Wraith Brewery, Old Tom

[tubby_shaw]

muddy disco kindly gave me a mixed selection of his beers and cheeky vimto at Christmas time
Today I got round to tasting one.
Todays offering is Old Tom

This beer was bottled from the keg and therefore I wasn't surprised that on opening the bottle that the hiss of escaping CO2 was missing, that being said there was sufficient condition, that on pouring a good creamy head was formed that lasted half way through drinking the beer.

The beer itself was a dark brown with a lot of red colouring and although fairly dark, on holding the glass to the light, I could see that it would easily pass a "feck test"
The aroma was a pleasing mix of dark malts, black treacle, petrol, plum and some ylang ylang type floral notes.
On tasting there is pleasing sherry alcohol warmth, which is not surprising as this beer weighs in at a whopping 8.1% abv. The dark malts shine through in this beer and the hops are definitely in the background of this beer.
A good strong warming beer that I thoroughly enjoyed sipping along with a roast pork dinner.

 

[Muddydisco]

Thanks Ts
Good to see my head retetion is getting better, Kenny only lasted a third and this last half way :thumb:
I will Bottle some beers properly one day!!!

Beware the CD is bottle conditioned!

Only 2 left now must restock you soon!

 

[Aleman]

Wow that aroma took me back nearly 30 Years to the George and Dragon in Beaumaris. Landlord used to have a pin of this on in the winter dispensed by gravity.

Very light hiss on opening . . . and little head action on pouring . . . but the pocket beer engine fixed that :lol: .Liquorice and prunes on the nose . . . . . old curry spices as well . . . Bitter chocolate

For an 8% beer there is little evidence of alcohol . . . Body and mouth feel are fine . . . and then the alcohol hits and you loose the ability to articulate . . . This is a really nice beer . . . and I have a pint of it to dispatch :shock:

Hops don't really figure in this beer . . . although they have to be there otherwise the flavour profile would be incredibly sweet, for a dark beer the roast profile is incredibly smooth, I have no idea how long its been maturing, but it does seem to have matured well. . . . Not a beer to be drunk in pints I'm afraid

 

[corby_brewer]

Not a beer to be drunk in pints I'm afraid

My sentements exactly Tony. Ive been lucky enough to sample quite a few of MD's beers and in my honest opinion this is his best yet.
Keep up the good work mate.

 

[Muddydisco]

Sorry I know I said I was going to bed but just to awake knowing there's a review coming up!
It's birthday was the 8/11/09 so it's 3 months old Not as matured as you'd expect :)
Sorry on the size it was that or Stella Bottles at the time and couldn't put myself through sending it in a stella bottle.
I'm a happy brewer now as I said in chat, I don't have many mates that drink real ale :cry: So most of the reviews are "it's ok" or "It's good" which is not really any help. Now with this forum and all the willing takers of free beer I can feel safe that my brewing is up to scratch and I can make decent beer.
I will note that I'm not just brewing for the reviews, I brew to make beer to my likings and whatever anyone else gets from me is what they get. It's just reasurring when someone gives you a more detailed breakdown of "it's good"

Thanks Aleman

One Day I hope to join the Guild and drink free beer alot of the time

 

[garwatts]

Love that label :clap: What software did you use for that?
Any chance of the recipe please?

 

[Muddydisco]

Pm'd you Garwatts :thumb:

 

[unclepumble]

Tonight I am sampling this fine Brew Kindly donated by MD when I picked up my Exceptionally well made False Bottom from him last week.

The bottle opened with a very slight hiss, not a lot of carbonation at all, but I am used to drinking this one out of a wooden pin so it suits me just fine.

Poured with a very fine lace which disipated quite quickly, colour is dark like the outside of a conker and it would easily pass a feck test.

Nose is dried fruit and hints of fortified wines, taste is smooth and pleasing it doesn't take over the whole of your mouth as some barley wines of this strength can do, The malts shine and its not over sweet, I get fortified wine and a hint of angelica on the finish, hops do not dominate.

A well made strong beer that creeps up on you, in large quantities it would need a warning label "beware of the alcohol"

I would add it doesn't make me shudder after the first few mouthfuls, the original brew does, this is much smoother.

UP

 

[Muddydisco]

Sorry for the Lack of shudder. And I did put it in a small bottle as Aleman requseted!

Glad your enjoying them, The lack of carb would be the fact they are all bottled bright 4hrs before you collected your fb!