Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project St. Botolph’s Town Rustic Dark Ale

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into a Blanche de Chambly Flut glass(only clean beer glass :-\). Labeled as bottled on /may 2010 Batch Six.

A heads up, Pretty Things has to be one of my top 5 favorite breweries in the United States, if not the world.
Dark ruby brown, nearly opaque, with an impressive 1 1/2” light brown, thick, foamy head. Leaves thick lacing. Settles down to 1/2” with awesome head retention.

Smells are a little subdued, but I smell some maple/brown sugar, caramel, some kind of nuttiness, a little spice- anise or nutmeg maybe.

Rich tastes of brown sugar, roasted malt, some breadiness, light smoke, a hint of caramel and cocoa, some oak, and an interesting earthy and nutty finish with a nice bitterness. Malt forward but nicely balanced with some slightly spicy hops. A little sweetness comes out as it warms up.
Nice texture, medium bodied, ends light and clean.

For its complexity, its still smooth and engaging, easy to drink the bottle by myself.
This is a pretty awesome beer. Has some stout-like qualities mixed in with the great brown ale qualities (the bottle calls it a “rustic dark ale”, which seems fitting). Complex and unique. I look forward to having it again.

Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project Jack D’or

Let me start off with saying, Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project is one of my favorite breweries.

22oz bottle to Blue Point pint glass. Very hazy yellow, with slight orange tinge. Head is a small top covering of pure white bubbles. Not the large fluffy head you expect from a saison.

The nose is dominated by the yeast strain. A bit of grass and biscuit in the background. Banana and clove primarily.

The taste is very similar to the smell, the saison yeast strain is more fruity than peppery and spice. Faint mingling of floral hops and a bit of grass. A bit of graininess in the beginning.

The mouthfeel is very smooth, doesn’t have a strong zip to it like other saisons. Carbonation is also lower than some of the more traditional versions from overseas. Very light on the tongue.

Saisons are a very drinkable style for me. And at just over 6% this one is straightforward and unobstrusive. A bomber is a good size for this beer. Has a thirst quenching property that makes you return for that second pint. Well done.

Even my Turkish Angora Roxie loves it. I got up to text someone while my phone was charging in the other room and come back to her drinking it out of the glass. Now I don’t support getting your pets drunk, and I did shoo her away so she couldn’t have anymore.