The Grandfather Oaked Ale
Ballistic Beer Co.

After the excellent Ballistic Pale I turn my attention to their newly released Grandfather Oaked Ale – which is an Old Ale brewed with 6 different malts and aged on American Oak. I do love an Old Ale, let’s face it: I’m getting old and I like Ale, so it’s really in the name for me. What could be better than an Old Ale? “one that is barrel-aged in American Oak” say Ballistic. Really a bit of a no-brainer here – take a tasty Old Ale, BA the shit out of it (as you do with Old Ales anyhow), can it, enjoy it. How well will this fair against my favourite Old Ale: Bacchus King Of Denmark, which is brewed with a +200 yro strain of English yeast? Well, for starters it’s probably not going to be anywhere near as crazy as that crazy work of art (which I still have a bottle of!) however it will be tasty no doubt.

Poured from a 375ml can into a Duvel tulip.

A: Nice spot-on clear copper body with a cream-coloured 1 inch head from a hard pour that probably needed to be a touch softer [sorry!]. As the head receedes it leaves some rather impressive lace-work inside the glass… Oooo. 8/10.

S: Bit of tobacco and an old leather shoe, what an interesting aroma you have Grandfather Oaked Ale. Speaking of oak, yep there’s a hint of vanilla and woody tones in there as well, but the star is the malt – which is fairly nuanced with dark fruit and caramel hints coming in too. It’s not got that “fist in your face” aroma that King Of Denmark had, nonetheless it’s good. 7/10.

T: There’s that toffee the label speaks of, almost diacetyl-like in it’s butterscotch flavour. Some of the above also make an appearance: dark fruit hints, caramel, vanilla and woody tones yes, however there is an elephant in the room and it’s called “hop bitterness” for a malt-driven brew/style there is an awkward herbal hop bitterness at the end that detracts from the flavour dammit! And I love hops, but there’s a time and place for hops and a malty Old Ale is neither the time nor the place I’m afraid. The 7% ABV – not really noticeable here/had worse. 7/10.

M: Mid to heavy bodied with a dense almost-viscous carbonation that coats the tongue and reminds you how out of place the hops are in this beer. 8/10.

D: Damn I bought a 4-pack of this thinking that a) I love Old Ales, and b) Ballistic did well with the Oaked XPA. This is a disappointment in a way that isn’t “give away the beer” bad but I’ll definitely take my time finishing that 4-pack… actually this beer probably just needs time for hop fade, I’ll wait it out then. 7/10.

Food match: The aroma reminded me of cigars and now I’m thinking cigars here.