Tannen Bomb - Golden Valley Brewery and Pub

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured into the glass hazy deep amber brown with an off-white head which lasted to lace the glass.

The aroma was fruity and estery with dark fruits, raisins in particular, and a deep complex maltiness followed by a citrusy, but still earthy hop aroma that was well muted. Some spciy phenols emerged as the beer warmed.

The flavor was malty with complexity in sherrylike old ale characteristics. The fruit component was cherries dark fruits like raisins but still with a pineapple character. The malt was well achieved and the bittering kept it all well rounded and interesting. Also in the flavor was a substantial nutty component (Munich malt?).

The finish was dry with caramel and a strong fruit/hop complexity lasting long into the finish. The body was medium to medium full and the alcohol presence only really noticeable in the phenols of the aroma, but no real warming occured after consumption. A very interesting, complex and tasty beer.

12 ounce twist off bottle. Thanks weefisheads! I really wish I had another bottle of this elixir...the tag says $1.35, I've tasted much less for much more...

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2005 02:15:30 | More by GCBrewingCo

WesWes

New York

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a ruby red color with a 1/2" offwhite head that fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a complex malt scent that boasts of pale crystal and roasted malts along with a mild hop aroma. It is slightly sweet and warm. The taste is good. It has a smooth roasted flavor that goes down easy and finishes slightly bitter, malty and warm. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a good winter warmer. It's not over the top, but it is full of flavor with an excellent malt palate.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2005 22:08:26 | More by WesWes

unklesyd

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

In pouring this beer, I noticed that the head was smaller and shorter than a typical session ale, which I thought was nice in this style, but the color of the beer reminded me of something closer to a strong IPA than to a winter warmer. I was confused when I noticed all the cloudy/chunky funk at and near the bottom of the glass. Only after about an hour after drinking did I realize that this was the "tannen" part of the "Tannen Bomb". Still, it reminded me of some spoiled beer that I occasionally buy at Grocery Outlet.

The taste was nice. Strong and lingering hop character, but well matched with the sweet and round malt. After the first big swig and between the second, I noticed the slow creep of the warmth up my throat.

Very smooth for as high an ABV. A nice drinker.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2005 04:49:59 | More by unklesyd

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this down in the cellar for a year and it very much turned what was once a spicy winter warmer into a vinous barley wine. The nose turned slightly aged with some hops on the rise but the first taste is quite interesting. The balance and hops are apparent but a nice vinous backbone has arisen with a slightly sour edge. The edges are rounded off and the flavours are more delicate. This beer copuld not really benefit from any more aging but the one year experiment brings added interest to an already good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2004 17:41:46 | More by canucklehead

marc77

California

4.3/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Deep carmine hue, with a stiff, khaki head that yields attractive lace. Pungent combination of spicy cinnamon notes and nectar like sweetness hits the nose upfront. Sandalwood and pine sap ensue in a softer fashion. Swirling release hints of sour plum, yeast must and butterscotch. Very inviting and soothing aromawise. Smells spiced, but I don't think it is. In flavor, all components are well balanced. This is an egalitarian brew. Malt components are of well buttered, lightly burnt toffee and toasted rye hints. Integrated esters of a red grape and dried date nature complement malt aptly. Hop bitterness is well calculated, and offsets residual sweetness to the point were dark caramel remains, and simpler, sugary notes are overshadowed. Hop flavor is mostly floral with a citrus zest twang. Moderate in body, with sufficient dextrins for a firm, but not overly hefty mouthfeel. Finishes with a surge of black currant sweetness that fades into a simple, agreeable, lingering dry biscuit presence. A complex, very tasty brew that deserves to be sipped, but begs to be consumed hastily. A fine combination of an English style old ale and American Barleywine. Superbly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2004 01:59:05 | More by marc77

jtfest

Oregon

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark coppery/auburn, with a nice tan head that lasts not quite long enough, this is one of my favorite holiday offerings. A very hoppy flavor that isn't bitter at all, only the 8% alcohol reduces the drinkability score. Interestingly, it has a strong malty smell that seems to compliment the hoppy taste when you drink it. Love the name, too. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2004 03:21:06 | More by jtfest

beernut7

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a deep, dark amber with a thin lace on the glass. The aroma is strongly of sweet toffee and roasted malt. The predominant introductory flavor is of sweet, sweet candy on top of a heavy body with a building big hop presence. Both spice and bitterness present simultaneously and add to the complexity of the warming alcohol finish with a hint of sour tang.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2004 15:31:51 | More by beernut7

beerguy101

California

4.22/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reddish amber color. Small head. Aroma is spicy (cinnamon and clove) and fruity. A medium bodied “strong ale”. Malts are nutty and sweet. Hops are piney and grapefruity. Lots of winter spices in the beer, cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of clove and ginger. Well balanced. Smooth taste. Nice winter warmer. Hides the 8% alcohol well. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and dry. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2004 04:25:38 | More by beerguy101

ADR

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy clove brown with a nice 1/2 inch head of pale tan. Fat string laces. Nice aroma, a lot of cling peaches in syrup stuff goin' on. The fruit theme continues into the flavor, lots of orchard fresh peach and apricot, some apple cider and cherry. Hopping is good but not assertive, malt, slight yeast, and fruit are showcased in this medium carbonated beer. Mouthfeel is shy of what I was expecting, but there is a slight alcohol note. Bright and fresh for a Winter brew, different and a lot of fun.

Source: Liquid Solutions

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2003 19:41:09 | More by ADR

freed

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Surprise lurking on the bottom shelf at the beer store; another new beer from Golden Valley, and its a winter ale! The label is another nice, subdued work, and is quite attractive.

When I poured it, I was surprised that no foam appeared. A slightly more vertical pour encouraged some, but its just a slight rim of golden bubbles. The beer itself is the first I've had that could be described as garnet colored since I'd seen the term first applied to a beer this summer. Turns out VENOM already used the term to describe the beer so I'll just describe it as a deep amber syrup with a somewhat dull appearance. Looks and smells like it ought to be a doppelboch, with a heavy malt nose and a somewhat suggestive alcohol aroma.

Taste is quite warm and pleasant. My Beer fridge was too cold, so it took some time to warm to a good serving temperature, but when it had, the flavor was greatly enhanced. It washed the the biscuit malt grain down nicely, and easily filled the sweet and bready void. The hops provide a slightly bitter finish, but it dries the palate nicely, complimenting the sip itself.

About halfway through the beer the high ABV becomes apparent. This is obviously brewed by someone who lives in the NW, and understands the intolerable grays and SAD blues. A pleasant addition to the winter ale collection.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2003 01:08:24 | More by freed

Gusler

Arizona

3.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a murky blood red color, the head is purposeful in size, creamy in consistency, and light tan in color as it dissipates it leaves behind a sticky and thick sheet of lace to conceal the glass. Ripe bananas, yeast, malt, cotton candy sweet all make up this quite sniffable beer. Ambrosial the start, tons of malt, the top middling in feel, the finish minimally acidic, the hops present, but not over powering and the 8.5 ABV hit in all the malt. Quite drinkable, and a beer worthy of a sample, I think a bit different from the run of the mill “Strong Ales”.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2003 14:16:34 | More by Gusler

sinistersteve

Oregon

4.3/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nice deep dark amber color. Head started off thin, then exploded to about a finger think, then died down again, but a little sticks around to lace the glass. Strong malt aroma which forewarns you of the massive malt flavor. A decent holiday beer and worth a try, but I don't think it's one of the better ones out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2002 22:29:33 | More by sinistersteve