Mint Julep Ale
Flying Dog Brewery

 

 

 

The taste of this beer is forever seared into my brain for two reasons, one it is something unique, and two it was not appetizing. The mint was way to strong, and the flavors that was supposed to represent booziness just came across sludgy and mottled. The smell was ok, with aromatic mint and perfume leading, followed by bitters. The feel was watery and slimy.

 

 

 

 

It may be retired, but the backlog (especially bottles) here at Chez Woody knows no bounds. Plus, it is New Beer Sunday (Week 598), so it gives me a reason to participate.

From the bottle: "Nate and Erin, our resident cocktail mongers, love a good classic. And we believe that innovation - alongside healthy dashes of decadence and depravity - comes from within. Needless to say, this Brewhouse Rarities pitch was a ringer. Saddle up and sip on our dark horse."

A strong pour following the Pop! of the cap got me just under three fingers of dense, foamy, bone-white head with good retention. Color was a gorgeous Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7) with NE-quality clarity, prompting a visit from The Gelt Gang of Midas, Mammon & Croesus, all madly scrambling for a sip. Nose smelled like fresh mint, straight out of my neighbor's garden. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, thanks to a lot of sparkling carbonation and a nice effervescence. It was a very clean-tasting ale, more like a lager, rally allowing the gentle mintiness and mild honeysuckle to shine through. This was wonderfully refreshing after a morning spent hosing off the front patio at Chez Woody. Located on a major thoroughfare, the soot and grime from years of exhaust needed rinsed off and away & so the neighbor & I had at it before the sun really got a chance to bake us. Finish was clean, crisp, minty, semi-sweet and very refreshing. I kept thinking that it was a lager. Unretire this one, put it in a CAN & you have a winner.

 

 

 

 

-Dated 09.15.16. Consumed 06.24.16.

A: Light orange, good clarity reveals a steady and fast paced rush of carbonation. Off white, creamy head is 0.5 inches and well retaining with very little window dressing.

S: Strong scents of honeysuckle and mint as advertised with some natural sweet tea hints. Light bourbon wiff, barrel wood, sweet malts and minty tea scents best sums this up. Good strength, very unique, props.

T: Light watery bourbon and natural tea leaves with mint on the open. Spicy with some lime and herbaceous notes. Nice strength, again as with nose, very unique with the mint being very noticeable, but also very well balanced with respect to the rest of the drink. Malt sweetness with some fruitiness perhaps from the yeast, apple, grapes, honeysuckle bourbon and wine like flair. Chardonay barrel notes, butterscotch sweetness and minty tea leaves on the finish.

M: Soft light to medium body mouthful, lightly creamer like texture, good carbonation crisp.

O: Props for a unique flavor and well balanced effort, the mint really highlights here with good results, fresh, with some fruity yeastiness that reminds me somewhat of a belgian style beer. Cleanly brewed and worth a try.

 

Rated 4 for ingenuity and uniqueness. Not bad just not anything like anything you've ever had before.

Clear gold.

Smells like spearmint bubblegum.

This is so reminiscent of the artificial flavor in mint chocolate chip ice cream, that it has me thinking of the cookie variety, and now I can't stop thinking of Oreos, and it has me even tasting it. I almost think maybe it does taste like Oreo mint ice cream.

Obviously this is lighter and fizzy on the tongue, but a Mint Julep this is not. Just a beer for those that don't like beer, but it also may turn them off further depending on their palate, because of how weird and artificial this tastes.

 

 

12 oz. bottle, enjoy by 09/18/16 printed on the label. Acquired a single bottle of this stuff from the local bottle shop - "Ale brewed with mint leaves, honeysuckle, and bourbon natural flavors".

Poured into Flying Dog stemware.

A - Pours a bright hazy golden body, lots of chill haze, and one finger of frothy white head that falls to a ring. Minor fluffy scattered random lacing. Appears adequately carbonated. Looks okay for what it is.

S - Aroma is comprised of earthy leafy menthol / kaffir lime leaf, with subtle notes of flowers & lemongrass (honeysuckle?), and a very prominent bourbon-soaked oak chip aroma. Maybe a touch musty / chalky. Smells like they achieved what they were going for, but it's not always entirely pleasant.

T - Taste follows the nose: earthy, leafy, minty, herbal, subtle notes of honey sweetness makes an occasional appearance, floral & grassy, with notes of cola, cherry, vanilla, oak wood, & bourbon soaked oak chips on the finish. The more this drinks on, the more in reminds me of the Spiteful Brewing Absinthe Barrel aged saisons that i tried a while back. Slightly grainy, papery, & semi-dry on the finish.

M - Feel is smooth & fluid. Crisp, clean, medium-bodied, with okay carb. Not particularly light or easy to put down. One of these is definitely enough.

Overall, glad to have been able to try it, but this is a definitely one and done.

Flying Dog Brewhouse Rarities Mint Julep Ale -----3.5/5