Happy Holidays 2015
Alley Kat Brewing Company

650ml 2016 version poured into tulip Christmas day 2016

A clear dark amber, finger of foam falls in seconds leaving a few random patches

S salted caramel and vanilla, brown sugar, herbal hops, wet tea bag, leafy notes, a fair bit going on in this lightweight

T mimics the nose fairy well, lots of herbal and leafy hops, lots of brown sugar, nice mix of malt and hops

M has more body then I'd expect from a little guy, bubbles turn it to cream, finishes fairly dry, herbal hops linger

O well rounded and easy to drink, plenty going on in something I could session, I wish this was part of their regular line up

I'm not sure if this one justifies a new entry, seems to be the same style as last year and a measly .1%alc ain't much. Merry Christmas to you to Alley Kat!!!

 

A- Nice slick looking label from Alley Kat...very nice! The brew itself pours a somewhat chill hazed brownish red color that is a bit like weak root beer in color....the head wasn't that impressive, with only a finger or so initially and settling rather quickly into a patchy layer over the beer...it is white in color and dense, what's left of it that is....lacing is thick but retreats swiftly too, leaving behind only a couple of little patches of foam on the side of the glass....carbonation looks to be lumbering as it rises to the top!

S- Vanilla, which is used, is noticed right away, and sweet/herbal notes of sarsaparilla, slight nuttiness, roasted grains, mild brown sugar, toffee-nut, and there is a lingering saltiness right out of the bottle....interesting indeed!

T- Mmmmm....this is good! Semi sweet flavors of dark chocolate, caramel, a hint of the ocean salt, toasted malts, roasted almond and a slight yeasty quality.....hints of tropical fruit is being detected as well...very nice!

M/O- Medium bodied and with some zingy carbonation at times, but creamy nonetheless. There is a salty taste on the lips after drinking this, and pairs well with a Lindt Pineapple chocolate or Double Milk....either works! Alcoholic content is well hidden on this one and I appreciate the opportunity to enjoy this very limited edition holiday Ale....this brewery always does a nice job!

 

650ml bottle, a 'Salted Caramel Irish Ale', and the 2015 edition of the brew that Alley Kat makes for their family, friends, and colleagues. The official holidays ended yesterday, but distribution inanities being what they are, I come into it thusly.

This beer pours a clear, bright medium bronzed amber colour, with three fat-kat fingers of puffy, finely foamy, and rather creamy beige head, which leaves some spooky forest growth lace around the glass as things slowly sink away.

It smells of grainy caramel malt, a soft, indistinct spiciness that could indeed be salt, dry vanilla pods, a touch of muddled dark orchard fruitiness, and plain leafy, earthy, and grassy hops. The taste is bready and doughy caramel malt, a well-integrated saltiness, real vanilla ice cream, still hard to parse black stone fruit, and more leafy, weedy, and grassy hoppiness.

The carbonation is quite active in its frothy filling of my various far-flung palates, the body a decent middleweight, and fairly smooth, with an inherent creaminess raring to go right from the start. It finishes sweet, but moderated just enough by the lingering salt lick and grassy hop tendencies.

One of the better iterations thus far of this now annual tradition, and a vast improvement over the ho-hum mild ale version of 2014. The salted caramel nature may not be the most in your face version around, but it's there, enjoyable, and goes a long way in rendering this a genial quaffer for the still bleary New Year.