Drake, Smith & Co.
Hogback Mountain Brewing

16oz can from City Market. Dark brown with frothy beige head. Aroma is dark malts, nutty, tea. Taste adds light sweetness and bitterness, malty, woody, nutty, chocolate. Gets better as it warms.

DATE: June 6, 2018... OCCASION: having enjoyed Will's spring concert, I now prepare for the Cavs/Warriors Game Three...a must win... GLASSWARE: Hobgoblin pint...pours a dark brown, nearly opaque body with large clinging barnacles of bubbles... the head is a thick half-finger of off-white sea foam, clingy and arcing purposefully.... it cuts a handsome, though expected figure... light cocoa mixes with sweet caramel and toasted bread to provide an alluring aroma... leather, dank basement, light spices and leafy tea aspects make this like a walk in early spring... complex, though not all appreciable... the fifth sip may as well have been my first--smooth, refreshing, light on the tongue and teeth, with the vibrancy at the throat, the lingering sweetness imparting caramel and toasted bread.... as with many browns, the profile is blunted by its workmanlike need for drinkability, but with a slower draw, citrus makes its way through--orange peel, some lemon--while the chocolate moves in, inviting some roasted coffee bean as well... could this be a beer worth seeking? in the right season, perhaps... its sweetness and suggested malts make it a better fit for fall... by the same token, it's fresh and a far distance from its home state already, so thanks to Jeff for his fruitful trip to Vermont, whence I once more reap the rewards.... and why this beer tonight? The Cavs could use Smith (JR) to become the x-factor they so desperately need at home... or maybe it's the coolness of the night that asks for a brown ale...

This was poured into a nonic pint glass. The appearance was a mostly dark brown color with a one finger white foamy head that quickly dissipated. There wasn’t any lacing. The smell started off with some sweet milk chocolate, had some light nuts, a little bit of caramel and toffee and it all blended nicely together with some subtle piney hops. But even that is really below on the aroma. The taste was mainly sweet with a tired roasty flavor rolling in for the blend. Subtle chocolate comes back to enliven a nice robust sort of flavor all around. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium with a nice sessionability about it. Carbonation felt nice and semi-low with a smooth to creamy sort of feel on my tongue. Overall, better than expected for the new kid (brewery) on the block. More of an English Brown ale.