Alimony Ale - Buffalo Bill's Brewery

suspect

New York

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass. Thanks to mrmarmot for the freebie.

A: Pours a golden color with a slight amber tone. Aggressive pour leads to a sticky looking 1.5 finger head that takes minutes to fade and when it does, it fades to a sticky ring and good lacing.

S: Strong piney hops up front, more hops in the middle and hops to follow. Slight malt back end to make it interesting.

T: Wow, this could not have been more opposite of the nose if it meant to be. The hops that were present in the nose, faded to malt in a hurry. It's entirely possible that it's due to age but usually the nose fades too. Either way, this was a pretty average IPA.

M: Lightly carbonated, medium bodied. Slightly sticky mouthfeel, not as bitter as I would have hoped.

O: Overall I generally expect more from California IPAs. This one isn't terrible, but it's not great either. I won't be rushing out to get more of this.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 01:14:57 | More by suspect

MidwestBA

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

05-18-2013 02:34:34 | More by MidwestBA

TonyTalon

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -11.8%

05-18-2013 02:33:09 | More by TonyTalon

Remdog

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

05-10-2013 00:57:31 | More by Remdog

KYGunner

Kentucky

3.73/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Coppery color with a dense, thick head this IPA sets up quite nicely. The head was roughly a fingers width, creamy and pronounced it sat atop for the entire experience.

The scent was quite simple. An almost metallic malt aroma there is a certain spiciness but far too light to discern what spice.

The taste is dry, malty and even a touch fruity. Possibly cinnamon spice with a lemon zest, the malt breadiness and cracker dryness are near the front. There is a strange metallic taste and feel near the end.

Overall a very well constructed ale that could use a few more hops to truly set it apart.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 00:45:13 | More by KYGunner

beernads

Florida

2/5  rDev -41.2%

05-08-2013 08:16:50 | More by beernads

blknikon

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

05-08-2013 00:08:25 | More by blknikon

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

04-29-2013 16:03:08 | More by DarthGuitarHero

spycow

Illinois

3/5  rDev -11.8%

04-28-2013 22:22:30 | More by spycow

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Bottle > Lagunitas Mason

A - Pours hazy copper big two finger off white head, and some nice dense lacing.
S - Big on caramel malt here, some interesting spices though, definitely a little cinnamon and some spruce, really earthy hop scents coming off this one, and a little banana at the end.
T - I really let this beer warm up to close to room temp, just a bit cool and it got better as it did. Aggressive earthy almost herbal hop bite that comes after the big sweet caramel malt wave that hits you, then you get some pine and those mixed spices. This really isnt as bad as everyone is making it out to be, that said there is a slight plastic taste to it. I dont know if there's any Belgian yeast in this, but it has a slight quality in that sense at the finish.
M - Too sticky sweet for your average IPA, but there is some lingering bitterness.
O - I dont see how everyone is making this out to be a terrible beer, no its not your standard IPA, but it sure is unique in a lot of ways. If Buffalo Bill's could find out what is causing that weird artificial or plastic taste and remove that, that'd be a great step in the right direction.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 00:34:07 | More by Omnium

mcewesr

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -11.8%

04-22-2013 20:57:02 | More by mcewesr

hurdjg

Iowa

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

04-21-2013 14:36:01 | More by hurdjg

mobud

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

04-20-2013 22:07:54 | More by mobud

Rozyravens

Texas

1.75/5  rDev -48.5%

04-02-2013 20:45:52 | More by Rozyravens

Boilerbrando

Kentucky

2/5  rDev -41.2%

03-26-2013 23:32:03 | More by Boilerbrando

freduardo

Alabama

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

03-21-2013 01:50:14 | More by freduardo

tectactoe

Michigan

3.39/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Pours a hazy amber color with some orange-ish highlight streaming along the sides of the glass. The foamy and chunky, ever-so-slightly beige cap rests quietly at about a quarter-inch as it leaves some thick and spotty lacing on the way down, especially near the top of the glass.

Alimony Ale smells pretty good. It's packed neatly with a caramel-laden network of malts; bready, sweet, and graham cracker-ish, upon which a brighter wave of hop flavors coast through your nostrils - light citrus, grapefruit, and orange peels leading the way. There's a solid balance and harmony of malt and hops, for sure, but this beer is lacking any real punchline or "it factor" that would make it stand out to me amongst a lineup of other, readily available IPAs. Maybe I'm being too hard on it... I haven't even tasted it yet.

But it tastes pretty much like I expect. Again, not a "bad" thing, in any sense of the work. Bread, light caramel, and graham cracker malt rolls out a carpet across the palate, opening with a bit of sweetness and mouth-coating stickiness. The hops aren't far behind at all, and quickly follow up with a one-two combo of grapefruit and pine resin. Pith-like and peel-y is the fruit profile as the leafy, piney, and oily nature of the hops play in the background. Medium-ish body with a slightly sticky and oily mouth feel. Medium-high carbonation provides a neat little snap on the tongue that cuts through the slick body just a bit.

I like hop profiles that are densely resinous and piney, but again - this one falls just short of packing an acceptable wallop. It doesn't cut my tongue enough. It doesn't spark my senses like an IPA should. And at 6.8% ABV, I'd rather choose a Pale Ale with less alcohol and just as much, if not MORE flavor. Alimony Ale isn't bad or offensive at all, but it gives me no reason to walk in the store and choose it over the myriad of other IPAs that I could walk away with for the same price or flavor. You get the point.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 16:37:49 | More by tectactoe

countrocula

New Jersey

1.68/5  rDev -50.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

I don't know if I got an old sixer of this stuff... and believe me... I am one to get pretty verbose in my reviews, but all that comes to mind on this wretched brew is that it STINKS. Totally gross stale malt flavor. The nose was like grandpa's rayon blend slacks that he hasn't laundered in 30 years. I almost barfed from this. First time in 15 years that I discarded 3 unopened bottles. The other two I shot with a 12 gauge.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 17:56:40 | More by countrocula

gtermi

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

03-15-2013 03:44:40 | More by gtermi

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -11.8%

03-14-2013 19:56:12 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Cvescalante

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

03-11-2013 19:51:52 | More by Cvescalante

jniagar1

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

03-04-2013 23:59:09 | More by jniagar1

sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

02-27-2013 19:41:57 | More by sixerofelixir

Tex-Mex08

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

02-27-2013 02:52:40 | More by Tex-Mex08

MarshMan71

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

02-24-2013 02:49:33 | More by MarshMan71