Once Upon A Time 1901 KK - Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

Naugled

New York

2.78/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Rich thick brown head. Very dark brown, almost black opaque body.

Dark sugar molasses sweetness in the nose. Can also pick up burned or charred notes.

There is a sharp acrid bitterness in the flavor that is more than just hop bitterness. It's a long lingering unpleasant bitterness, but intriguing nonetheless. I wonder how they do it. Is this from the "caramelized brewing sugars"?

Anyway, the mouth feel is cloying and coats the mouth, so I don't find it to be very drinkable at this point.

However, I do believe there is something here. My gut tells me that after a year in the cellar this could be a fantastic beer. So I will rate it "as is" for now, and re-rate a year from now.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 20:02:12 | More by Naugled

becorwin86

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

05-02-2013 16:58:47 | More by becorwin86

Rappaman

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

04-25-2013 00:57:27 | More by Rappaman

JMBSH

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

04-08-2013 02:17:33 | More by JMBSH

bcostner1

Tennessee

2/5  rDev -48.7%

04-07-2013 23:34:39 | More by bcostner1

acurtis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

04-07-2013 18:06:31 | More by acurtis

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.6%

03-10-2013 20:18:32 | More by spycow

mrovelli

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-08-2013 23:53:27 | More by mrovelli

hopley

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +9%

03-03-2013 03:38:58 | More by hopley

noremac423

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

02-26-2013 01:54:03 | More by noremac423

mdfb79

New York

3.63/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From 02/09/13 notes. Had this on tap at Bukowskis in Boston, MA.

a - Pours a mahogany brown color with one finger of light tan head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of coffee, bitter chocolate, alcohol, caramel malts, some dark fruits, burnt malts.

t - Tastes of coffee, alcohol, bitter chocolate, caramel malts, toasted malts, roasted malts, molasses, dark fruits, burnt malts. More alcohol than the nose; a slight step down.

m - Medium to full body and moderate carbonation. Little bit of alcohol to it.

o - Overall a decent strong ale; I know it is a different style of beer but I preferred the 1855 porter to this one. Alcohol is more prominent here, though some nice coffee and caramel to it. Would try it again but given the choice, would go with their 1855.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 17:49:54 | More by mdfb79

chakadrum

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -29.5%

02-09-2013 23:22:19 | More by chakadrum

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is interesting stuff.

A: Deep brown with shades of dark red when held up to light. Fizzy, foamy, light brown head that builds and fades pretty quickly leaving behind great lace but little retention.

S: Burnt/smoked/roasted malt with hints of hops, raisins, and molasses/caramelized sugar.

T: Malt character is strong and unique. Fairly hoppy up front with plenty of smoked and roasted malt in the finish that is enjoyable and lingers.

M: Pretty light body for the style and ABV. The flavors are strong and well developed and the alcohol complements everything. Smooth and creamy. And roasty and smokey.

O: An enjoyable drinking experience and it shows yet again that "back in the day" they were drinking much better beer than expected. While drinking this, I picture people slamming pints or metal mugs together drinking this in the dreary London pubs in the 18th and 19th Centuries.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 03:40:23 | More by Gatch

MRsojourner

Massachusetts

3.86/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

from notes at the armsby abbey
the aroma was herbal and piney with hints of chocolate
deep dark brown color with a thick head that sustained throughout the glass.
the taste was a mild roast with chocolate with a bite of alcohol and finishes with a piney and herbal bitterness that stays with you but beckons for another sip. this beer was very good

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2013 12:42:50 | More by MRsojourner

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A-Pours a very dark brown with reddish highlights. Body seems to be clear. Head is a thin layer with a thicker center of bubbles. Consistent lacing.

S-My first thoughts are yeast and toffee. Usually a beer with 100 IBU would display much more aromatic hop potency here. Roasted coffee and burnt caramel. Not overly intense. Malt-forward.

T-Interesting flavor; unique I would say. Almost has a black licorice/anise quality to it. Its quite roasted and there is a high level of bitterness. The high IBUs are present but the actual hop flavor is very stunted. Soapy hops. A bunch of toffee and lots of brown sugar with a lingering astringent note. Burnt toast; really burnt toast.

M-Medium/full. Carbonation starts off soft then gains power. A bunch of bitterness that is drying and lingering.

O/D-A cool beer. Big but not necessarily very expressive. Pretty cool that this was what was imbibed back in 1901. A decent hybrid brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 23:15:31 | More by VelvetExtract

spokeydonkey

New York

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bomber on 01/12/2013 (bottled in Nov. 2012) into a tulip glass.

Dark, almost stout-like in color. Held up to a light it's a deep, deep amber color. A thick, rocky tan head on it. The aroma is roasty with an almost metallic, rusty twang to it. Some fruity notes: apples, plums. Despite this being an outrageously hoppy beer, there's not much hop aroma coming across (or not what I'm used to from modern IPAs). Tastes interesting. Definitely some chocolate, roastiness, and a husky graininess to it. Very earthy hop character that finishes off with a piney, lingering, somewhat harsh bitterness. Just a touch of sweetness to balance it out--not quite enough to counter the aggressive hopping. Body is on the heavier side with moderate carbonation and just a touch of astringency.

Overall, I this is an interesting beer. It's quite unique and unlike any modern black IPA I've tried. I'm not a big fan of roast grain character or sweetness in my beers, and this one has only a touch of each. The bittering is a bit harsh and lingering though. It gets bonus points for novelty and unique flavors I haven't experienced in modern beers, but the more I drink, the less exciting it is. Might buy again if they release it next year, but not on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 22:49:34 | More by spokeydonkey

Massbmx

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +9%

01-10-2013 23:42:41 | More by Massbmx

CADMixes

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

01-10-2013 00:31:49 | More by CADMixes

TheMonkfish

Chad

4/5  rDev +2.6%

01-07-2013 16:18:12 | More by TheMonkfish

splendidsplinter

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +9%

12-26-2012 19:15:40 | More by splendidsplinter

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a pretty things stemmed beer glass

A: pours a dark brown with a fat finger lightly tanned head. Records quickly to a film, some nice spots of lacing.

S: earthy piney hops and citrus notes, light toffee sweetness and charred toast...

T: citrusy, sweet, hoppy, piney, bitter resins, a bit of chared burnt coffee, pretty tasty.

M: medium bodied, lush and bitter, with a lingering bitter/char aftertaste that I am not particuarly fond of.

O: great balance of sweet and bitter going on here, and after reason a bit about this one I noticed it was brewed without roasted malts and got its color mostly from sugars. I never would have guessed there was no roasted or toasted or even burnt malt on here... A very tasty, very interesting brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 02:38:34 | More by PeterIngemi

greenengineer

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

OK, last one of the night. First two have been disappointing.

Label looks different than the picture. Bomber into my Notch 0.5L shaker. Probably chilled a little too much for the style.

A - dark brown but a little light makes it through. Head subsides quickly, but lacings persist.
S - yeasty malt, like a beer should smell
T - malty bitterness, almost a porter. Hints of pepper? dark malts, a little yeasty.
M - a little chewiness, carbonation persists
O - I like, Would have ordered another in 1901. Finally tonight a beer I can enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 03:21:38 | More by greenengineer

markgoodman10

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +9%

10-02-2012 04:57:24 | More by markgoodman10

GrindFatherBob

New York

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%

08-13-2012 13:44:48 | More by GrindFatherBob

mcss

New York

3/5  rDev -23.1%

06-26-2012 21:00:18 | More by mcss