Oliver's Merry Ole (Christmas) Ale
Pratt Street Ale House
- From:
- Pratt Street Ale House
- Maryland, United States
- Style:
- Scottish Ale
- ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 85
- Avg:
- 3.68 | pDev: 13.59%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 06, 2016
- Added:
- Feb 28, 2005
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
No description / notes.
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Reviewed by John_M from Washington
3.72/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.72/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On cask at Max's tonight.
The beer pours a slightly reddish,copper amber color with fair head retention and minimal lacing. The nose is pretty simple, albeit attractive. I get some cherry like sweet malt, with a hint of vanilla. The flavor profile deliver a bit more than the nose, with some sherry and light bitterness on the finish. I also pick up some clove and cinnamon. Mouthfeel is soft and fairly long, and the alcohol is well integrated into the flavor profile. Drinkability is OK in this moderately sweet, fairly low alcohol beer.
Nothing extraordinary, but this was a decent enough beer from Oliver brewing.
Dec 08, 2010The beer pours a slightly reddish,copper amber color with fair head retention and minimal lacing. The nose is pretty simple, albeit attractive. I get some cherry like sweet malt, with a hint of vanilla. The flavor profile deliver a bit more than the nose, with some sherry and light bitterness on the finish. I also pick up some clove and cinnamon. Mouthfeel is soft and fairly long, and the alcohol is well integrated into the flavor profile. Drinkability is OK in this moderately sweet, fairly low alcohol beer.
Nothing extraordinary, but this was a decent enough beer from Oliver brewing.
Reviewed by jjboesen from Maryland
2.95/5 rDev -19.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
2.95/5 rDev -19.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Where: Mid-Atlantic Winter Beer Tasting Brewers Art, Baltimore, MD
Tasting Sample: 4 Oz. Pour
An average appearance with a thin head that evaporates into a thin and slippery lacing this too disappears quickly. It does possess a fine straw hue (always wanted to say that).
As for the nose, well it knows; and it knew a slight clove ester that meekly underwhelms a hint of honey. While the nose wanted for more, so to did the palate, which found remnants of nutmeg followed by a bitter finish.
But what about the mouthfeel you ask? I was not impressed, for it lacked structure, leaving this quaffer with a pointless mish-mash of uncarbonated bitterness.
I have enjoyed many of Olivers Ales this mild and uneven brew was not one of them. Olivers Merry Old Ale might be merry, but anyone drinking it is far from such an experience.
Jan 11, 2008Tasting Sample: 4 Oz. Pour
An average appearance with a thin head that evaporates into a thin and slippery lacing this too disappears quickly. It does possess a fine straw hue (always wanted to say that).
As for the nose, well it knows; and it knew a slight clove ester that meekly underwhelms a hint of honey. While the nose wanted for more, so to did the palate, which found remnants of nutmeg followed by a bitter finish.
But what about the mouthfeel you ask? I was not impressed, for it lacked structure, leaving this quaffer with a pointless mish-mash of uncarbonated bitterness.
I have enjoyed many of Olivers Ales this mild and uneven brew was not one of them. Olivers Merry Old Ale might be merry, but anyone drinking it is far from such an experience.
Reviewed by ScarletLady from Maryland
3.12/5 rDev -15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.12/5 rDev -15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
It poured a nice medium amber color, but with no head whatsoever. Had a little more carbonation than what it looked as I drank it . As far and the nose, the first thing I caught was the nutmeg, followed by clove. When I tasted it the clove is what jumped at me first, and overall spiced nicely. Had a little bit of a vinegar build up as I drank it. I''m not overly fond of Wharf Rat beers but I enjoyed this one and would order it again.
Dec 26, 2005
Reviewed by cubedbee from Maryland
4.24/5 rDev +15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.24/5 rDev +15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Frisco Burrito, the beer of the day. Nice copper amber color but poured with no head at all, looked absolutely flat, no lacing. Nose is a nice strong gingerbread with some moderate nutmeg and clove. Taste is more of the same, a nice bready malt, strong ginger taste, spicey finish, some slight butteriness. Very strong assertive flavors. Medium bodied, the carbonation was on the low side but not completely flat like it appeared. I was very pleasantly surprised with this beer, it's a very nice winter seasonal from the Whart Rat.
Dec 23, 2005
Reviewed by Terp96 from North Carolina
4.14/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
4.14/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
I picked this up on my way home from work to drink on Thanksgiving day. $9 for a growler refill.
The next day, this beer had lost most of its head but there was still some carbonation left. It definitely wasn't flat. The beer pours a pale orange/amber. A little lighter than I expected for a winter seasonal.
The smell is the best part. Definite malt presence but the hop and spice aroma is fantastic. Very spicy (clove, nutmeg, cinnamon) and a nice floral bouquet to round it out.
Tastes equally as spicy but the malt doesn't blance this one out as well as it should. Virtually no character up front. The spicey, hoppiness makes up for it. Leaves a dry, typically metallic finish as is typical in English styles.
Mouthfeel is okay but like I said, a little unbalanced. This one could be thicker so it sticks on the tongue a bit longer.
Overall drinkability is good. It has good flavor and the spicey aroma constantly reminds you that it is indeed the holiday season. Not too alcoholic either as I drank the whole growler with no real damage done.
I would get this again. The atmosphere at the Wharf Rat while the pour it is second to none and well worth the trip.
Nov 25, 2005The next day, this beer had lost most of its head but there was still some carbonation left. It definitely wasn't flat. The beer pours a pale orange/amber. A little lighter than I expected for a winter seasonal.
The smell is the best part. Definite malt presence but the hop and spice aroma is fantastic. Very spicy (clove, nutmeg, cinnamon) and a nice floral bouquet to round it out.
Tastes equally as spicy but the malt doesn't blance this one out as well as it should. Virtually no character up front. The spicey, hoppiness makes up for it. Leaves a dry, typically metallic finish as is typical in English styles.
Mouthfeel is okay but like I said, a little unbalanced. This one could be thicker so it sticks on the tongue a bit longer.
Overall drinkability is good. It has good flavor and the spicey aroma constantly reminds you that it is indeed the holiday season. Not too alcoholic either as I drank the whole growler with no real damage done.
I would get this again. The atmosphere at the Wharf Rat while the pour it is second to none and well worth the trip.
Reviewed by Dithyramb from Maryland
4.18/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.18/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
slowly, but surely, Wharf Rat appears to be bringing out some of the seasonals I haven't seen in a few years. (The Winter Warmer was tasty, and I hadn't seen it in some time. )
We were over in Fells this weekend and got to try leftovers of the Merry Ole Ale. I don't remember seeing this for at least two or three years...
Pours a beautiful amber. The bartender didn't pour it with a head, but there was a creamy, sticky ring around the glass.
Unlike some other old ales, I didn't really get much alcohol bite. Well, it might have been there, but I was concentrating on pool and not the beer. A mix of Xmas flavors were slightly evident in the aroma and in the flavor, but the most lingering was ginger. A nice bunch of fruity esters was evident on the nose as well.
Finishes dry and astringent, but is very drinkable. Had two whilst destroying the competition at the pool table.
Feb 28, 2005We were over in Fells this weekend and got to try leftovers of the Merry Ole Ale. I don't remember seeing this for at least two or three years...
Pours a beautiful amber. The bartender didn't pour it with a head, but there was a creamy, sticky ring around the glass.
Unlike some other old ales, I didn't really get much alcohol bite. Well, it might have been there, but I was concentrating on pool and not the beer. A mix of Xmas flavors were slightly evident in the aroma and in the flavor, but the most lingering was ginger. A nice bunch of fruity esters was evident on the nose as well.
Finishes dry and astringent, but is very drinkable. Had two whilst destroying the competition at the pool table.
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