Spring Ale - Bootlegger's Brewery

FosterJM

California

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

461st Review on BA
Draft

App- A slightly honey skewed orangy/yellow with a thin head and no real lacing on this one.

Smell- This was a bit over spiced for me but for a Herbed/Spiced beer, on point. Honey, Cinnamon, Orange amongt many others.

Taste- Taste followed the nose just slightly less so. It was tasty but a bit over the top for me. The cinnamon and sage we top billers on this one.

Mouth- Medium bodied and medium carbonated bordering on being a bit lighter.

Drink- It was a very tasty little beer at a large beerfest and was nice to warm up with while it was still a little cold.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2011 03:10:19 | More by FosterJM

Wowcoolman

California

4.55/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a growler into a Tremens glass by Bootleggers sales rep, who says this is 5.2% abv. Not much head as you would expect from a growler pour. Color- appealingly bright yellow-orange.
The nose is quite amazing- like a spring meadow, intensely floral with herbal notes.
The taste is complex, as you might expect from the added spices. None stand out, though. This is a very balanced beer. A honey taste lingers at the finish.
I really enjoyed this; "Spring" is certainly one to pull out as the weather warms. The experience goes from floral to spice to a honey finish. May pair well with barbecue.

Serving type: growler

03-05-2011 07:02:19 | More by Wowcoolman

DoubleJ

California

3.18/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On-tap at the source, on to the beer:

The color of honey is represented in this beer's body. There's a small head on top, and it goes away quickly. There isn't much intensity in the aroma; some flowers and honey and little else. Then, when you were expecting a light tasting ale, bam! Loads of honey smacks your palate. There's a flowery flavor in there and some vague spice note to keep me going, but right here we have a honey bomb. It's light in the mouth with an easy feel. Nevertheless, a pint is plenty.

Hook grabbing beer, but one to drink in small quantities.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2011 01:30:58 | More by DoubleJ

Halcyondays

California

4.4/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Bootlegger's,

A: Pours yellow with a soft white head, solid retention, spotty lace.

S: Honey for days. I love the meady true smell of sweet honey here, mixed with sage and flowery chamomile, it's angelic.

T: Great direct honey flavour, wildflowers. Sage is more on the backburner compared to the nose. Very enjoyable.

M: Fizzy, light-bodied. Smooth, but thin.

D: A fairly light beer, but great flavours. Made me think of a Braggot version of Saison du BUFF. Classic springtime flavours for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2010 23:44:01 | More by Halcyondays

iiii

California

4.63/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I went to Bootlegger's 2nd Anniversary party last night, and they had this on tap. Definitely my favorite of the night.

I loved it because you can immediately smell the honey, chamomile, and sage, and those are tastes that I haven't really experienced this much or this accurately, even in so-called "honey" beers.

The taste is pretty light, but pleasant, somewhat sweet (honey), with a bit of chamomile. The light aftertaste is definitely honey/chamomile.

I'd say this is a great beer for a hot day, or just before bed.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2010 18:01:12 | More by iiii

womencantsail

California

3.45/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Bootlegger's

A: The pour is an incredibly hazy light golden color with a thin ring of white foam.

S: Plenty of herbal and floral notes to this one. The sage is the dominant aroma, but the tarragon makes an appearance offering some subtle licorice notes. I don't notice the chamomile so much.

T: The flavor is quite savory, most likely due to the sage. The tarragon becomes a bit more noticeable as the beer warms and the anise notes come through. There is a slight sweetness and citrus flavor as well and a mild bitterness.

M: The body is on the lighter side of medium, but some nice lively carbonation really makes this one pleasing to the palate.

D: I really wasn't sure what to expect from this, and I'm often weary of beers with so many herbs and flowers as ingredients as they're easily over done. I think some restraint was used here, but you do have to enjoy all the flavorings quite a bit to like this.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2010 06:04:56 | More by womencantsail