Colonial Mayhem
Hardknott Brewery

bbe feb 2016, 8.1% abv, 330ml bottle from ales by mail

Appearance (Look) = 6%
dark yellow very little head.

Smell = 24%
very malty sweet. hardly any hops

Taste = 40%
sweet malt. not hops at all except a bit of bitter in the backend. I'd call this a barley wine or a malt liquor based on taste.

Mouthfeel (Feel) = 10%
high gravity thick.

Overall = 20%
I like this sort of thing but I could imagine that people who like a dryer beer might think that this tasted like unconverted wort or poorly balanced. weirdly the label was talking up the hops and I really couldn't detect much going on in that regard. You could tell that the brewers were batting hard with this and I respect that. I generally like most things this brewery does.

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a Fullers snifter glass. This beer is apparently a "Colonial MIld", assumingly because it's dark but not as dark as a stout or black IPA, and hoppy and alcoholic so not exactly a proper mild.

Pours a dark brown colour with a hint of redness as I look closer. Off-white head.

Smells very alcoholic and hoppy - strong pineapple smell.

Taste is first off a massive hit of booze, followed by another massive hit of very bitter hops - no subtlety about this one. Quite a light mouthfeel and a small malt presence.

Overall this is a beer that properly annihilates your taste buds, and not necessarily in a good way - the strong tastes are too uncoordinated and there seems to be no effort at balance. This partially feels like an inferior and less alcoholic version of the Brains Craft Brewery "Destiny" Dark IPA I just had.

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Jan 2014. Acquired from my local beer specialist. Described on the label as 'a colonial mild with juicy new world hops', inspired by a visiting US brewer. A hopped-up mild is obviously a contradiction in terms, hence why I've categorised this as an American IPA - there's nothing closer.

Poured into a Duvel tulip. A dark, hazy reddish-brown - almost opaque, though plentiful carbonation is visible. Produces an enormous head of creamy off-white foam that slowly subsides to a thin surface layer. Bottle-conditioned. Aroma of fruity aromatic hops with notes of white grapes and melon; this is followed by a subtler malty character with hints of chocolate, dried fruit and yeast. A whiff of booze in the background. There are distinct overtones of plant/leaves - a 'green' note that doesn't sit entirely comfortably with the rest of the aroma.

Tastes of fruity aromatic hops with a subtle underlying malty character and an astringent finish. Notes of white grapes, melon, faint citrus, 'green plant', dark malt, mild chocolate, dried fruit and yeast esters. A dry, spicy quality abounds, along with hints of booze and a restrained bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with decent body. Rather astringent. Aftertaste of fruity aromatic hops.

Plenty going on, but it's hard to know what to make of this one. It's not really a mild, despite the description, but it's not anything else either. Lots of light, aromatic fruity notes and a mild malty character, but the hops seem excessive while the malt is weak. Too dry and astringent - it lacks balance. There is also a green 'plant' note that doesn't sit well with the overall flavour. Interesting but no masterpiece. Feel free to try it, but I won't be revisiting this again.