Sons Of Hector
Breton Brewing Co.

 

 

473ml can - from reading the label's marketing spiel, it would seem that this is akin to something like a 'Scottish Brown Ale'. I'm sure that wars have been fought over less.

This beer pours a mostly clear, dark orange-brown brick colour, with three fingers of puffy, loosely foamy, and mildly fizzy tan head, which leaves but a few specks of remote islet lace around the glass as it quickly blows off.

It smells of gritty and grainy caramel malt, some buttery nuttiness, faint tobacco smoke, a bit of bruised black stone fruitiness, and very tame earthy, musty, and herbal green hop bitters. The taste is grainy and crackery pale malt, oily bar-top nuts, a hint of earthy mustiness, subtle overripe pears, and more understated leafy, floral, and dead grassy hoppiness.

The carbonation is fairly active in its palate-pinging frothiness, the body a decent medium weight, and generally smooth, with nothing really else going for it, which is no biggie. It finishes trending dry, a wily clamminess starting to worm in its malingering malevolence.

Overall - I don't have the foggiest idea what a 'Highlands' take on the traditional English [ducks] style is supposed to be, but it appears to entail something rather similar to the stuff their southern neighbours routinely churn out. Anyways, I'm not going to pontificate on this one's name, other than to state that it really sounds like yet another Netflix Original Series, which is of course a sign of the times. Ok, fine - Hector Salamanca it is.

Catching up some rates from last weeks trip to Newfoundland. Taster at the source. Dark brown faint ruby at the edges and a creamy tan head. Rich caramel and chocolate maltiness with bits of floral earth to counter. Damn tasty for a Brown ale.

Dark colour with moderate head and lacing. Dark roasted malt, no noticeable hoppiness. 30 IBU? Don't see it. Very smooth feel but I think it's a porter. Revisited November 2024 and revised my ratings, mostly upward. Perhaps a fresher batch or new recipe? Much improved.

Poured from a 473 ml can purchased at Rockhead in Halifax. This is my first time trying anything from this brewery.

A: almost black with tan head
S: roasted grains
T: bitter roasted malt
F: crisp

Can: Poured a clear deep brown color ale with a large off-white foamy head with OK retention and some lacing. Aroma of dry caramelized malt with light roasted notes is quite pleasant for the style. Taste is a mix of nice dry caramelized malt notes with some light biscuit malt notes. Body is light with good carbonation. Well brewed for style with good drinkability and just enough character.