Up The Creek

American Strong Ale | Year-Round | United States

By Sean Coughlin

Judges Rating: 88
Aroma: 19
Appearance: 5
Flavor: 37
Mouthfeel: 8
Overall Impression: 17

Big rich maltiness is immediately evident. Brown bread with deep notes of caramel and toffee. With the deep caramel malt flavors, this beer almost comes across like a liquefied fruitcake with booze. The hop aroma is subdued but offers a light grassiness that helps cut through some of the intense malt. This beer is a clear mahogany with hues of red and a small thin khaki head that does not develop and disappears quickly. The flavor follows the aroma with a huge malt presence – toasty with deep caramel notes that suggest dark fruit such as raisins. There is a medium resinous hop flavor and high hop bitterness. The finish is moderately sweet with lingering warming alcohol. The beer seems too big for an American Strong Ale but is a nice example of an American Barleywine where the hops have dropped out a bit and the beer has mellowed some due to a year or two of age.