St. Katherine's Tawny Ale
Saint Katherine's Brewing Company

I've had this sitting around for quite a while, and finally decided to give it a try. I'm almost sad I did, because I don't know if I'll ever come across this again. Simply a phenomenal beer. Poured a thin, moderately fizzy head with a dark, almost murky, mahogany body. This is the single best-smelling beer I've ever had: it actually smells like port - delicious. Fairly strong malt character, little to no hops, and this just awesome port flavor round out an excellent taste profile. I'd say it almost tastes like someone mixed an English barleywine with a fairly old tawny port. For the style, it's a somewhat heavy mouthfeel, but since that fits my preferences more than most pale ales do, I don't mind. Overall, this simply a great beer. I hold out hope more breweries start doing port-barrel aging, because based on this, it's a brilliant idea.

 

 

Bottle from recent Premiere trip. A rare New Zealand miss. Yeast just didn't hit me. Its drinkable, there is some hops, but not tonight,, will save for cooking. Lots of foaming head, light yellow colour. Less than average mouthfeel. The wine taste from barreling, noticed in finish was not that interesting.

Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours an orange-yellow color with a white head. The aroma has some light malt notes, as well as some sugar, lemons and oranges. The flavor is very similar, with some subtle lemon and orange citrus notes mixing with some biscuit malt. There is also a yeast-like flavor. Thin mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

 

 

 

Meh. Certainly not worth the price of 8.5 clams. Poured with a medium sized fizzy, light tan head that quickly settled down to the ring around the inside of the glass and no lace. Color is a hazy medium amber with loads of small bubble trails; so many that I thought it was overcarbonated. Aroma is mild of yeast, wine, and malt, with a hint of hop. Flavor is similar to nose. Body is ok and surprisingly so is carbonation. Finish is a little sweet but cut by the carbonation and a bit of alcohol.

From 03/27/11 notes. Thanks to Travir (RB) for sharing this at a local DC tasting.

a - Pours a murky mahogany color with one inch of off white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of nuts, toasted malts, and bready malts. A little light/bland.

t - Tastes of bready malts, nuts, and caramel malts. A little better than the smell.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

d - An average pale ale heavy on the bready malts. Would give another shot but wouldn't seek out again.

500ml bottle. It pours a clear copper color with a soapy white head that quickly dissipates with no lacing. The smell is nice. It has notes of port, cocoa, dark malts, and some earthiness. The flavor is a bit bigger. The port comes through a bit more with a vinous taste along with some other fruits. There is also some vanilla and a brown ale-like base. The bitterness is low. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, but it is nice and drinkable.

500 mL bottle thanks to Travlr. Pours a medium copper color with a thin white head. The nose has a light spruce character and is herb-forward with moderate caramel and light hops in the background. Earthy to herbal hops with a lit of cooking spice--the closest that comes to mind is spruce. Medium body and a very dry finish.