Major Hops Olde Ale
Appalachian Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had on tap. Brown body, beige head. Smell has decent hops with citrus flair, caramel malt and cocoa present as well. Taste has an initial surge of the citrus hops and caramel malts, but then thins out to a whimpering cocoa dusted end with hop bitters. Feel is thin, heavily hopped for style, malt work is a little watery, yet chewy. Undermined by hops not having a dance partner that can keep up

 

Pours a dark, murky amber color with a pretty thin off white head.

The scent is of roasty hops and some pine.

The taste was of citrus, some bitter hops, and pine.

Medium bodied, smooth and kind of thin, good carbonation.

This beer was ok, I didn't think it was very flavorful, it was a bit too watery.

On tap at the Harrisburg ABC

Pours a clear amber with a finger of brite-white head. Retains well and leaves some very nice looking sticky lacing down the sides of my mug. The aroma is a bit subdued but I still pick up some notes of light piney hops, citrus, and a bit of heavy malts.

The taste is assertive, tingling hops up front mixed with some tangy citrus notes and a fairly supportive backbone of caramel sweetness. This guys is definitely geared more towards the hop side of things though with a light, lingering bitterness throughout. The mouthfeel is a hefty medium bodied with a crips, prickly pop of carbonation and a bit of alcohol beef to the body.

It's good to have the Major back in the lineup (at least for a little bit) as this is probably the hoppiest beer that the ABC offers. It's got some good flavors but that alcohol beef in the body keeps this from going down really easily.

On cask at ABC Camp Hill...I guess the Major decided to re-enlist!

A-Muddy brownish yellow with a thin light tan head. Heavy lace.

S-Unusually malty sweet, kinda like a brown ale. Citrusy hops present in the background.

T- Sweet malts combine with citrusy hops. Not bad, but for something called MAJOR hops....where are they? Still decent but typical for ABC not to go that extra step to make a truly great beer.

M-Medium body, smooth and easy to rink. Decent bitterness in the aftertaste.

D-See notes above on taste. Not bad stuff but...

On tap at the Harrisburg location on 6/1/08, looks like it came out of retirement.

Poured a clear dark amber/caramel color with thin off-white head, good retention and lovely sticky lacing. Smells of pine, caramel, and roasted malt. Tastes of sweet caramel and grassy hops up front with a roasted almost burnt malt flavor in the middle as well as some biscuit. Finishes with a good bit of pine flavor. Medium in body with average carbonation. Sweet with some roasted characteristics and a nice hoppy finish. Easy to drink and different, good stuff adding some more hop character.

A - Hazy deep amber/rust body with some red coloration. Head fully diminished and left only minimal lacing around the glass.

S - Very aromatic piney hop aroma with some perfumy qualities as well.

T - Initial sweet, hoppy flavor with caramel malt. Piney hops ultimately prevail.

M - Smooth, warm mouthfeel with a sweet hop finish on the tongue.

D - Sweeter than I had anticipated, but a nice offering from ABC, especially on cask. Bummed to see that this brew has been retired! This review is from some old notes that I found in my beer book.

This came with a rocky, medium-tan head. It was a very cloudy deep
amber/light-brown color. The nose was malty-sweet and even a little chocolaty. The mouthfeel was medium to full with a yeasty mustiness in the mouth. The finish had a sharp bitterness, borne of hops, but not a variety that I could put my finger on. Not bad, but not much beyond a one-and-done, either.

A cask-conditioned dry-hopped with madwilson leaf hops. I am not familiar with this varietal and the internet offered no help, but this is what was on the lightboard.

A: The ale is a deep brown color, several shades darker than the normal Major Hops. The head is a thick creamy color.

S: The ale has the light pungent aroma of fresh hops, earthy and citrusy without being big and vibrant.

T: The ale has a strong hop character, citrusy and bold. The dry-hopping has added an extra layer here. The madwilson leaf (see above for disclaimer) give the ale a grassy, earthy bitterness. The hops are subtle and sweet, imparting a great deal of flavor without the bitterness.

M: The dry hopped flavor is delicious, earthy and fresh; very nice on the palate.

D: Very drinkable, this ale has taken on an added dimension with the dry-hopping.

Sampled on tap at the ABC brewery in Harrisburg, PA. This beer was originally brewed only at the Gettysburg location, but this has apparently changed.

Dark yellow/gold body. No head by the time it got to me, no lace either.

Aroma is crisp and hoppy.

Piney hops dominate the flavor. Slightly malty body comes through, but then gives way to a hoppy finish.

For a 7% beer, this is quite drinkable, however I can't give it a high drinkability score given how hoppy it is.