We Mint Well
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse

fashioned after a mint julep, this is a pretty awesome drink, and it has me totally coming around again on against the grain, whose quality and price points have been so out of whack since theyve come to colorado that its been almost laughable, and a real detractor. this is the second great one i have had in a row though, something way unique and delicious. its a bourbon barrel aged scotch ale with mint leaves. the bourbon is huge on it, lots of oak and boozy smoothness, with a hint of smoked malt and fresh mint to pop it off. the mint is pretty mild int he flavor, but comes on late, and lasts longer than the smoked malt or bourbon sweetness, pretty special in that way, the evolution from start to stop here is awesome. the vanilla and the base scotch ale are nice, the mint gives a real fresh life to a style thats often considered wintery and stoic. i think that idea alone is worth a grade A, but the execution here is also far above the norm from what i have seen from these guys, and it makes it a one of a kind beer. faint mint later on, lots of whiskey, a scotch ale worthy in its own right. a really tip top project here, worth picking up if you are lucky enough to see it. maybe my favorite thus far from these guys, no longer wallet draining underwhelmers after this one.

On tap at The Beer Trappe, Lexington

A- pours a murky brown color with a small off-white creamy head that reduces to just a rang around the edge of the glass

S- bourbon barrel with lots of woodsy notes, caramel & toffee, brown sugar, very sublet mint leaf underlying

T- sweet and malty up front with notes of caramel, molasses & brown sugar. The bourbon is very forward with plenty of barrel notes, adding subtle flavors of vanilla & oak. The mint is subltle, but noticeable. Sweet malty finish with more caramel & bourbon on the linger

M- medium body with medium carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel and a creamy, warming finish

O- Big, malty & bourbony, like one would expect of the style. The only downfall is that I would have liked the mint to poke through just a bit more, as it could have added quite a bit of contrast to the sweetness of the beer

 

Nice bourbon notes in aroma, with slightly more pronounced mint.

Flavor hits like a shot of bourbon initially, almost as hot, with mint reigning in the finish. There's a fair amount of toasted, bready malt, but an odd, fruity/medicinal flavour hits mid palate, reminiscent of cough syrup.

For all the pretenders and odd-ball cocktail lovers alike, the traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby finds a proper home in craft beer. It takes the show of Brewdogs and their brewery rockstars, in collaboration with the surly Against the Grain brewers to give all the bourbon, the mint, the sweetness of the notorious drink to a Scottish style ale that supports those flavors in both balance and strength.

Its deep amber, bronze laden pour is tawny and scotch-like. With a swirling delicate creme of froth, the nose is stricken with a toasty malt base but with complexities of mint and bourbon wafting above. Its malty-sweet taste is rich of caramel, toffee, toasted pecan and hints of maple as its full saturation takes hold before the complex flavors layer upon.

Bready and cake-like, the beer's firm malt base is sturdy and unlikely to fade easily. Low carbonation allows for the mint to build in with a much more subtle tone than expected. Herbal and tea-like, the flavor of peppermint gives the palate an evaporative cooling while scotch nuances of tobacco, smoky chocolate, vinous grape, burnt maple pecan and prune weave into the mix. Bourbon charges in late with its toasty char, caramel, vanilla and fusel cherry-like alcohol.

Malt structure recedes while its sweetness remains, allowing the full-bodied beer to dry enough to resemble drinkability to a moderate sense. Heated and prickling to the mouth, the malty-dry finish is spicy and awash with bourbon. Caramel and mint follow with a long and rewarding aftertaste.

 

Enjoyed form a growler via Eightball at the Party Source. This ale pours a nice mahogany brown with a nice head of off white foam that quickly dissipates to a nice thin bubbled ring and light lacing. Nose of whiskey, brown sugars, vanilla, oak, fresh mint, booze, and toasted malts. Flavors surpass the nose with mild bourbon and vanilla on the front, brown sugar and peat malts to the middle, and a nice mint note to the rear finish with a substantial heat of booze. Smooth, lightly slick, and medium carbonation makes for a fantastic mouth feel that contains decent heat from the bourbon. Outstanding.

I have yet to see this episode of Brewdogs, but am searching for it now. Very nice and substantial. A treat and a pleasure.

Cheers