Gaoler's Ale
Alcazar Brewing Co.

 

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 7.5%. Deep brown colour, large to moderate tan head. Vinous aroma, sherry, oak, raisins, dark fruits. Very rich, malty, sweet, fruity and vinous flavour. Robust and far from easy drinking - still very, very good! This must be a classic old ale - one to save for Christmas (after dinner).

Thanks to Robbeer for bringing this beer all the way to Japan.

A - Brown body with little to no head.
S - Rich sweet malty aroma.
T - no bitterness to speak of, very sweet and malty. A bit of nuttyness buy very one-dimensional.
M - Little carbonation and flabby.
D - Didnt finish my bottle.

Filtered, coming in a 500ml brown bottle. BBE AUG 07, served cool in a broad-rimmed goblet.

A: pours a dark-copper hue, coming with a very thin and sparse foamy head; the carbonation is very low and gentle, which suits the semi-thick texture quite well~~
S: creamy toffeeish maltiness upfront, rich and thick, buttressed by a thick tinge of honey, dried longan-fruits, melted barley candy, chestnuts, a touch of caramelised brown sugar... overall the aroma is richly malty, but going light on the nose and OTT. Quite different from other old ales I've tried, though. Even a bit like a simpler and lighter Scottish wee heavy.
T&M: deliciously toffeeish and lightly honeyish maltiness smoothly lands on the palate, gradually introducing a light touch of ashy bitterness, wood-sprigs' sourness and lovely tinges of smoked flavour of grains and nuts, plus a faint touch of peatiness at the back... richly textured malty overtone in the aftertaste, underlined by a deep flavour of preserved dark fruits, mainly longan-fruits and dates, plus licorice and a deep flavour of toasted hays... only a hint of warming alc. hides down the throat. This beer is so smooth and nicely crafted, like a winter warmer with a smoother malty presence and more depth...
D: delicious and complex old ale... with a good depth yet so quaffable. It should come in a smaller package to prevent people from downing this nectar only too easily!