Brute Squad
Two Ton Brewing

 

 

 

 

On draught at the brewery. Served in a tulip glass. It pours a deep ruby-amber color with a large, fluffy, khaki-colored head and heavy lacing. The aroma includes caramel, brown sugar, and mellow oak. The taste opens with roasty malt, caramel, toffee, and a distinct flavor of oak. It's fairly sweet at first but the sweetness quickly gives way to a dose of bitter hops with a surprisingly strong bite. It leaves a decidedly bitter after taste. The feel is moderately creamy with a pleasant level of carbonation. The elevated 10.2% ABV is warming but not overpowering. Overall, this is an understated American Barleywine with a nice balance of sweetness and hop bitterness.

Average pour fills half the glass with airy foam, life a soufflé, eggshell white in color, retention is good plus, any lacing like random clouds on a sunny day. Coppery orange hued liquid, clean and transparent, multiple streams of fat bubbles rising to reenergize the head. Nose has a metallic edge to it, kind of green and herbaceous as well, pulped lemons, not plush nor layered as one might expect, more day old bread crusts than scone or fruitcake, noticeable lack of fruit presence overall, not necessarily unpleasant but nothing to keep you interested. Medium-bodied and here too lacking in the richer layering desired of the style. More bitter than sweet with a foundation of grass, poor metallic dirt, charcoal and quinine. Lemon husks, spent yeast and more bread crusts, mutter of clove and ginger. Carbonation does create a foamy feel which softens the overall profile. Weak cherry, plum to apricot fruit, too dry for any extended presence. Not something you’d want to revisit.

22 oz bottle. Pours hazy amber with tall, long-lasting, foamy off-white head, nice lacing and lively carbonation. Aroma is bready malt, dark fruit, brown sugar and herbal hops. Body is full and smooth. Bready, caramel malt, brown sugar, dark fruit, herbal hops fill the mouth. Finish is long and semi-dry. Very good brew.

Served in a tulip glass from the bottle.

Appearance: Cloudy gold color with a dark orange tinted white head which is at the very thick rising over three fingers length. The body of the brew looks good but the head over flow super not pretty. Lacing on the glass is very sticky assuming the head drops.

Smell: Hops and a sour lemons scent which hinders a could be delightful aroma.

Taste: Sweet Malts and a dab of honey. There's a yeast element to this beer which brings a dose of sourness to the brew.

Mouth: Sticky brew which comes off like a toasty nut wheat bread with a spread of honey. A little dry but it definitely satisfies.

Overall: As far as taste I say yae, but the look of the beer makes it a bit ubpleseent to drink considering I spilled a chunk before I can take a sip. Split it with a friend in a oversized glass, enjoy...Salud!

**
10/14/17

Central Jersey Beer Fest.
On Tap to 2 oz. tasting glass.

LOOK: brown with a touch of red, small off white head.
AROMA: vanilla, brown sugar,toffee
TASTE: vanilla, touch of coconut
FEEL: sturdy


**