Double Dwarf
Old Nation Brewing Co.

$ 13.76 (Including tax)/bomber ($ 0.626/oz) at Oppermann’s Cork ‘N’ Ale, Saginaw, MI.
Undated bomber stored at 42 degrees and served at 42 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Aroma – malty but weak. Remains barely detectable throughout the glass.
Head – large (Maximum 4.8 cm, aggressive pour), tan, high density froth fed by effervescence, good retention with a thick very three-dimensional clinging ring. The head diminishes to an irregular five to eight mm frothy ring and very rocky partial layer.
Lacing – excellent. Complete thick frothy rings of tiny to medium bubbles.
Body – dark amber, cloudy, effervescent.
Flavor – starts moderately sweet and almost sticky, very malt-forward. Caramel is predominant. No hop flavor or bitterness are detected. The 10.3% ABV is well hidden – it is just noticeable after allowing the beer to warm in my mouth. No diacetyl.
Palate – medium, slightly sticky, soft carbonation.

This is a decent brew, malty and easy to drink. Overpriced. I suspect the ABV will sneak up on you. To me, it seems a bit sticky for a sticke, but then it’s been “Americanized”. Would I buy it again? No, too pricey.

Appearance 4.5, Aroma 3.25, Flavor 4, Palate 3.5, Overall 3.75.

22 ounce bottle into snifter; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours fairly crystal clear deep ruby/light copper/brown color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, nuttiness, herbal, wood, and pepper; with light roast, toffee, raisin, plum, fig, apple, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/bready/light roast malts, earthy hops, and light fruity yeast notes; with great strength. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, nuttiness, herbal, wood, and pepper; with light roast, toffee, raisin, plum, fig, apple, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate pine/herbal/spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, nuttiness, herbal, wood, pepper, light roast/toffee/fruit, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roast malts, earthy hops, and light fruity yeast flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light dryness from lingering bitterness, increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and fairly full body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/grainy, lightly slick/silky, and sticky/chalky balanced mouthfeel that is great. Mildly warming alcohol for 10.3%. Overall this is an awesome imperial altbier. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roast malts, earthy hops, and light fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and easy to drink for the big ABV. Feels like a cross between English barelywine and doppelbock on flavors. Very rich and complex on malts with balancing earthy hops; nicely clean and not overly fruity/yeasty. A very enjoyable offering.