Hop Magic
John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House

 

A - Milk chocolate amber. Head settles into a light dusting with an ok lace.

S - Butter crackers, biscuits, plantains, buckwheat honey.

T - Banana, butter cookies, toast, grapefruit pith. Some cocoa nibs. Peppery bitterness towards the end.

M - Medium body. Finishes sweet and lightly syrupy. Refreshingly carbonated.

D - I can't tell if the butter is an off flavor, but as a part of the overall profile it didn't bother me. It's a fairly unique tasting beer. Overall the flavors and body are pleasant.

On tap at JH. Pours amber with a small white head. Aroma of citrus hops, yeast, and sweet melon rind. The flavor really captures the IPA-turned-Belgian notes. Sweet melon and yeasty notes with a bitter hoppy finish. This is an interesting reverse Belgian-IPA and I haven't had a beer quite like this before. It really is an IPA with some sweet Belgian notes. Overall it was nothing great, but it was interesting and enjoyable.
7/4/7/4/15 (3.7/5)

This brew poured a see-through mahogany red with little head and no lacing to speak of. The aroma was very pleasant, with a nice mixture of cloves and coriander with American hops (citrus, pine). There was also a yeasty smell as well.

This is a wonderfully complex beer. The spices and hops play off each other well, alternating between a sharp citrus and floral bite and a sour, spicy finish. There is a noticeable amount of sweetness, but nothing overbearing. Mouthfeel is very smooth and medium bodied. I really liked this beer, and am officially intrigued by this style.

Poured a dark copper with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured an upfront estery and spicy Abbey yeast with a solid peppery hop.

The taste consisted of a nicely blended spicy yeast and peppery hop atop a solid grainy malt.

The mouthfeel was of average fullness and slightly chewy. Good residual spicing.

Overall a compex and flavorful ale.