Foonf Zane Auld Ale
Atlantic Brewing Company - Town Hill / Mainely Meat BBQ

Foonf Zane Auld AleFoonf Zane Auld Ale
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From:
Atlantic Brewing Company - Town Hill / Mainely Meat BBQ
 
Maine, United States
Style:
Old Ale
ABV:
7.3%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 7.4%
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
30
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 22, 2011
Added:
Jun 24, 2006
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
Our 15th year Anniversary Ale, created by brewers James & Jon.
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Rated: 3 by rab53 from Washington

Nov 22, 2011
Photo of ToasterChef
Reviewed by ToasterChef from Maine

3.92/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I've had this bottle in my cellar since July 2009. I've poured it into a Delirium Noël snifter.

The beer has a dark ruby color. The head was a small layer of an and pinkish bubbles and foam. It settled quickly to a skim. Swirling the glass leaves an oily slick behind on the walls of the glass. Patchy foam slides down the walls and back into the beer.

Still a strong sweet aroma to this beer. Crystal sugar, toffee and plum scents are all present. A little bit of residual alcohol is mixed in as well.

This old ale has a typical dry, peaty flavor. Toffee flavors are present, but not as strong as in the nose. Malt syrup flavors are present in the back end. There is only a touch of alcohol in the finish.

This beer isn't very sticky, but it does leave a decent coating on the inside of my mouth. Carbonation is low.

This is an enjoyable old ale. It seems to have aged well, although it has been a long time since I had it fresh—before I started reviewing beers. If you find yourself up in Maine and see a bottle, it would be a good one to bring home and drink later, once you've started missing Maine.
Oct 08, 2011
Photo of Kallessin
Reviewed by Kallessin from Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Has a creamy tan head that subsides to a ring around the beer and a slight film. It's amber brown in color and clear throughout.

Loads of malt in the aroma with lots of sweetness. Some fruity spiciness, but no hops to be found.

The taste is much like the aroma with tons of malt. Some sweet caramel flavors with brown sugar, raisins and brown bread. There's a little peppery/fruity spiciness which may be from the alcohol that also comes through a little. There's only a very slight bitterness that helps take the edge of the sweet malt. I don't necessarily get the peach apple they mention on the bottle, but there is some fruitiness to it.

It's smooth and full bodied with a very slight carbonation tingle. I get a nice warming sensation that follows through with a clean, dry finish.

This is a very malty and flavorful beer that has some other nice flavors to counteract the sweetness to make it a very nice beer.
Oct 24, 2009
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.72/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Very minor head. There's some streaky lace on the glass. Deep amber color with a ruby tint. Nearly clear.

Nice, light caramel malty sweetness.

Brown sugar initial flavor. If I were blindfolded, I'd believe that I was having a Scotch Ale, but not a wee heavy. The taste profile is unusual: Brown sugar to a light hop bitterness to a raw, unmalted grain finish. The body is as expected with a low level carbonation.
Sep 26, 2009
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to Rochefort10nh for this bomber.

A: The bomber is a caramel-colored amber color, semi-translucent with deeper reddish brown in the center of the glass. The ale is sitting rather still in the glass, the finger and a half of white head quickly disappearing.

S: Very grainy, the nose is cereal and bread. The full malt body is the dominant aspect, overshadowing any semblance of hops.

T: The ale has a warming toasted bread flavor that nicely sets the stage. Caramel and bread are strong, weighing in on each sip in the glass. A soft hoppiness is a nice foil for the sweetness of the malts. A mild smokiness adds nice depth. Burnt caramel flavors add a heaviness to the ale.

M: The mouthfeel is malty, accentuating caramel and some booziness. The alcohol isn't too heavy, just present.

D: A very accessible ale, very malty but a pleasant drink.
Jul 10, 2009
Photo of TonyReaves
Reviewed by TonyReaves from Maine

3.82/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Coke colored. Looked pretty light since I drank a Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog before. Smell was warm, molasses and German malts. The taste matched the smell. Refreshing, not as intense as the ROBD. Good carbonation- made this a nice beer for a warm night. Drinkability is really high on this one. Again, I'm comparing it to ROBD, but I feel like I could drink a few of these.
May 12, 2009
Photo of JohnQVegas
Reviewed by JohnQVegas from Tennessee

3.47/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Draught at the brewery.

Pours dark amber.

Nose is slightly fruiy, a bit peaty, and sweet caramel.

Taste is a bit of sweet malt up front, a bit toasty, with a really interesting combination of fruity and peaty noes blending with a hint of floral hops, leading to a definite herbal, almost heather note on the finish.

Mouthfeel is fairly lightly carbonated, with a medium body.

Very interesting brew - almost like taking the malt body of an alt bier and matching it to the peaty and heather notes of a Scottish ale. Quite a success in my opinion.
Mar 29, 2009
Photo of thekevlarkid
Reviewed by thekevlarkid from Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Purchased this aged bottle at the brewery while on vacation with my last girlfriend. Miss you baby. Out of the bottle this beer was a copper color with an off-white head. The one-finger cap displayed good retention and left modest lacing. The aroma was of caramel malt, toffee and a general spiciness. The flavors were complex, starting on a big malt note with lots of caramel and some biscuit-like notes. This then became more bitter and spicy with hints of tartness from the citrus hops that also made it slightly sour. The semi-sweet to sour arc was quite enjoyable and well organized and it finished in a tight, crisp way. The body was medium, the carbonation still quite feisty and the mouthfeel just a touch rough as a result of it. The alcohol was well hidden and the flavors unique, worth it.
Jan 14, 2009
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

3.81/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: clear copper in color with a one finger head that lasts a while.

Smell: a buttery caramel aroma is mild.

Taste: bread, caramel, ripe plums, mild bitterness, and a bit of buttery notes near the finish.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Smooth from start to finish. Aftertaste is brief as the flavors linger on the tongue.

Drnkability: decent as this is a nice flavored beer, but the higher alcohol content is well hidden and will catch up to you. Nice beer.
Oct 31, 2008
Photo of awall422
Reviewed by awall422 from Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Picked up n a mixed 4-pack of bombers from the brewery.

Dark orage with a finger of head that faded quickly. nose was biscuity, sweet and a bit caramelly. taste is what it advertises on the bottle, malt bomb! hardly any discernable hops, mainly a nice blend of toasty grains, dates and a touch of sweetness. for drinking in the fall, a great choice!
Sep 12, 2008
Photo of Nipitato
Reviewed by Nipitato from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Purchased at the brewery in Bar Harbor, ME and cellared for over 9 months.

A: Dark amber hue. Pours with a thick buff head that nearly totally dissipates. Good clarity.

S: Nice mellow caramel and biscuit malt aroma with some faint hop bitterness. Some dried fruit esters. This is a very mellow yet complex aroma.

T: Well attenuated. Aging has certainly mellowed the flavor I presume. Caramel malt flavor predominates with just a touch of hop bitterness. Some raisin character. Not particularly boozy.

MF: Well attenuated and smooth. Not dry. Lightly carbonated due to aging. Some alcohol warming.

D, notes: I like this and would rate this as one of the better old ales that I have had. Aging it was positive. Drinkability is high.
Jun 30, 2008
Photo of indiapaleale
Reviewed by indiapaleale from Maine

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours dark amber with a bit of a reddish hue. Head is white but dissipates quickly leaving just the outline along the glass.

Smell is sweet, the sweetness you get when a malty beer sits and gets maltier. Smells like caramel, brown sugar with whiffs of alcohol.

Tastes malty and of baked apples. Lots of toasty flavors as well. I wish I'd had this on tap when it had just been released.
Jun 17, 2008
Photo of jmalex
Reviewed by jmalex from Pennsylvania

3.87/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Picked this up in Maine on vacation this past September. I guess it's got to pretty old by now as the brewery's 15th anniversary was now a few years ago.

APPEARANCE: Pours into it's own branded flared pilsner-style glass a somewhat clear amber brown. A small white head forms and quickly drops to a small collar and nearly full cap.

SMELL: The aromas are fairly robust and have a large malty presence. It's toasty and nutty with a balancing noble hop element to it.

TASTE: Wow, given what it looks like, I wouldn't have expected this to be such a massive flavor explosion. It's toasty, nutty, with a hint of chocolate - all with massive intensity. Hops are mostly present for a balancing bitterness since the ale is so malt-heavy, but some hop flavor sneaks through on the finish and even seems slightly citrusy. Some mild fruity esters are present as well.

MOUTHFEEL: This is one thick and chewy beer. It's slightly slick and syrupy as a result but is still nice. Carbonation is on the lower side and appropriate.

DRINKABILITY: Not too bad. It's a thick beast, but the alcohol doesn't show itself at all. I think a bomber is an appropriate size for this beer.

Not bad at all. It definitely was a bigger beer than I was expected and this is actually a pleasant surprise. A nice one off from Atlantic Brewing Company.
Dec 30, 2007
Photo of deltatauhobbit
Reviewed by deltatauhobbit from Maine

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours an amber color, decent head with bits of lacing.

Has a strong malty aroma with the caramel really showing through.

The malt hits your tongue but is surprisingly smooth and not overly sweet, bit of a burn but not too much.

This is an incredibly easy beer to drink with enough flavor to satisfy and strong enough to warm you up.
Dec 19, 2007
Photo of number1bum
Reviewed by number1bum from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Picked this up while in Bar Harbor on vacation this summer...did not realize it was a one off.

Pours a dark amber, perfect clarity, with about an inch of light tan head. Head recedes pretty quickly and doesn't leave much of any lace.

Smell is all sweet malt, primarily molasses and caramel aromas, with a touch of toasty malt.

Taste is super sweet and malty. Molasses, caramel, brown sugar are all there. Some raisins, too. Through the finish there is a bit more toasted malt flavor .

This one is pretty slick and creamy on the palate, with a crisp carbonation. This is a pretty easy drinker, and a tasty and enjoyable brew overall.
Oct 11, 2007
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.32/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A - This one poured a nice light amber, with a bit of a grape like hue to it. N real head to speak of after a few minutes as the initial one inch or so faded off rather quickly. Some side glass lace did present itself for a while, but also was rather short lived. There was some carbonation that could be seen streaming up from the bottom. Overall though it appeared rather ordinary, nothing particular noteworthy other then some light cloudiness throughout, but nothing that would obscure the view.



S - The aroma was rather interesting I have to say. It started out very subtle with some nice hints of grapes and caramel along with the slightest bit of an earthy or grassy sort of smell. Now, as it warmed a bit more started to come out. It had a very mead like aroma, that is to say I could pick up a lot of grapes mixed in with the cereal like grains and the earth tones. A slight touch of alcohol was present, but nothing that was really too much or overbearing in anyway. Overall the smell was pretty normal and did not really strike me as anything too special.



T - Now talk about smooth! This was really quite nice and mellow I have to say. I have never had something in the style that is so smooth and easy to drink. I was really shocked by how mellow it was. Some nice creamy bread like taste made up the backbone of it and was followed by a nice mixture of light fruits. A good amount of grapes, pears, and peaches, with even a subtle touch of apple were all easily detected and made for a light overall presentation. A good amount of earthy grains mixed in and some cereal or corn in the back. Had a slight oxidation taste to it but I really did not find to distracting at all. No hint of alcohol in the flavor, none. It was like a very nice, albeit flat wine. Very good and very enjoyable.



M - Super smooth would be the best way to describe it. There was not a lot of carbonation here, which was not a shock given the initial presentation. However what would normally be a distraction was rather a benefit here. It was just so smooth I could hardly tell I was even having anything. I mean it was effortless going down and really just a pleasure to enjoy. I wish a lot of others were as smooth as this.



D - Drinkability was fantastic. It came off with no hint of the alcohol and had a nice mellow flavor profile, nothing really jumping out and killing on this. Made for really a perfect night while watching TV. I would say that I finished it and would have had another if I actually had another.



Overall I really don’t have too much bad I can say about this. I mean it did not look like the greatest thing in the world. But I think this was more then made up for by the tremendous depth of flavor and great overall presence. I would love to get another one of these someday to compare to. This was just really that good and I really enjoyed trying it.
Oct 10, 2007
Photo of jdhilt
Reviewed by jdhilt from New Hampshire

4.07/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a one finger cream head that fades quickly leaving traces of lace. Almost clear amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Sweet caramel nose. Flavor is sweet malts with some middle hops and caramel, clean finish. $5.49 for a 22oz bottle from Tully's Beer and Wine Wells, ME.
Jul 24, 2007
Photo of Hibernator
Reviewed by Hibernator from Massachusetts

4.07/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Foonf Zane Auld Ale
Anniversary Small Batch
22 oz brown bottle
Served in a 20 oz tulip pint glass

I picked up this rare brew at Downeast Beverage Co. this past weekend. Pours a deep mahogany with a mini head on top. Just a few spots of sticky laces appear on the glass.

Malty nose with whiffs of sugary sweetness and a caramel sundae.

Slick and chewy malt backbone. Hints of brown sugar, multi-grain bread, prunes and caramel drizzle. Super smooth and drinkable at 7.3% ABV. This beer reminds me of a cross of a Wee Heavy, Old Ale & Atbier. Very enjoyable.
Feb 19, 2007
Photo of ybnorml
Reviewed by ybnorml from Rhode Island

3.65/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A clean copper/amber beer. Has a small bubbly tan head. There is an inviteing malty caramel character to the aroma. With hints of raisins and alcohol in the background. The sweet malty caramel and toffee notes slide over your tongue like silk. Followed the warmth of the alcohol as it eases down the back of your throat.
Nov 29, 2006
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

4.12/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle won in a raffle, donated by esteemed BA bennybrew.

Poured into a heavy glass chalice, formed a 1/4" beige head over the clear dark amber brew. Head is quickly down to an uneven swirly layer of bubbles, with little to no lacing. Aroma is moderate in intensity but strong in grain character. Flavor is malty sweet upfront, cut lightly by hops in the middle, and then sweetens back out again, and closes with a touch of alcohol warmth. Mouthfeel and drinkability are very pleasing, and I would say this is a very approachable representative of the style. Find, drink, repeat.
Nov 24, 2006
Foonf Zane Auld Ale from Atlantic Brewing Company - Town Hill / Mainely Meat BBQ
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 30 ratings