Prisoner Of Hell
Dock Street Brewery - South

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from a growler picked up at Whole Foods in Devon into a snifter glass. About 1/2 inch of head with a smell that barely belies it's 10% abv. The taste, however, completely belies that and you don't notice until a after few glasses that you are going to get drunk. Lingers, lingers, lingers. Worth a try though. Dock Street is quickly eclipsing Yards and Philadelphia Brewing Company as the best in-city brewery who's beers I can get out in the burbs.

Draft offering at the source. The brew appears a lightly hazed color that is pale to golden with a white ring of lace as the only head formation. A swirl doesnt do much and faint spots are all that is to be seen for lacing.

The aroma contains notes of clove and mild fruit like apple and pear. Some suggestions of bubblegum and residual maltiness strikingly similar to vanilla. It almost smells like it is barrel aged but without the oakiness.

The taste is spicy with yeast character. Primarily clove and bubblegum with again that soft suggestion of vanilla and residual sweetness. Some fruit like pear mid palate along with a mildly herbal and grassy aspect to balance things out a bit.

This is a med bodied brew with a light level of carbonation. It is well rounded with spicy and fruity yeast characteristics. The vanilla inclusion was perplexingly enjoyable however, the alcohol was not masked at all and was the od man out in the profile. Glad to have tried this brew but not something I would be in a hurry to revisit.

A: The beer is golden light yellow in color and poured with a thin white head.
S: There are hints of spices and yeast in the nose.
T: The beer has notes of grainy malts, lemon citrus and papery spices in the flavors. It has a mildly sweet and sour finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a light amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is deceptive because it doesn’t taste like 10%; I could definitely drink a lot of these.

 

Had on-tap at Capone's in Norristown, PA. Poured a hazy light yellow color with pretty much no head aside from some white patchy bubbles. No lacing. Had an aroma of earthy hops, floral essence, spices and sweet grains. Taste followed the nose with more pronounced flavor...citrus, earthy hops, spices, sweet grains...very floral. Very complex and well-balanced.

Light to medium in body, with moderate carbonation. This one goes down smooth so mind your ABV (10%). One of my favorites of the night!

First had: on tap at Capone's, Norristown, PA

I'm glad to see Dock Street improving and widening their scopes. This beer poured a straw-yellow color, slightly hazy, with a ringlet of white bubbles for a head; no real retention or lacing to speak of. Nice aroma: flowery, herbal, hoppy, grainy. Taste was grainy and of toasted bread up front, immediately followed by a pleasant mix of spices and herbal hops, with touches of grass and citrus pith, for a dry and somewhat bitter finish. Hard to believe it's 10%ABV. Crisp, light mouthfeel; not the greatest thing in the world, but still quite drinkable, if you mind your ABV.

On tap at Capone's.
Appears a slightly hazy light colored straw gold with a small white cap that slowly fades into a gentle collar. Tons of streaky lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is of tropical fruits, pils malt, white pepper, and dough...but what's this? Scents of chemical bleach? Hmmm.
Taste is of some dried apricots, dough, and some bitterness that leads to a dryness. Hints of cleanser, as well. Maybe a touch of apple juice too.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, flavorful, and leading to a dry, abrassive yeast flavor.

Thanks to JJbrinser for sharing a growler on 2/1/11.

A - Emerged from the growler as a hazy pale straw-colored liquid with virtually no head, save for a patchy strand of bubbles around the edges that immediately disappeared, leaving no lace.

S - Subtle nose with a hint of pepper and light spices as well as faint herbal hop notes and a bready, grainy malt character.

T - Opens with a wash of bready malt and toasted grains with very subtle citrus notes and herbal hops, then segues into a more spicy, peppery finish with a medicinal bite.

M - Very thin, flat and watery mouthfeel with very little carbonation, which is surprising since the growler was only three days old and unopened. Finish is spicy and accompanied by a hint of bitterness on the palate.

D - This would have been very good with more carbonation and a fuller body. I did enjoy the flavor of this brew, and would have never guessed it was 10% ABV!

On draft at the Blue Dog Pub in Lansdale, PA. Poured into a 13 oz tulip. $4.29 for the pour. "A Belgian Style Strong Golden Ale spiced with white and black pepper" as the description.

Pours a cloudy golden color with a stark white head that dissipates quicky.

Nose is you typical Belgian strong pale. Belgian yeast notes with a leamony undertone.

Taste initially has lots of leamony characteristics on top of the typical Belgian yeast flavors. Not really getting any of the pepper flavors but I figure that's a tough flavor to pull off. As it warmed there might have been pepper notes on the nose as well as the aftertaste. It's also extemely dry.

Mouthfeel is nice. Not too much carbonation and that paired with the dryness makes it very tasty.

Overall, the uniqueness of the pepper was a little lost on me, but definitely not a bad brew. Taste it for what it is.