Hopdaemon Leviathan
Hopdaemon Brewery Company

 

bottled
Dark toffee colored pour. Small off white head. Not much lacing. Huge roasted biscuit aroma. Malt. Malty taste with a slight rubber note. Not bad at all

When I poured this I was put in mind of Hobgoblin, especially as it was a beautiful ruby colour, there was however very little head to speak of. The nose was dominated by cocoa and an almost Christmasesque spiciness, both of which came through in the drinking. I am assuming however that something had gone awry with this bottle as I found it a bit thin in the body and it was rather flat and lifeless. A shame really because the nose had promised much.

Obtained this bottle from the Pitfield Beer Shop in London. BB 29 APR 2006.
A: served in a goblet, it pours a slightly hazy, dark ruby hue a bit like the colour of Pinot Noir wine; the beer head is very thin, fluffy, while the body is just lightly carbonated, quite unlike a bottle-conditioned beer. But overall it looks really decent~~
S: profoundly fruity nose of hops upfront, with cherries, plums, perfumy apple-ish, dried dates... against a backdrop of lightly candyish caramel malt, lightly sharp biscuity pale malt and lightly roasted aroma of crystal malts--overall beautifully blended maltiness like espresso-blend in beers!! slightly herbal note hidden here and there. Sensational!
T: the mixed maltiness quietly lands on the palate, with lots of toffee, roasted nuttiness and a hint of creamy, dark chocolates and a tinge of dark malts, while the hops quickly catch up and brings a smoothly, slightly sweet fruity taste and very mild flowery hoppyness. More chewy, nutty malts to follow on top of a flow of mild herbal bitterness at the back of the palate.
M&D: its has the smoothest mouthfeel one could get from a ESB at 6.0%abv.--ever so smooth that you wouldn't feel a single bit of the strength... No, it's not watery and thin-bodied, don't get me wrong; it's like the flavour and texture are tightly-bound together, just gra...dually slides from the tip of the palate towards the back of the throat, moisturising the whole mouth elegantly and quietly. Incredibly soft on the palate, making it a very easy to sip strong ale but not so refreshing as such to be a session one. Utterly enjoyable and recommended.