Air Mail Strong Ale
Willimantic Brewing Co.

 

Reviewed on 1/8/2010. Growler from the brewpub. Pours a dark brown with a small light tan head. Aroma of roasted nuts, oak, roasted malt, and a sweetness that is hard to describe. Flavor is also a bit difficult to describe -- roasted notes, sweet malt, and some citrusy hops. Definitely an interesting beer -- part brown ale, part ASA, part porter, part IPA. But certainly drinkable, enjoyable, and worth a try.

7.8% ABV
Pours a deep dark brown with a low brown head. Rich aroma of darkly toasted malt and cocoa. Rich flavor of roasty malt, cocoa and coffee. Mild bitterness balances it out. Very even and smooth and balanced. Even mouthfeel, silky and creamy, very smooth. Great beer, tasty and drinkable.

On-Tap at the Brewpub in Willimantic. Nearly black chocolate brown with w nice light tan head. Trapped carbonation, with nice spotty lacing as well. The aromas are malty and chocolatey, with many sweet malt complexities abounding. The taste is complex. Sweet, chocolatey, with some coffee notes and some raw hops as well. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, drinkability good!

this beer has a dark, stoutish appearance. thick in the body with a small, tan bubble ring. opaque, appears dangerously bold.

aroma is.. beery. damn these caved-in pint glasses they use here, no aroma can be captured. difficult to smell.

taste is a delicate balance of malt and hops. amazing balance. definite belgian influence on this beer, and perfect at 7.1. did not try the 8-9% incarnation of this beer, but i think it might have been too much. rocs grand cru-ish in the dark fruit notes and sour highlights. but then there's hops.

a very well-crafted beer.

My second beer fron dinner tonite.
The beer is served in a pilsneresque style glass (10oz?). THe beer is a hazy mahogany with a beige head that fades to a surface layer rather quickly. The aroma is malty with raisins, toffee, and some ripe fruit or brown sugar scents.
First sip delivers a thick body and light carbonation beer. Very malty flavor which is similar to the aroma. I get some raisins, and a sugary hit too. There is a bitter earthy hop presence on the finish that coats my tongue and asks me to take another sip. No hint of the 8.8 abv. This is a very tasty brew but I find that it sits a little heavy so dont have it first if you are planning on multiple samplings. Enjoy!
According to the brewery Simcoe, Challenger, Goldings, and Hallertau hops were used.