Ginger Strong Ale
Bent Hill Brewery

This was poured into a snifter. The appearance was a hazy brown color with a small quickly dieing head. No lacing. The aroma starts off with some toast and earthy notes. Ginger comes through after a bit of warming. The flavor takes the ginger spice to try and blend with the earthiness and the sweetness. It somewhat does. Spicy ginger to earthy aftertaste with the same sort of finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Ginger isn’t too strong and doesn’t wreck my palate - moveable spicy notes. Harshness seems contained. Overall, as an English strong ale, well, somewhat. As far as creativity is concerned, I’d say this was good as I’m a big fan of ginger. Luckily, Bent Hill didn’t do something outrageous. I think I tend to like their beers more when they don’t overly do the ingredients.

L- Pours a translucent caramel with a modest 2 cm head. The lacing is spotty but lasting.
S- Ginger is right there up front and mixes with some toffee from the malt.
T- The ginger hits right away and helps to cut the sweetness of the beer. The malt finds it's way as the ginger recedes at the end of the palate. Alcohol is almost completely hidden.
F- Mouthfeel is medium and the carbonation is on the higher end for this type of brew. It keeps the beer light enough to drink.
O- The ginger is fairly strong, and helps to keep the beers ample sweetness in check. You will have to like ginger if you are going to like this beer though.

22oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Chestnut brown color. Fine-bubbled off white head settles to a thin cap. Wispy lacing.

S: Bready, crust, toast, nutty, caramel, hint of cocoa. Raisins. Earthy hops. Whiffs of alcohol. Candied ginger comes out more as it warms.

T: Crusty, bready and toasty up front. Caramel nut clusters. Cocoa. Tobacco and an earthy hop bitterness rise to balance. Golden raisin and perhaps some faint white vinous notes. Ginger is very subtly perceptible toward the back. Stern alcohol. Peanut brittle and toffee maltiness on the finish.

M: Thick and full bodied. Creamy and chewy, though not too weighty. Velvety texture. Low prickling carbonation. Slight alcohol warmth and a slight prickle of ginger.

O: This one grew on me as I drank through it. The ginger isn't terribly noticeable, but it adds just a little something. A very nice Strong Ale overall. it makes for some great off the beaten path winter drinking.