I sampled quarter pints, which is one quarter of an Imperial Pint, or about 5 ounces. They have a graduated scale for costs based on ABV (alcohol by volume). Most beers were below the 7% limit, and therefore $3.00 for a quarter pint. Between 7% and 10% is $4.00, and over 10% is $5.00 for a quarter. They also limit the draft size. The lower ABV beers are available in quarter, half, and full pints, whereas the mid-range in quarters and halves, and the over 10% beers only in quarter pints. There were only a few in these upper ranges that I saw, but I spent my time on the lower ABV beers, usually 6% and under. I sampled mine in one of the NERAX badged half-pint nonic glasses they have available for a $5 deposit, which you can forgo and take the glass home, which we all did. You can see the half-pint glasses in the pictures below.
THURSDAY NIGHT
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| Phil, Alessia, Stefan and Jacob. Happy Birthday Stefan! |
Fen Slodger - 8 Sail Brewery, Heckington, Lincolnshire, England (ABV 5.0%)
This is the first beer listed in the program. tasting notes sounded good, so I dug right in. Penny brown-copper colored with a light head of little clinging bubbles. Malt and dark chocolate on the nose. Herbal, grains, and a soft, balanced bitterness, with a strong but pleasant bitter, astringent finish. A great start.
Everlasting - Attic Brewing Co., Birmingham, West Midlands, England (ABV 3.4%)
Molasses, malt and rye on the nose. Deep coppery color with a ivory colored thin and shiny head. It took a second, but the taste reminded me strongly of the brown bread they used to serve at Bugaboo Creek restaurant. I said that to my kids, who were there with me, and my son showed me a recipe on his phone, which was called Molasses Rye Bread. nailed it Thin, slightly sour, watery bitterness, with a smooth and silky bread crust finish. This one was labeled vegan.
Orkney Best - Swannay Brewery, Orkney, Scotland (ABV 5.2%)
Very light hops on the nose. Grassy-honey gold. Wild, initial high & low flavor profile. Bright, tart, citrusy sweetness floats over the top of a slightly sour, leather, pith, and sawdust bitterness. Like throat singing in a glass! Super clean and crisp finish.
Morph - Brass Castle Brewery, Malton, North Yorshire, England (ABV 5.0%)
Fruits, yeast and hops on the nose. Deep honey blonde. Balanced tart fruits with residual sweetness, apricot, and peach pit. Lingering, dry bitterness with citrus and salad greens. Very pleasant.
A Petition to the King for the Repeal of the Intolerable Acts - Amory's Tomb Brewing Co., Maynard, Massachusetts (ABV 6.5%)
This one was described as a dark ale--a blend of porter and brown ale--conditioned on spruce tips. Herbs and pine on the nose. Juicy mouth feel, frutti di bosco tartness, and dark fruits sweetness gives way to a roasted vegetable and braised meats depth of flavor, with a grapefruit skin and roasted tomato tang. The flavors sparkle in this one.
Proper Chap - Nod Hill Brewery, Ridgefield, Connecticut (ABV 4.4%)
Amber brown, with a wispy head. Malty, toast crust, dessert without much sweetness. Almonds, walnut skins, and dry caramel flavors.
FRIDAY NIGHT
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| Phil, Stefan, Carmela, and Chuck |
Pacific Porter - Kelburn Brewing, Glasgow, Scotland (ABV 5.5%)
Quiet hops on the nose, chocolatey red-brown with cream colored head. Juicy spices and brown bread. Tart, dry, bitter finish.
Ox Blood - Little Ox, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England (ABV 4.3%)
Bright and clear. Orangey-red with a straw yellow, wispy head. Clean, fruity citrus. Smooth, lasting but mild bitter finish.
Bravehop - Loch Lomond Brewery, Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland* (ABV 4.3%)
Its another Coppery red ale! I tried lots of copper colored ales this year. Huge mouthfeel, complex wash over the tongue; herbal, vegetable, bread crust, crackers, and orange skin all playing in there. Smooth, long and super clean finish.
Tiddly - Fox Farm Brewery, Salem, Connecticut (ABV 3.8)
Walnut brown with a white, frothy head. Molasses, bread and vanilla nose. Melted snow, mild leather, with prunes and maybe some smoke?
Luminary - Medusa Brewing Company, Hudson, Massachusetts (ABV 5.6%)
Described as a cream ale, and vegan. Pale gold and clear. Watery, bubbly head. White fruits, top sweetness, smooth, snappy tartness. Melon and pineapple.
Unfiltered Helles - von Trapp Brewing, Stowe, Vermont (ABV 4.9%)
Goldenrod yellow, with a thick, frothy head. Pancake batter, wheat, berries, friar's tang,** leather, and biscuits.
Mildred - Liars Bench Beer Company, Portsmouth, New Hampshire (ABV 4.0%)
Last call! Deep red-brown smoky color with cream colored head. Roasted fruit and root vegetables. Hermits and raisins, with a tangy stickiness; Amaro. Light sour finish. Here's to Millie!!!
* Yes, its Dum-barton, in Dun-barton-shire, Scotland. That's an N and an M. Not a typo.
** Friar's Tang is that Belgian wild yeast, cave beer flavor from centuries old monastery beers. Just tastes like basement to me. Its good thing the Helles I tried only had a little taint of this flavor.
