1st Anniversary Ale
Three Magnets Brewing

 

 

 

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours nearly black, opaque in the glass with a fine half finger khaki head with great retention a thick lacing. There was an odd fruity, slightly tart aroma on opening, but in the glass has nice bourbon, dark dried fruit, vanilla, wood and a hint of tartness. Flavor is fresh and dried dark stone fruit, vanilla, nuts, bourbon, fortified wine, chocolate, mild fruit tartness in the finish. Excellent creamy body and mouth feel. Not as intensely malty as many strong ales, it starts mellow with almost neutral malt, but develops an interesting complexity with slightly tart fruit balancing with dark dried fruit and vanilla character that would be more likely in a porter. Lots of interesting flavors invited repeat tasting. There is something rich and fruity in the finish that may be the port barrel influence, and if so, it works better here than in any other port barrel ale I've had. The bourbon is clear, but not dominating. Very well integrated and flavorful, this is an unusual strong ale that is a credit as a 1st Anniversary ale. I worked really hard to get a bottle of this and ended up stumbling on it in an unexpected store. So glad I did.

 

 

 

Just this side of cola black, but with a slightly more muddied hue. Small tan head settles back to petri dish and then keeps going, retreating to the edges to lick its wounds and smear its boogers on the walls.

Nose is an interesting blend of hazlenuts and figs and chocolate and leather. Rich and nuanced, takes a familiar (and VERY welcome) theme and gives it some unique subtleties to make it its own.

Flavour takes the same notes and blends them masterfully. Deceptively drinkable. Slightly bigger carbonation than I would have guessed, but it works out here, and lets the warmth be just that: warmth, not booze heat. Definite dark fruits that could be base beer, could be port barrels, oak, vanilla, chocolate, still a little nutty but not nearly as much as when I first cracked and catched a whiff. Finish tends more towards the vine of the port than the round vanilla of the bourbon. Brings in some tobacco on the finish as well, which doesn't slide right in quite as well as it could have. Still an intensely enjoyable beer though and sets the bar high for these guys. Glad I finally got my hands on some of their stuff!!