Nate's Dog
McKenzie Brew House

Thank to yourefragile for this rarity. Served in a tulip.

A - Quick-dissolving lightly tan foam settles to some wisps, thin collar, and tiny spots of lace. Transparent ruby red-brown body.

S - Massive apply brandy aroma, with some acetone and mild vegetal character. Gets better as it warms up, revealing more of the scotch ale base imparting caramel-covered apples and toffee. Oak is sharp and moderately harsh.

T - Taste is an improvement, with more Scotch Ale flavors like treacle, caramel apples, and a hint of smoke. Still, the barrel-aging imparts a green Jolly Rancher flavor over top of what would probably be a moderately enjoyable base beer. Finishes surprisingly clean somehow.

M - Puzzling medium-light body - think the barrel thinned this out a fair bit. Lower carbonation, and some light warming alcohol.

D - My first non-Saison encounter with McKenzie was quite underwhelming. I couldn't be bothered to finish my glass of this one. The concept of an Apple Brandy Scotch Ale seems sound, but this seems like it was in the barrels far too long.

Thanks Michael, beer is served in a snifter. Beer is brown / dark, mostly clear, thin off white wispy head of small bubbles, some lacing, low carbonation.

Aroma is a little boozy, a little scotchy. Fine.

Beer is medium and light in body, sweet and slightly oaky, slightly boozy, a little caramel, nice finish, a decent beer but not great. Not a repeat.

From 03/30/12 notes. Growler shared by yourefragile; thanks Michael! Poured into a tulip.

a - Pours a dark reddish amber color with a few white bubbles and low carbonation evident.

s - Smells of sweet dark fruits, apple brandy, fruity malts, caramel malts, toasted malts, nuts. Pretty nice; a tiny bit boozy but I like the apple brandy smell quite a bit.

t - Tastes of sweet fruity malts, dark fruits, caramel malts, alcohol, brandy, apples, bready malts. Sweeter then the nose and a little boozier. A step down for me.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Undercarbonated, most likely due to the growler.

o - Overall a pretty ncie beer...I think I liked this one more than most people at the tasting. I liked the nose, though the taste was a tiny bit boozy. Would try again on tap at the brewpub.

Growler courtesy of yourefragile. Served in McKenzie stemware.

Pours a moderately-dark brown-amber color with a thin white head that quickly goes away, leaving only a few bubbles atop the brew.

The nose carries a fair amount of the Laird's brandy alongside some oak and some caramel and toffee notes behind that. There's a bit of fruit as well. Flavor has too much booze and barrel character, but does round out through the malty finish. Medium body with light-medium carbonation. A bit of booze.

Pretty good, but I prefer McKenzie's Belgian-style brews.

On draft at Glen Mills. It is their Wee Heavy aged in Laird's Aplle Brandy barrels for a year. I assume these are the same barrels used for blending Irma Extra and their Apple Brandy Brown from a year and a half ago. Served in a mini goblet.

Pours a dark mahogany brown with a quickly fading sense cream head; light lacing. Aroma is sweet and malty, dominated mostly by the barrel with apple, dark fruit and raisin. Flavor is more balanced with a stronger caramel and toffee malt presence smoothly blending with the brandy barrel. Not overly complex, with a light crisp, well carbonated body. Lacking depth expected for the style but enjoyable regardless.