Öl 5th Anniversary Ale
Strange Roots Experimental Ales

Black with a massive fluffy tan head that settles to a persistent thick blanket.

Maple sweetness and caramel malt come along with woody, smoky roast to start, but some buttery, peaty Scotch accents the far background that at first is not too bad and provides some complexity. The frothy soft but light body also has tart cherry and toasted sesame notes with peppery oak and a Port sort of red wine character. It's quite a unique beer, but the Scotch does seem to strengthen as it warms, and it can become a little off-putting depending on your level of peat tolerance.

Appearance: The bartender pronounces this "oil" and that is what it looks like; used motor oil, that is; the thin ecru head leaves spotty lacing behind

Smell: Dark chocolate, rum, nectarine, molasses and tart black cherry

Taste: Tart black cherry with dark chocolate and molasses building underneath; nectarine and rum sugars add a fruity sweetness to the middle; hints of Bourbon and Scotch barrels can be picked up, after the swallow, with the tart cherry returning to bring home the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: I am really impressed with the depth and range of flavors in this brew; a lot going on and well worth seeking out; from a bigger name brewery located on a coast, this would be a whale, but such is life in the craft brew scene today

Nb. I had this a year later in the bottle and I think an infection is setting in as it was a gusher with an overcarbonated mouthfeel and many of the subtle flavors I picked up on draft were lost in the depths of sourness that have developed; I am going to leave my scores alone as they were based on the original intent of the beer

Thanks, ArtAttackEd, for the chance to revisit even though it was not as good as I had remembered and hoped it would be

 

500 ml bottle

Pours opaque black, head is a dark nutty tan. Starts coarse and thick at two inches, quickly dissipates to about a quarter inch and more fine and then retains there indefinitely.

Smells of oak, fig, molasses, caramel, apple, toast, licorice, whiskey, and walnut.

Flavor is of sour apple, fig, walnut, oak, toast, wine grapes, hints of rum, and a bretty finish. Scotch comed through as it warms to room temp.

Body is medium to thin with bubbly champagne-like carbonation on the roof of the mouth. Booze warmth going down.

First bottle of this was overcarbonated. Second one is much better, so review is edited accordingly.

The pour is gorgeous, the aromas are inviting, and the flavors are all in tune. Per Draai Laag's standard, this tends towards the wild fermentation flavors more than the darkness would suggest. Lots of Belgian and wine-like influence. Body is pretty balanced on my second try. This elevates the beer from great to excellent. A must-try.