Toadal Devastation
Al's of Hampden / Pizza Boy Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First had: on tap at PB

Hazy caramel brown color with a small bubbly head that receded to a ringlet; minor lacing. Aroma of burnt sugars, toffee, vanilla, light fruity esters, with subtle vegetal/pine hop undertones. Taste of caramelized sugar, toffee, Mary Janes, little bit of vanilla sweetness, balanced with roast and light piney hops to keep the overall sweetness in check. Medium body, mouthfeel was fairly smooth, but there was definitely a boozy heat to it. A good sipper overall.

 

 

 

 

 

Served on-tap at Al's of Hampden.

A - Pours murky brown with a small half finger tall khaki colored head, dissipating down to a light film, spotty webs of lace down the glass.

S - Smells of intense sweetness, mostly caramel, toffee and brown sugar. Some nice mild piney hop bitterness and some light booze. Straddles the line between American and English BW quite well.

T - Starts off with the strong caramel and toffee sweetness that never really fades away. The mildly toasted brown sugar and the piney hop bite rounds our the flavor profile. While there is some booze present, for being 11.2% this one hides is quite well. Finish is sweet with a bit of heat, not lingering on the palate for all that long.

M - Medium body with moderate carbonation. Smooth, rich feel throughout with a nice warming booze burn at the end of each sip.

O - An excellent example of a Barleywine, wether English or American. It has everything you would expect and it is easy to consume, even at 11.2%. I am glad to see this beer as Old Toad was one of my favorite beers at Bullfrog, I greatly welcome it's return even if it is just for a short time.

Draft offering at the source served in a matching Pizza Boy snifter. The brew appears a hazy brown color with yellowish khaki head a finger strong. Lace paints the glass with some frothy spots and strings. Rising bubbles maintain the cap about a finger strong.

The smell includes some suggestions of burnt sugars and boozy alcohol thay is fruity. A bit of bready grain and herbal to pine hop inclusion. The way the hops and alcohol intermingle is strangely inviting.

The taste has some alcohol warmth and bready grain. Lots of bunt sugar flavor but it is attinuated enough that the flavor is there without much residual sweetness. Plenty of herbal hops are present to balance the alcohol and malt with clean bitterness that lasts after each sip with a minor solvent burn.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is a boozy and enjoyable sipper that I was very much looking forward to having when I found out it was brewed. This one will not stick around long, get it while you can. I might have mistakenly added this as english in haste, it has some american barleywine feel to it.