Stronghold Session Ale
Dragoon Brewing Co.

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From:
Dragoon Brewing Co.
 
Arizona, United States
Style:
English Dark Mild Ale
ABV:
4.7%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.12 | pDev: 10.92%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
50
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 13, 2021
Added:
Apr 29, 2012
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  12
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.32 by EddieDog from New York

Jan 13, 2021
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

4.15/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pint can - Canned 12/08/18:

Pours dark brown with a dark brown topaz/garnet hue. A thin head eventually becomes a wisp. Some lacing sticks.

The smell is of chocolate, hint of coffee and dark fruit/earthy touch.

The taste follows the nose, but slightly richer. Chocolate, dark bread,(some dark fruit/earthy notes) with mild roast in the finish.

It is smooth.

A very well-made example of the style. Very "sessionable".Enjoyable!
Oct 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4.16 by phatsmackey from Texas

Sep 14, 2019
Photo of Chuckdiesel24
Rated by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

3.54/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Good but overtly carbonated
Feb 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.46 by Riled-Up94 from Arizona

Feb 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Feb 03, 2019
 
Rated: 4.48 by emptyglassagain from Massachusetts

Nov 13, 2018
 
Rated: 3.67 by rgk3 from Arizona

Sep 04, 2018
 
Rated: 2.03 by CraftJunkie96 from Arizona

Jul 09, 2018
Photo of Cthulhusquid
Reviewed by Cthulhusquid from Washington

4.16/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Look: One finger white head, brown body.

Smell: Toasted bread, mild dark chocolate, mild coffee.

Taste: Same as above, but some milk chocolate and mild earthiness.

Feel: Light body, medium carbonation. A slight suggestion of sweetness upfront, mildly dry finish.
Apr 13, 2018
Photo of CLSimps
Reviewed by CLSimps from Arizona

4.12/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a deep copper almost cola color, with a thin head that quickly dissipates. The nose is most malt and a little cocoa, and tastes of brown bread, malt and coffee. A little touch of hop bitterness at the end really puts a bow on a brew I really enjoyed. It didn’t look or taste like a session ale as I’m used to (limited exposure of course) which have mostly been of the dry hopped low octane IPA variety. Very good.
Apr 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.98 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

Mar 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4.09 by TheCrowsEye from California

Mar 05, 2018
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Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Although the term "session ale" has largely been kidnapped by American craft brewers and strewed to mean a lot of new and different things, the brewers at Dragoon are working to restore the original intent of the phrase with an English-style mild ale with all the malty, hoppy and drinkable charm that's often lacking in craft beer. Well, sorta.

Deep in copper, the ale sure doesn't look like a session anything as its rich appearance shines with a clean and masculine demeanor. A creamy ecru froth separates from the ale underneath and emits a host of toffee, nutty, toasty aromas along with a faint herbal grassiness. Sweet on the palate, the richness of caramel, pecan, toast and biscuit align on the early palate.

As the ale travels onto the middle palate, the sweetness drifts and the hop flavors bring a sense of woodsy, fragrant, herbal and dry grassy taste. Slight of grapefruit and currant, a soft ester profile pulls from the hops with an elegant taste of marmalade, stone fruit and a hint toward fresh sweet tobacco. Broadly bitter on the late palate, the hops work to balance the beer and little more. A bittersweet late palate continues to dry and leaves the palate light and airy.

Medium bodied, it's easy to accredit the beer with higher body and strength due to its complexity and malt influence, but the beer ultimately is crisp, minerally and highly refreshing, living up to its near session promises. Where the Brits decry that any session ale may never extend to 4.8% in alcohol content, this English styled pale ale lingers with a spicy bitterness that slightly outlasts any trailing malt sweetness in a medium length aftertaste.
Jan 16, 2018
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Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours like coke with a light brown heard that disperses quickly. The nose is of cocoa, at least a hint of cocoa. The taste is soft, but definitely cocoa and bread. Very good session Ale.
Dec 17, 2017
Photo of tucson_brewson
Reviewed by tucson_brewson from Arizona

4.26/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
16 oz can poured into an imperial pint glass.

L - Pours a dark, reddish cola brown. A good inch of foamy tan head that dissipates to a thin lacing with good retention. Looks like a nice brown ale.

S - Not strongest on the nose, but a balance of burnt cocoa, coffee, bread, and earthy English hops.

T - A very toasty biscuity malt, freshly-baked bread, light caramel sweetness, dark fruit, with a slightly spiced hoppy finish. I'm a fan of beers that let the bready malt flavors stand out, and this is no exception.

F - Medium bodied, light carbonation, smooth and creamy, slightly dry finish. Very drinkable.

O - This session ale comes across as a lighter English brown ale. A nice balance of caramel malts and complex dry hops. Another great ale from a brewery whose flagship IPA is one of the best and available everywhere. Will definitely try again and hope to see more on tap around town.
Dec 10, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Nat1975 from Indiana

Nov 29, 2017
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Rated by superwho24 from Arkansas

4.74/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Tasty
Jun 30, 2017
Photo of WilliamBrasky
Reviewed by WilliamBrasky from North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
No idea how to rate this beer other than for what it truly is. When you see the word "Session" in this game your mind thinks of one thing only...but why not, let's screw with the psyche even though it clearly states otherwise on the can.
May 03, 2017
Photo of RyanK252
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California

4.17/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Dragoon Brewing

A: Pours chestnut brown with a frothy khaki head that settles to a light layer and laces nicely.

S: Toasty roasty malt, earthy, floral, a bit fruity, and a touch of burnt sugar.

T: Toasty slightly roasty malt, floral, lightly spicy and earthy, a bit of dark fruit, and a touch of toffee and burnt sugar.

M: Light to medium body, moderate carbonation.

O: The world needs more beers like this. It's no 4x dry hopped imperial barrel aged wild whatever, just a really nice flavorful session brew.
Apr 14, 2017
Stronghold Session Ale from Dragoon Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 50 ratings