Townie Strong
Barrel House Z (BHZ)

Picked-up a single can as part of a mixed six-pack at Kappy's in Norwell for about eleven dollars. I have had a couple of brews from these guys, & was not impressed. This was ok, would probably try again.

 

 

 

Advertised as an "Irish Strong Ale". Not sure what this is but willing to give it a try.

Slow bar pour due to the large head. Excellent complete blanket on the glass. The liquid is brown with some apparent cloudiness.

Sweet, candied caramel smell.

The taste comes across like a combination between Coca-Cola and a caramel sundae. Very sweet with no bittering balance. The body is naturally rich and the carbonation seems like nitrogen, creating a smooth feel. Chocolatey aftertaste. Complex and interesting. A very nice strong ale.

Pours a one finger light brown head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Almost clear amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Vanilla, rum nose and flavor has hints of rum barrel, vanilla, higher ABV, 8.8%, is hidden. $3.90 for a 12oz bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma. Bottled Jan 2017.

 

Look: Nothing to complain about here. Perfectly clean & clear red ale look.
Smell: wonderful nose. Sometimes it's a floral Irish Red scent, other times I only get the barrel. But either way it works.
Taste: Definitely notice the barrel flavors here. I know Clown Shoes went for a barrel-aged Irish red before but it was plagued by infections. Have had Newport Storm rum-barrel aged beers before but this one had a slightly different feel. I'd say a pleasantly subtle bitterness with notes of oak, vanilla and rum.
Overall this is just a quality beer. I'd say these guys know what they're doing.

16 oz. can dated 03/07/17 - Batch 1 - 8.5% - ITB (In The Buff)

Pours clear red amber with a creamy off-white foam head. Smells like red melons, cherry, grapefruit, orange citrus, molasses, brown sugar, dark toffee, toasted caramel malts, chocolate, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like toasted dark caramel malts, molasses, brown sugar, dark toffee, chocolate, red melons, cherry, grapefruit, orange citrus, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium-light bodied, creamy and smooth with moderate carbonation. Overall a really nice Irish strong ale.

 

 

 

 

Pours clear, amber in color, with 1/3 inch head. Taste is grain like a traditional Irish red ale, vanilla, chocolate, and nice oaking. Medium-heavy bodied, moderate carbonation, sweet and boozy. Excellent introduction to the brewery. Took a style that I am not overly in love with and developed all sorts of excellent flavors. Sweetness of the oaking plays well with the grain. Gets me curious in the brewery. I will be exploring more of their offerings.

Rum Barrel aged. Getting that traditional Irish Red malt base up front. The rum flavors of molasses, vanilla and chocolate come in mid palate. The barrel presence is light. Dry, oaky finish. It's not bad.

The 2nd beer I've tasted from this brewery and I'm impressed by their unique approach. The Ginned pils Sunny and 79° was impressive.

Poured a clear auburn color with a 4 finger head in a Stone Imperial pint glass. Heavy vanilla presence. Another aroma which I can't quite identify.

The body is smooth, not much carbonation, which I like for the style.

The aroma transitions to the taste with strong vanilla and added chocolate and rum as the beer warmed.

Smooth finish.

Overall: lots of character. A unique approach to an Irish ale, which can be overcarbonated, and rough- not smooth like this beer. The strong vanilla enhanced the beer and approaches the style to a much more creative level.

A brewery to watch.

 

 

 

On tap at Union brew house .....not a style that I usually go for ,but have been meaning to try this new brewery . Smell and taste are both a bit hot from the barrels ,I think I am so used to only drinking thicker stout /porter style beers with that barrel flavor that I don't know what to make of this beer ....glad I got a chance to try it . Nice to see a brewery taking the barrel aging down some different roads . Will definitely try more beers from BHZ