He'Brew Messiah Bold - Shmaltz Brewing Company

woemad

Washington

3.95/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle purchased at Huckleberry's for $1.69.

Poured a dark, cola-like color that took on a reddish hue when held to the light. About an inch of light tan foam perched at the top of the glass, and a foam ring endured throughout this beer's tenure in my glass.

This is definitely one of the roastier smelling brown ale's I've had. There's also caramel and brown sugar, but the roasted malt scent is waht I really picked up on here.

Like in the nose, the roasted malts are one of the more noteworthy aspects of the taste. There's also a balancing sweetness that has notes of caramel and brown sugar, and some nutty notes. At the swallow is a slight dry note. Other than that, hops are most conspicuous by their absence.

The biggest flaw with this beer is that it seems a little too heavily carbonated. If this were taken down a peg, this could be the textbook example of a tasty brown ale.

While slightly overcarbonated, this is eminently drinkable. I could easily session this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2007 05:03:25 | More by woemad

jongillin

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Right, so those of you in search of a completely Kosher beer this is it! It even says so on the bottle (which also makes some bold - no pun intended - claims. Some that it may even live up to)!

This beer pours with a slightly beige head that foams up a bit at the pour and then thins remaining till the end. IT is a dark brown almost black color in the body.

The aroma is mostly of dark malts (is that black patent I smell?) with a bit of chocolate and some mild hops

The taste is similar to the smell starting off with some heavy malts going from sweet to a mildly bitter chocolate and a mild coffee with rounded out by some caramel. It is all balanced in the end by some nice mellow hop notes.

High carbonation seemed to sting a bit on the tongue but also adds to a light finish and makes this beer very drinkable and I would think this a great session beer. I have one or six.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2007 05:11:54 | More by jongillin

SargeC

Japan

3.95/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark brown brew with a frothy tan head that dissipates quickly.

Smell: Nutty malt, caramel, molasses.

Taste: Decent malt flavor with a slight smokiness. Nice hop background.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Satisfying finish.

Drinkablity: Pretty tasty brew. Not very complex, but not offensive either.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2008 07:08:36 | More by SargeC

JDV

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Fordest for this - Dark transluscent maroon pour with a light offwhite head. Very light smell at first of mildly roasted malt, perhaps a bit nutty. Flavor is nice and rich however, and packs a good roasty kick, lightly bittered in the finish, with a good hearty, but lively mouthfeel. This was one of my favorite brown ales by far, and one I'd easily recommend.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2008 06:10:43 | More by JDV

meechum

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Nice dark with a light tan head that fell slowly leaving a nice lace

S - Had a nutty and caramel smell to it and a slight hop piney smell

T/M - The taste was mostly of malts and wasn't much on hops..nutty with a some caramel and coffee maybe..overall I found it to be pretty good..a little thin

D - I think very drinkable..and enjoyable..

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2008 21:12:44 | More by meechum

mralphabet

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A: Very dark brown with a hint of red.... 1/2 a finger of head that disappears quickly with a little sticky lacing.

S: Malts, Chocolate some caramel and toffee.... Yummy.

T: Pretty mild overall... Taste like it smells chocolate, caramel and even toffee. Very mild hops & some bitterness at the end.

M: Creamy and med bodied at first but as you swallow it thins out.... I would have loved if it stayed creamy throughout so it was a little lighter, than I like.

D:- Very drinkable.... it is a good mix of creamy yet light and the ABV is not bad... So a few of these could go down... I like it... I'll look for some other brews from He'Brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2009 03:57:31 | More by mralphabet

Paincane

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Amber brown in color after poured into pint glass. Has a cream-colored head that leaves nice lacing after dissipating.
S: Sweet, roasted malt and caramel.
T: Roasted malt and caramel with hint of chocolate.
M: Medium-bodied with good carbonation. A bit on the sweet side.
D: Oy! A tasty albeit sweet brew that I would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 00:59:44 | More by Paincane

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: This one's unique pours with a massive sized tan head chunky texture to it sort of marshmallow like sounds weird I know this is a new phenomenom opening up this beer. Well the the body appears a deep ruby brown very nice appearance lacing is even webbed patterns all around nice. Aroma: Caramel tones from the malt with a nut finish in the air not bad at all. Taste: Creamy fruit tones with a nut finish this one is "Bold" has a great amount of well balanced flavors, awesome taste. Mouthfeel: Nice fluffy texture slow carbonation perfect mouthfeel silky smooth. Drinkability: Suprisingly very good I could buy a six pack of this stuff and enjoy each one of the beers thoroughly.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2003 15:42:07 | More by WVbeergeek

Gusler

Arizona

3.93/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours from the bottle with a rich and thick kind of sound and it produces a gigantean semi-creamy light tan head to sit a top the translucid deep brown body and the lace a glutenious sheet that welds itself to the glass. A sweet malt aroma dominates this crisp and fresh nose with the start sweet and interfused with malt, top is middling in feel. Finish is mellow in its acidity with the hops delectate and the aftertaste dry. A quite nice beer, easy on the palate and one you might have several of, so let’s call it a candidate for a “session beer”.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2003 23:42:42 | More by Gusler

Shiredave

New York

3.93/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep burgandy brown color with dripping clots of amber lace. The carbonation is low but visible - very clear.
Aroma is mild - some chocolate and roasty notes with a clean hint of grassy hop.
Flavor is more chocolate mixed with smokey undertones and a soft grain nuttiness. Full bodied up front that thins out in the middle when some nicely subdued hop bitterness works it's way in.
The finish is short lived with flavors of brown sugar and a faint tingle of lingering bitterness.
Not completely a gimmick beer. I wish the bottle had less shtick and more info about the actual beer, but this isnt bad at all. A slightly bulbous brown ale, and possibly the best beer I've had from the NY Mendicino Brewery. L'Chaim! (sp?)

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2004 19:21:17 | More by Shiredave

merlin48

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep, brown mahogany, with ruby highlights. Beige, one finger head leaves minimal patch lacing.
Aroma is mostly caramel malt, with some spicy and floral hops notes.
Mouthfeel reveals active carbonation with a modest hop bite.
Taste is mostly caramel malt and toffee, but is bolstered with an unusual and unfamiliar hops bitterness. Apple and apple cider notes lend a pleasant aftertaste, and provide an interesting flavor midway through.
Very enjoyable brown ale, overall. Nicely drinkable because of the crisp, apple notes. Very kosher.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2004 04:58:06 | More by merlin48

Backer2004

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This one is a classic story that i need to hear about again. According to Gregg Glaser, the news editor from All About Beer magazine, the beer came from a guy coming back the Holy Land and turned his home brews into a nice size brewery. Man, I wish I could remember the funny taglines that came with this one and a few others . . . oh well. Surprisingly, a nice malty brown ale that goes down smooth. A bit on the heavy side, nice dark color and creamy finish. Would try this one againn.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2005 00:43:23 | More by Backer2004

dirtylou

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz single, Rileys

appearance: pours into great dane imperial pint glass...super dark, the darkest of the style that I have seen for sure...body is a very dark mahogany, with rich dark ruby highlights, big creamy tan head with great retention...looks like no other english brown, and I like it

smell: very rich with a nice roasty character, nutty, decent hopping in the background, woody and bittersweet

taste: This is a pretty nice surprise...pretty flavourful with a nice smoke/char flavor in the background, slightly bitter dry cocoa powder, roasty malt, sweet and woody

mouthfeel: medium body, rich and creamy

drinkability: nice

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2006 21:47:47 | More by dirtylou

gmfessen

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, beer is a deep brown color with slight amber highlights and a thick, one-finger, cream colored head. Smell is typical of a brown ale, toasted malty presence with a hint of smoke, nuttiness and chocolate. Taste is very much the same with a slight oxidation that takes away from the flavor; there is also a bittering hop presence but no apparent hop flavor. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with a dense, creamy carbonation - very nice. Overall, this is a very drinkable beer and I would like to try it again, maybe a fresher bottle would lack the oxidation taste that I didn't care for. I imagine this beer on tap would be quite "heavenly"!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2008 23:35:26 | More by gmfessen

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle for $1.79 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Clear, dark brown body with some slight ruby hints at the edges and a thin, ivory-colored head.

Smell: Roasty, nutty, chocolate water with a hint of caramel and spicy hops with just the faintest bit of citrus.

Taste: Pale malts with tastes of dark caramel, toasted nuts, and semi-sweet chocolate. Earthy, lightly citrusy hops with a medium-low bitterness; just enough to balance the malts. Thin, watered down roastiness and, well, finishes about the same. Lingering, mild chocolate flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Just a hair over medium carbonation.

Drinkability: A fine, flavorful brown ale that remains keenly drinkable as well as reasonably priced.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2009 01:20:01 | More by ChainGangGuy

TheLongBeachBum

California

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 12 ounce bottle with a very colorful label. Has the words “HE’BREW The Chosen Beer”, with a lot of other Jewish and Biblical references. No Freshness Date or Strength, but it is stamped as “KSA” Kosher Certified, Rabbi Approved.
Described as a ‘Rich & Robust Dark Brown Ale’.

Appearance: A lovely dark brown lucid body with chestnut hints. A huge tan brown head forms and stays. Smooth looking, the head leaves massive lacing and settles with a smooth, but pot-marked look. Not much conditioning when the beer is swirled.

Nose: Light hints of roasted malts, but it is rather reticent to reveal itself, even when deeply inhaled.

Taste: Lovely malts that are never invasive, laid back with hints of roasted coffee beans, caramel, with some dark fruits mingling in the background that occasionally wake from a deep sleep and raise their heads. A very nice laid back dark brown ale that has a well-balanced profile and an incredibly refreshing, yet very tasty, feel in the mouth. Crisp and clean.

Mouthfeel: A medium body that feels much bigger than it really is. Very smooth malt blanket in the mouth, it fair caresses the tongue!

Drinkability: Deadly Serious. This beer just goes down far too easily. Better buy a couple of these if you are intending on trying it, scrub that > get a 6-Pack!

Overall: Just like the earlier Genesis Ale, I found this to be a highly enjoyable and an extremely quaffable dark Brown Ale. Check this one out if you get chance.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2003 07:35:18 | More by TheLongBeachBum

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not quite opaque dark walnut with a generous infusion of ruby and blood orange highlights at the edges. The head is the color of wet sand and is decently firm, falling first where it makes contact with the the glass. Sea foam lace adorns the vertical surface in random patterns. A good look.

The nose is in line with the style, but isn't quite as dark or a cocoa-like as expected. I can appreciate toasted malt, lightly spicy hops and nuts; although which nut(s) I couldn't say. The aroma could use a bit more character.

Back on track. Messiah Bold is much more assertive (more bold!) on the palate with a more heavily toasted maltiness and notes of dark caramel, cocoa and oven-roasted pecans. While it doesn't trend anywhere near porter territory, it occupies the upper reaches of the English brown ale style for sure. Spicy and slightly citrusy hops balance out the malty sweetness quite nicely. This is one harmonious ale.

He'Brew Messiah Bold is a wonderful version of a style that I don't think about much. It brings plenty of bold flavor to the table, never a bad thing in such a well-brewed beer. I'm sure that I've had better nut browns, but this one is worth your money. L'Chaim!

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2005 16:07:45 | More by BuckeyeNation

Neehan

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice, dark brown with a modest head that leaves very nice lacing on the glass. Turns a bright violet when held to the light. The aroma is sweet with raisins up front and hints of tofee to follow. Other fruits compliment as well. The taste is rich with yet very smooth with fruits, nuts, and some chocolate. Dry finish. A crisp mouthfeel that is more carbonated than most brown ales but quite pleasant. The smooth pleasant taste and texture makes this quite drinkable. A good choice.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2006 04:05:14 | More by Neehan

zeff80

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a dark brown color with a foamy, tan, one-finger head. Left a little lace.

S - It smelled of malt, caramel and toffee.

T - It had a bold malty flavor with a strong dose of nut-like taste. Also, a subtle grassy/hoppy flavor.

M - It was creamy and soft. A medium-bodied beer.

D - Pretty good brown ale. I like the nutty and malty flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2007 00:48:42 | More by zeff80

geexploitation

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a deep, chocolate brown with reddish amber highlights and very little head. Aroma is fairly complex on the malt end, with caramel malts, chocolate malt, raw grain and a touch of subdued hops. On the palate, huge carbonation first off -- which kind of distracts -- and then some juicy hop oils before things smooth out a bit and the caramel and chocolate malts come out. A touch of fruity esters come out at the very end. Overall, this is a good beer. Very drinkable, interesting enough, and high quality all around. Not the best out there, but very decent.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2007 03:43:46 | More by geexploitation

neenerzig

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured out of a 12 oz bottle into my pint glass. This beer is a clear, deep amber brown amber color with ruby highlights. Head is about 1/2 inch thick when poured and dissipates very quickly to a decent surface coating. Pretty good lace here. Aromas of sweet malt, caramel, and hints of chocolate are present. Sweet and malty flavors with nice hints of caramel and a bit of chocolate. Followed by some bitter hop and black coffee flavors, but the sweetness is certainly more apparent here. Has a nice crisp, frothy and full bodied with moderate carbonation. Easy to drink the way a good craft beer should be. A very good offering here.

Eric

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2008 04:34:49 | More by neenerzig

Pencible

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This poured a murky dark ruby with a bit of tan head. It smelled like roasted barley and coffee malt with copper hops. It tasted like earthy coffee and roasted barley malt, with copper hops and a bit of ginger bread spices. It was watery with no carbonation, and had a bitter aftertaste. Overall this was half like a brown ale, and half like a porter. But it had good flavor and decent body, and was fairly clean and easy to drink. I'm not sure if I'd want this beer often, but it was interesting to try.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2008 21:21:57 | More by Pencible

Tone

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark brown color. 1/4 inch head of a pale tan color. Slight retention and decent lacing. Smells of sweet malt, hops, and a slight raisin aroma. Fits the style of an American Brown Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of roasted malt up front, sweet malt and slight hops in the background, and some grass flavors. Slightly more watery than I was expecting, but still good flavors and palate. Overall, a pretty decent beer that was a good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2009 22:09:25 | More by Tone

birdman200

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: 2 finger off white head, nice lacing, dark, dark black - pours almost like a stout.
S: Sweet, and dark chocolate.
T: Rich, coffee, nutty, dry
M: Full bodied, great carbonation.
D: Easy. More like a porter though - classified as a brown ale? Overall a good beer, I'd like to see their other newer beers like the Lenny's RIPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 15:47:19 | More by birdman200

mattcrill

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Cloudy dark brown and very cola-like in appearance. Leaves an ivory head that doesn't retain very well.

Smell: Baker's chocolate primarily with hints of licorice and raisins. This is pretty big smelling for an English Brown Ale.

Taste: tea-like hops noted, cola, chocolate, a touch of smokiness and mild alcohol notes to finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, dry, and crisp.

Drinkability: Very good. This was more like a light porter to me than an English Brown Ale. It's much bigger in all respects than I would expect for a Brown. That being said, I like porters much better so this one works for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2005 20:36:35 | More by mattcrill