Stalin's Organ
To Øl

Pours clear light amber, one finger white head that subsides to a thin cap that lasts.
Smell of dry grains, spicy and green hops, some faint smoke, apple and pear.
Taste starts with a nice malt backbone, with a touch of nice sweetness and a strong mixed grain feel. Touch of fruit. Some wood notes, smoked, rather faint. Hops refresh with a bit of citrus, bring spiciness (backed by some yeast), bring some pine and grass and a big bitterness in the finish.
Light bodied, medium carbonation, bitterness cuts off most of the flavours, leaving grassy hops, some faint charcoal and burnt bread crust.
A smaller hop ration would have helped, leaving more room for the steam beer notes, but it's good as it is anyway.

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Nov 2016, so it's a bit out of date. Purchased ages ago from the Brewdog webshop and stored in a cupboard. The information on the label suggests that this is a steam beer; beyond that there's not much detail.

A: Poured into a tulip. Bottle conditioned. A rich, hazy amber colour with some floating sediment and good carbonation. Produces a large head of creamy white foam that lasts for a few minutes before reducing to a persistent surface layer. Slight lacing.

S: Aroma of earthy yeast with hints of lager yeast, subtle fruity esters, a touch of spice, grainy malt, mild leafy hops and a twinge of huskiness. Decent, though perhaps a tad faded.

T: Tastes of grainy malt with notes of mildly fruity yeast esters, subtle earthiness, floral hints, light aroma hops, a twinge of barley sugar and faint husks. Possesses a mature quality that hints at lagering, along with a lingering sweetness. A delicate hop bitterness upon swallowing.

M: Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with decent carbonation and good body. Aftertaste of earthy yeast, mild fruity esters, light grain and subtle hops.

O: Pretty good in spite of its age. Looks alright, while the aroma and flavour are a balanced mix of earthy, fruity yeast and grainy malt. Mild hop character; possibly due to fading over time. Nice body; smooth and thick. Not sure how representative this is of the style, but it's drinkable enough.

 

A nice hoppy beer, especially noticed in smell, but on the other hand it covers other beer properties too much. I am thinking whether I am imagining smoke from the description, and the yeast is also not really prominent. As a pale ale, I would give this a higher rating.

 

 

 

 

Interesting beer. Did not realize the style of this at first, as the lager and yeasty notes mix with a pale ale esque feel. Did not detect the smoke, though there is a quality in here that does not come through at first.

 

Pours amber with a large lasting head.
Nose shows spicy and grassy hops, grainy pilsner malt and faint peat. A fruity note enters later hinting at pear and apple.
The peat is more evident as a flavours, supported by spicy noble hops with a soft minty twist. Lots of grainy malt underneath.
Carbonation is a little excessive.

Drank from my Mane Liquor tulip

A - Pours a clear copper/straw colour with a large bubbled head that laces and reduces to a film.

S - Hop and grain

T - Up front some nice floral notes followed by grains and hop. The finish is zesty and bitter.

M - Light to medium body with medium to full carbonation

O - Nice steam beer with a pils angle to it.