Black Oak Brewing Co. Neck of the Woods Vintage Ale English Strong Ale at 8.5% ABV (2015 Craft Beer Advent Calendar Day #18, 341 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 18-Dec-2015)
Appearance: clear medium amber with one finger of fluffy light beige head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: caramel/toffee, dark dried fruit, toasty bready malt, nutty, herbal. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-strong bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, dry and mildly warming finish. (4/5)
I really need more Black Oak beers in my life – they’re a solid brewer who in my experience do an excellent DIPA (10 Bitter Years) and even manage to make Nut Browns OK. And they’ve done it again here with this, regardless of whether you call it an English Strong or an Old Ale. I wouldn’t call it exciting, but it’s a solid, well-crafted ale, and it’s prettier’n all git out – structurally it’s pretty much perfect. And although the aromas and flavours aren’t the most exciting, they’re well-balanced and carry the relatively high ABV so well that it comes through only as a mild warming. (In fact, the overall effect is almost one of a barleywine.) Really nothing negative to say here – a decent brew, and quite seasonally appropriate. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
