Hop Test #1 (Scotch Ale)
Al's of Hampden / Pizza Boy Brewing

 

 

Served on-tap at Al's of Hampden. Pours murky dark brown with a half finger tall off white head, quickly dissipating down to a light ring around the edge, leaving small streaks of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smells of toffee and caramel sweetness, dark fruits, mildly toasted dark malts, some light earthy smoke and a dash of booze. Taste is pretty much the same with the caramel and toffee up front and the toasty malt and dark fruit rounding it out. The other flavors are mostly obscured but are still present. Big, slick feel with lots sweetness finishing dry.

Overall a decent, if not plain, scotch ale. Glad to see they are trying some new styles. I would love to see this barrel aged. I think it would turn out beautifully.

Ever since Al started brewing in the old building, I've been waiting for him to tackle my favorite style... Finally the wait is over... An active pour yeilds two and a half fingers woth of audibly fizzy creamy densely packed froth... Retention is excellent... Once settled there is a thick lush collar and an even splotchy veil of lacing... The color is a deep rich warm mahogany... Limited carbonation with just sluggish stray bubble here and there... A limited bit of lacing clings to the sides of the glass... The nose is malt forward with dark breads and peat at the forefront... There are some light fruit notes and a hint of brown sugar as well... There is also something slightly off, perhaps some weak metallic notes... The maltiness alluded to by the nose is present, but that's just the beginning... There are also some light woody notes... There is a surprising, but rather pleasant intensifying hop presence on the finish... Medium bodied and insanely smooth... Starts lush... A bit chewy... Finish with a touch of dryness... A rather eventful mouthfeel that leaves wanting another sip almost immediately... A really interesting take on the Scotch Ale style and one that I wish would become one of Pizza Boy's standards... The hop presence and world class mouthfeel make this a stellar and somewhat groundbreaking example of the style... Nicely done...