Hell Cat
Otto's Pub and Brewery

It's been at least three years since I've had Hellcat, as they refuse to make this one very often--or possibly even at all any more? I distinctly remember that it was the kind of beer I wish I could walk into any bar and have set down in front of me if I just said "gimme a beer": bold, heavy and full of flavour, with the alcohol presence well-incorporated into the palate! It's refreshing to have a beer where some of the sugar is allowed to remain.

If you've been to Otto's, you already know the beer is good. Hellcat, however, has got to be the best beer they've ever made--with Red Mo Ale and Sumatra Stout (both excellent brews) trailing far behind! Charlie, if you're reading this... PLEASE put Hellcat into regular rotation!

Spelled “Hellkat”. This batch is 8.4% and noticeably different than the last batch over a year ago. If I remember correctly, before it was a sweeter, thicker-feeling beer with a lot of candi sugar. This batch?
Hazy, vibrant, medium golden-amber with a medium-sized, frothy, white head that diminishes to a thick film. Good lacing early. The smell is moderately sweet and very fruity and estery. Doughy yeast, light grain, orange rind, apricot, pear, and a little candi maybe. The taste starts out with rather typical Belgian flavors, but soon goes into huge fruit flavors over a solid bready malt backbone. It has a medium body, slick but slightly dry texture and low carbonation. Wow this batch is great! A definite improvement over the last one. Fantastic.
Boy this is a great time to visit Otto’s. With this beer on tap along with the Maibock, the Bourbon-Barrel-Age Old Fugget Barleywine, the Elderberry Stout (which will soon switch over to the extremely popular Sumatra Stout), along with all their standard offerings, it’s hard to decide which to have.

This arrived with a beautiful, foamy head above an absolutely crystal clear, deep amber liquid. I could smell the alcohol as soon as I lifted the beer to my nose. There was also a definite sweetness present. There was a distinct hot mouthfeel, accompanied by the tatse of cherries. This is one wild drink. Charlie has come a long way since his early days at Bullfrog Brewery with this one.