really enjoyed it.

Mouthfeel is bitter and smooth. A bit dry and a bit of carbonation.

This was a great brew from a cool, local brewery. Came as a surprise, wasn't expecting such a gem.