Old No. 55
Marshall Wharf Brewing Company / Three Tides Restaurant

 

 

 

Brewed on 9/12/08. Put in a 12 year bourbon barrel on 10/1/08, pulled on 12/2/10. Blended with beer brewed on 11/5/10.
Bottled on 12/17/10
Bottle # 332

Purchased @ Marshall Wharf brewery Belfast, Maine.

Price - $19.99/bomber

Pours amber-brown with a thin creamy off white head. The retention is short lived however. A descent look of lacing stains the glass, very nice. Clear with no haze or sediment visible.

The aroma is sweet and rich in caramel, vanilla, toffee and wood. The smell of bourbon isn't overwhelming but not subtle either.

The flavor pretty much mirrors the aroma. Again the bourbon is lite and quite pleasing. At just 8.0% it's near perfect in taste.

The mouthfeel is smooth and almost crisp with very little carbonation. A presence of earthy hops can be be felt. The body is thin to medium with a slite dryness in the finish which blends nicely all together making it very enjoyable.

Overall this beer is highly drinkable, not heavy or too cloying. It's a very good ale and a solid offering by Marshall Wharf. With a pretty good line up of beers available, I'm looking forward to trying more of their stuff.

Pours a fairly clear but dark brown with just a slight bit of white head. There is a yellowed halo around the rim. Smells very bourbon heavy on the nose. Not much else as the bourbon overwhelms. Tastes boozy and heavily bourbony. Tons of oak and vanilla. Vry rich and sweet. Almost chocolatey as well. Overwhelming wnd i don't believe it's only 8% but surprisingly great!

Reviewed from my notes. Served in my Uprising Chalice as part of Novare Res' Marshall Wharf take-over. I'm placing this review under the Old 55 heading, as that is what the menu and actual keg said this beer was. The tap handle said it was the Old 57. They are the same recipe; the Old 55 was brewed two years ago, the Old 57 is fresh.

A: Small tan head that settled to a skim. Dark, ruby colored liquid. Lots of film is left behind as I swirl the beer around.

S: Big malty sweet aroma. Plum and some forest-like hops.

T: Great malt flavor. Roasted, rich and sweet. Some dark chocolate notes. Alcohol is present at the finish. Musty hop resins get stronger as the beer is in my mouth and linger on after swallowing.

M: Full bodied and syrupy with good carbonation levels--big bubbles. Flavorful coat. Not too sticky on my lips but inside my mouth the coat clings.

D: Very drinkable old ale. I certainly wouldn't finish a growler of this in one night, but a glass or two would do nicely.

Had on tap at Marshall Wharf takeover of Novare Res.

Light head, dark molasses brown,

Nose soft dark malts, light weird uk herbal hops, light oats

Taste is creamy, light darker fruit, light oats, soft dark malts bitter herbal uk hops, light spicy hops, bitter

Mouth is heavier bodied decent creamy carb,

Drink is good, no real booze, bit of the herbal hops hamper it a bit

Off a tap this beer was a very dark copper color with a one-finger, tan head. The retention was only so-so and the lacing equally spotty. The aroma was malty with notes of caramel, toffee, some hop bitterness and barley. The flavors were also deep and robust. I tasted caramel malt, toasted malt, wood, black walnuts, hazelnuts all balanced with a good hop bitterness in the background. The finish was quite nutty and the alcohol well-hidden. The mouthfeel was smooth, the body medium/full and the carbonation light.

From notes. On tap at the brewpub. Note that I am adding this beer and placing it in the category American Strong Ale, though the brewery called it an Old Ale. I put it where it seemed to belong. Overrule me if you feel the need.

Dense, creamy 1 finger tan head, thick lacing. Very clear with reddish highlights, medium brown. SMELL is dominated by hoppy bite initially. As it warms it is more rich but still mostly hops. Some roasty and malty poking through, but not much. TASTES of hops up front, then roasty. malty, chocolaty, and sweet. Smooth, balanced and complex. FEELING is of moderate carbonation, some fizzy tingling, creamy, rich, and with clean and pleasantly bitter finish. DRINK it slowly and savor every sip, as it is very complex and tasty.