Menagerie #4
Evolution Craft Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

Had on tap at Pickled Pig Pub in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

A: Was presented in a snifter glass. The beer was a hazy amber with a tight one finger white head. Great retention and lacing.

A: Lots of hops, nice citrus notes some grapefruit. There is a nice floral/grassy aroma and a little bit of caramel. There is also a little bit of vanilla and oak from the barrels.

T: Nice strong hop flavor, a good bit of citrus fruits. There is more grapefruit and also some orange rind. A much heavier oak and vanilla presence on the flavor than the aroma.

M: Medium bodied with nice carbonation, very smooth. Slightly bitter finish, but not harsh at all. Only a slight bit of alcohol present when cold, increases a little bit as it warms.

O: A nice version of their Lot 6. The barrels added some nice vanilla and oak flavors. Good drinkability for a DIPA

Had this on tap at Arenas in Rehoboth DE.

Appearance was a cloudy pale maple with very little head retention and had a wonderful bourbon aroma. Alot of heavy malt and caramel with the alcoholic swashing of bourbon and raisins to finish. Pleasant and they got what they were after on this batch.

Evolution Menagerie #4 on a growler collected at Max's in Baltimore, Maryland. An IPA (DIPA?) aged in rum barrels.

Caveat: I am a huge fan of Evolution!!

Appearance: Let me start by saying this beer boasts incredible carbonation. You can just see and feel the bubbles and foam all over while pouring, going straight down to the glass and then up and up, creating a picture-perfect head. This head is big, white and fluffy (too big if you or the bartender pour too vigorously). Lacing is superb too. Color is hazy auburn-amber brown, very DIPA-y.

Smell: Nice boozy sweetness, like honeyed rum, also herbal tea. A bit medicinal, but nice. It'd be a great beer for a cold! Some sticky caramel too.

Taste: Coconut, then rum and hops and booze. Some vanilla and spice. Complex and beautiful. A tad too boozy when it warms up, but again- fine.

Mouthfeel: Full body, full flavor, full carbonation. Outstanding! Sticky sweet, boozy. Lingers in the mouth long after sipping.

Drinkability: I would drink this one slowly, and starting very cold to allow the flavors to develop. As I said, when it warms up it is a bit too alcoholic. The rum is there! Definitely a sipper.

On tap at Maxs. I think this is their Lot 6 IIPA aged in rum casks.

Appearance is similar in hue to the regular Lot 6, but duller and with less clarity. Color is honey amber, mildly rust like against light from the cloudiness. Poured without any head but produces thin streaks of off white lacing with almost the same intensity as the Lot 6 sitting next to it.

Aroma is disappointingly mild. Honestly smells like a watered down Lot 6 with very minimal spirit presence. Mildly citrusy and citrus rind, a little sweeter than the base and if I really stretch it's a little spicier.

Flavor is still surprisingly hoppy, with a strong bitter finish, maybe Cascade? The rum is also pleasantly restrained compared to the whiskey from Menagerie 2, adding a dry sweetness to the finish with mild vanilla and spice. However this is much more well balanced and integrated between the base and the spirits.

The mouthfeel also takes on a much smoother, thicker lush texture with lighter carbonation.

Well, aside from the first two categories, I'm very impressed by this beer and highly recommend it. One of the few BA DIPAs I've enjoyed to date and a vast improvement from the last BA offering I had from Evolution. The relatively subtlety in this and similarity to Lot 6 might be a disappointment for some, but I like it.