EMD
Tonewood Brewing - Barrington

 

16 oz can, dated 03/14/22 with the inscription "MINGUS DEW".

Pours murky brown with a small tan head. Malt shines in the aroma with notes of cereal, nuts, molasses, and herbal tea. A little bit of sweetness and roast in the flavor. Medium-light bodied with a prickly feel to it. Could benefit from a softer finish and little more body, but the flavors are spot on. Another solid offering from Tonewood, which keeps climbing up the ranks of my favorite breweries in NJ.

This English style pub ale pours a beautiful mahogany brown with a creamy, light tan head that sticks around and laces the glass nicely. The nose is led by toffee and caramel notes and there is indeed a black tea note as well.

The black tea is in the background on the taste, with the caramel and toffee notes leading the way, and they are truly delicious. There’s also a bit of a roasty flavor, which I didn’t expect, but welcomed - just a ton of flavor packed into this low ABV (3.8% ABV) ale.

This is my 7th mild ale, and I love it - I’m pretty sure if I ever go to England with Mrs O, I’d gain 92 lbs, because these ales are outstanding, IMHO.

16oz can courtesy of a ninja strike by jonphisher. My 1st beer from Tonewood. Canned on March 14 per the stamp on the bottom of the can, where it also is stamped "Mingus Dew."

Poured into the glass, this was a dark brown that took on a rubyish hue when held up to light. Off-white head that looked quite creamy, initially, then receeded, leaving some "beer négligée" style lace.

Mildly roasty malt aroma, with hints of toffee and herbal tea.

Taste is a little more dry and roasty than I expected from the nose, but not by much. It's just complicated enough to be interesting tasting, and still go down easy. With an ABV of 3.8%, it wouldn't be a shocker to say when alcohol is not part of the taste, and it isn't.

Lightbodied, with a slightly creamy mouthfeel.

At 3.8%, I could drink this all day. Tonewood nails the style. Great stuff. Thanks, Jon!

Dark reddish-brown body; clear; plenty lively carbonation; nice head, thick, dense and frothy, light khaki colored. Outstanding smell of chocolate and light grain char. Light dark malt flavor; tannic and bitter on the palate; leather. Light body; smooth with touch of creaminess; mild astringency.

I like this beer. It delivers some subtle dark malt taste with a light, creamy body. A very drinkable low-ABV delight!

Pouring temperature: 49 °F; canning data: unknown

A deep brown color with tinges of red and an off white head with great retention. Smells of unsweetened black tea and herbs like parsley, pine and even dill are present. The flavor is a bit green for my liking in this style but the herbal black tea is followed by a plain biscuit flavor (think Goya Maria cookies without the sugar). Carbonation is moderate. A second mention on how great the head retention is. And the mouthfeel of the beer is great for how low the ABV is and goes down extremely quick and satisfying. My only quip would be that I’d let these sit a while longer to mature so that any flavors of toffee or caramel can shine. A bit too green

Pours a beautiful dark brown, with red hue when held to light. Really nice creamy looking off white head that lingers and proceeds to leave very nice lacing.

Aroma is dark bread, dark tea, and a nut or grain aroma. Sort of reminds me of walnuts.

Tastes is much the same the bread note to me almost has a toasted grain feel to it. Tea persists as well.

Mouthfeel is perfect; light body but in no way weak or watery, smooth carbonation gives this a faux cask feel, nice nutty roasty bitterness is present as well. Bonus is this beer has a great lingering roasty and bitter aftertaste, it never says goodbye. Try this beer!

Thanks to JonPhisher for this one. 16oz can (no date) poured into 16oz tulip. Poured a clear reddish dark brown color with an inch of tan head that had good retention and lacing.

The aroma had some tea, some caramel malts, lightly floral hops, and a touch of leather.

Pretty similar on the tongue, with the addition of a just enough of a hop bite to be noticeable.

The body was light-medium, very smooth, had a lightly smooth finish, and was, indeed, mild across the palate.

Drinkability was very good, it would be a fine session beer.

Overall, a really nice brew. Grab it if you see it.

 

(16 oz engine pour at the brewery)

clear brown liquid; persistent foam... dark-toasty bread crust on the nose and palate, bit of a black tea hop flavor and bitterness... dry, roasty-bitter aftertaste, hint of molasses lingering... relatively flavorful for what it is; very American brown ale malt nuances