Old Stitch - Williamsburg AleWerks

Perduret

4.71/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Old Stitch is an Old English brown Ale from 18th century recipe made for Colonial Williamsburg by the folk at Williamsburg AleWorks. Pours no head,Very Light malty chocolate nose and flavor is roasted chocolate with a burnt chocolate finish...the best Brown Ale I have ever had...Can't wait to get some more

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 18:06:06 | More by Perduret

ckollias

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this growler from Williamsburg Alewerks.

A: Pours a dark brown hue with a two-finger tan head that slowly dissipates down the side of the glass and leaves a nice lacing.

S: Malty coffee aroma with a toasted malt background.

T: Similar to the smell a great coffee malt flavor with a good mix of toasted-toffee.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Really good brown ale – very smooth and went down easy.

Serving type: growler

01-28-2013 01:35:26 | More by ckollias

sommersb

Tennessee

3.99/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 01-10-2013
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Mug
Purchased: Received as a gift

A: Semi-clear, dark brown beer topped by a small off-white head. I only get a little bit of lacing and the retention is low.

S: Heavily toasted malts, it smells very porter-like. Other aromas are of brown bread and earthy English hops.

T: The taste has the same roasted malt character as noted in the nose, plus some caramel sweetness, nutty flavors and a slight coffee-like bitterness.

M: Medium body with a low level of carbonation. The aftertastes are of nuts and a light bitterness from coffee and hops. Fairly dry

O: A unique beer in that it reminded me of both a nut brown ale and a porter. Well executed, unique and enjoyable.

Thanks to Billy for this one!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 03:17:59 | More by sommersb

djdetar

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is one of the most tasty beers I've ever tried. It has been sold on tap for a few years and has only recently be bottled. Still only sold in Colonial Williamsburg. I stock up every time I visit.

a - Dark golden in appearance. The bottle claims it is unfiltered, but it is crystal clear if you ever view it in a clear glass. I've never seen an unfiltered beer with at least a little bit of trub, but this does not have it.

s - it smells of a dark bitter choclate

t - is quite amazing, sweet, pleasant, very easy to drink. It goes down smooth it's just a wonderful experience. The colonials sure knew how to make a good brew.

m - light with a slight effervescent feel. It is not overly carbonated at all

o - I never cared for sweet beers before this one, it was quite a change. I really wanted to try something native to the colonial atmosphere. I enjoyed it so much, that it is now one of my favorites. I really recommend trying it. If you have a taste for micro brews, you should enjoy. I had a friend who like New Castle a lot and did not enjoy this one. So it's not necessarily for everyone that loves brown ales.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2012 16:58:10 | More by djdetar

00trayn

Virginia

4.68/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap in Chownings Tavern, a favorite location for "gambols" while visiting Colonial Williamsburg. This beer is exclusive to Colonial Williamsburg, which is a shame because I'm quite a fan of it.

A - Pours a thick brown color with no head or lacing. Somewhat hard to tell since it comes in a colonial ceramic mug rather than a standard glass.

S - Molasses is a primary scent characteristic, followed by hint of a chocolate-y, nutty profile.

T - A roasted malty/caramel flavor really comes through with a finish of the nutty profile. It's unique and delicious, unlike anything I've really tasted before.

M - Somewhat thin with medium carbonation. Smooth though.

O - It really is a shame I can't get this outside of Williamsburg. It's based off of an old colonial recipe. I look forward to having a pint (or 5) of this whenever I visit this area.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2012 03:22:53 | More by 00trayn

Pencible

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at Chowning's Tavern.

A: This poured a dark mahogany with no head.
S: It smelled like earthy and nutty malt, with some coffee and bittersweet chocolate.
T: It tasted like earthy and nutty malt, with some coffee and bittersweet chocolate and pumpernickel. It had a clean bittersweet aftertaste.
M: It was watery with moderate carbonation. Somewhat thin body.
D: This was a great historic beer. It had a nice scent and taste, but weak body. Very easy to drink. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2011 21:19:33 | More by Pencible

jnn4v

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Chowning's Tavern (which told us it was exclusive to their locale).

A: Dark brown, bordering on black. No visible head. Hard to properly evaluate since it was served in a ceramic mug.

S: Smelled very interesting - almost entirely malt-centric, but with an earthier tone than I was used to for brown ales. Mixed nuts, molasses, toffee, and plenty of earthier flavor

T: Tasted very similar to the scent, although a bit "drier" and definitely less sweet. The caramel / toffee element didn't become evident in flavor until it had warmed at least 10 degrees above serving temp.

M: Decent density, although I thought the carbonation level seemed too "modern" and much higher than I would have imagined for a colonial-era beer.

O: Interesting beer that claims to be completely authentic to the colonial era. The brewmaster at AleWerks seemed less convinced, but it was fun to try either way.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2011 20:49:38 | More by jnn4v

RodneyFarva

Spain

4.8/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

picked up a growler at the brewery, told it was a brown ale, but turned out to be much more than what I was expecting.

a standard dark color which a solid tan head. a decent amount of lacing.

smells of toffee, caramel, tobacco, some malts. really interesting.

taste is awesome. the toffee and caramel brings some sweetness, the tobacco flavors give it a bitterness, and the malts balance it out.

perhaps the fact I was expecting a standard brown ale skewed my perceptions, but I was blown away. finished the growler in an evening. ABV must be decently high.

Serving type: growler

11-12-2011 20:42:32 | More by RodneyFarva

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.38/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Chownings Tavern Williamsburg, VA. 18th century recipe. Pours no head, no lace. Deep brown color. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Light malty chocolate nose and flavor is roasted chocolate with a burnt chocolate finish. $5.50 for a pint mug.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2011 22:57:47 | More by jdhilt

JednoPivoProsim

Maryland

4.47/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Chowning's Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg. Told this is an 18th century brown ale recipe.

Appearance: Dark and caramel colored.

Smell: Molasses and grainy, almost earthy tone to the scent.

Taste: Molasses and spruce (pine, but not in a hoppy way).

Mouthfeel: Very smooth, lightly carbonated, unfiltered.

Overall: Really enjoy this, colonial tavern helps. I'll have a third!

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2011 02:36:07 | More by JednoPivoProsim

bs870621345

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Just going to say, not a huge fan of brown ales (until this one).

Pours a deep brown with a nice off white head. Leaves a little bit of lacing down the glass.

Smells nutty, tobacco, roasty. Not a lot of hops mixed in and a rather light smell.

Taste is amazing. Nuts and tobacco really overtake the palate. This gives way to a roasted nut flavor and finishes clean. Fantastic

Mouthfeel is thin but nice. Also had on tap with good carbonation.

Drinkability is outstanding. Finished a growler and went back to get another one. And I'm not one to have more than 1 of each beer in a week.

Fantastic beer, go get yourself some.

Serving type: growler

01-02-2011 17:57:24 | More by bs870621345