Eliminator
Gaslight Brewery & Restaurant

Had this on tap at the Gaslight in June 2014. I was with friends who had already started the night a couple hours before me, so I wanted something strong to catch up and that was the strongest on tap. I asked the bartender whether it was something like a porter or imperial stout, and he told me it was a maibock and that it was *very* sweet. I don't mind sweeter beers, so I forewent tasting it first and just ordered blind. Well, it is VERY sweet. There's a nice beer under there but it tastes like someone poured in some fruit syrup and honey. You don't taste the strength of the alcohol as a result, but you definitely will feel it. Overall the beer was blended well, but completely overdone on the sweetness.

2.0

 

First had: on tap at the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild 15th Annual Beer Festival, USS New Jersey, Camden, NJ

Poured a pleasant mahogany with no head other than a few scattered bubbles. Malty aroma, and lots of noticeable honey. Taste was sweet, sweet, and more sweet. Too sweet, really. Honey sweetness, smooth maltiness, and a slight alcohol bite. But mostly just sweet. Almost no hops detectable. Medium mouthfeel, a bit syrupy, and somewhat drinkable, but...just too sweet and unbalanced.

Appearance-rich golden color, ok clarity, really not that much head to speak of, although that is to be expected because of all the alcohol.

Smell-Whew!!! No devious hiding of the alcohol here, lots of it permeates up, some hop flavor surrounding it, maybe some honey?

Taste-oh my good god, alcohol steems through your palette, almost burning it, tastes sort of like a malt liquor, slight hop kick back and honey (again) comes through. Pretty brutal though.

Mouthfeel-obviously pretty tough stuff, alcohol remains on the breath after it goes down (I guess that's an aftertaste?)

Drinkability-one and your done kid, I can't imagine trying to down more than one of these in a night, a definite sipping brew.

Overall-a slow sipper of a brew, not sure how close to the style it is but I do know that while it is amazingly alcoholic I certaintly can't exactly call it a pleasure to drink. Way too potent, simmer down the alcohol Gaslight and try to let some of the beer's other characteristics come through. Then maybe I'll feel differently.