Reunion: A Beer For Hope 2011 - Shmaltz Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Licorice, yeast and chocolate. Pours a reddish brown and possesses a big soapy head. Malty, some vanilla, the chili kicks in at the end.A tad of sourness. a good chocolate. A bit above average mouthfeel. Besides the subdued flavors, its like an English brown.Decent drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 22:48:43 | More by northyorksammy

UCLABrewN84

California

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours an almost opaque super dark crimson-brown with a 2 inch foamy khaki head that settles to a small cap. Random patterns of dots form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, chocolate syrup, and vanilla aromas. Taste is of roasted malt, coffee, cocoa powder, vanilla flavors, and a distinct cinnamon flavor with the aftertaste. I am not getting any chili in either the smell or taste of this one. However, this beer does have a warming in the back of the throat with each sip which I assume is from the chili. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly flat and watery mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with some nice smells and flavors but the mouthfeel is a bit lacking.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 02:32:19 | More by UCLABrewN84

oberon

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I drank the Terrapin Reunion offering earlier and did notice a few subtle differences between the two brown ales.First off this is 7.3% abv.Second this poures a deeper more of a mahogany brown with a large blooming beige colored head,aromas are alike in both have a real caramel toffee element to them.This is more carbonated and sharper in the mouth,not quite as smooth as the other.This is a little more dry on the palate with the vanilla/caramel toffee a little more subdued and the chili much more subdued in the finish.This is a good brown ale,not as good as its partner but still no slouch.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 22:10:04 | More by oberon

Mora2000

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Cavie for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a dark brown color with dark red highlights and a tan head. The aroma is full of roasted and chocolate malt, with not too much else coming through. The flavor is more complex. I get some milk chocolate and roasted malt, as well a a little bit of spice from the chili peppers. All three characteristics work well together and give the beer a unique flavor. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 20:20:23 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a dark brown color with a two-finger, light brown head of thick bubbly foam. It left sticky, thin rings of lace.

S - It smelled of chocolate and malty notes with a touch of vanilla.

T - It tasted of cocoa. Really strong chocolate flavors with subtle vanilla flavors. I could barely detect some heat from the peppers as the beer warmed up.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is a nice beer, but the chocolate was too dominant for a 22 oz beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 12:24:25 | More by zeff80

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours an ebony tinged brown with 3 fingers of tan head. Great lacing & average head retention

S: Cocoa & woody note, some sarsaparilla as well

T: Follows the nose, leafy hops & vanilla notes, some sarsaparilla as well up front. A touch of cream soda flavor lurks in the background as this warms along with bitterness from the cocoa nibs, some heat from the chilies is evident as well, along with dryness. Fairly big powdery cocoa finish, some peppery heat & woody notes as well

MF: Medium bodied, somewhat over carbonated, love the malt backbone of this

Liked this, didn't love it. Nice big brown ale, my bottle indicates 7.3% abv

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2011 22:11:10 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pours a murky dark brown with a firm off-white head offering up some good lace.

S: Heavy dry chile smell with some chocolate.

T: Chocolate heavy, some dark malt, with a spicy chile character that comes in towards the back. A nice mix of flavours.

M: Medium-bodied, quite chalky which I wasn't too fond of. Spicy, soft carbonation.

O: A nice beer overall, I like what the chiles brought to the table. Well made.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2011 21:56:39 | More by Halcyondays

emerge077

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Black body with mahogany edges. Sticky tan foam, long lasting head that hangs around for the duration of the glass in some form or another.

Sweet vanilla aroma, slightly artificial like sarsaparilla or cream soda. Mild powdered cocoa.

Thin body, sweet cocoa and vanilla flavors. Slight astringency, vaguely chocolatey with a feeble bitterness on the back end. Seems like one of those vanilla mocha creamer flavorings you'd put into coffee. Where are the chiles? Not even a tingle. Kinda meh overall, but fairly drinkable. Needs more roast and bitterness to balance the sweet artificial flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 13:46:49 | More by emerge077

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber.

This beer pours a clear dark brassy cola hue, with two fingers of thin foamy, puffy tan head, which settles evenly, leaving a twisted chain of lace around the glass. It smells rather lightly of vanilla, chocolate, caramel malt, and a slight edgy twinge. The taste is bittersweet caramel, a bit of toffee, baker’s chocolate, and a nice subtle, evolving singular spiciness, which has no real concurrent vegetable flavour to go with it. The carbonation is present, and restrained seeming, the body medium-light in weight, although a bit too sharp and zippy to be considered all that smooth. It finishes with a nice, gently rising spiciness, over a generally sturdy choco-vanil-toffee maltiness.

A nicely balanced chili and confection beer, enjoyable to drink, and for a worthy cause.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 22:19:39 | More by biboergosum

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

(Served in a stemmed strange)

A- This beer pours a dense brown body with a light tan foam that is thick and last a good bit. There is a gentle tiny bubble carbonation that appears through the murky body.

S- The brown malt aroma has a nougat and vanilla extract note with some cardboard caramel notes. There is an odd vanilla cream note that grows in the finish with an earthy imitation quality to it.

T- The brown malt flavor is a little flat tasting with a nougat quality. There is a powdery characteristic in the finish with a Tootsie roll note to it. Then there is a bitter heat that hits the back of the throat without any other chili flavors for support.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a gentle fizz in the finish.

O- This beer has lots of odd flavors with the strange vanilla and the coco is more tootsie roll that chocolate and the chili is only heat. This is a bit of a mess but none of the flavors are really strong so it is not obnoxious.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 21:47:52 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bomber bottle

Dark dark brown, large khaki head, slowly goes to a fine film and thin collar.

Nose of dark malts and dark chocolate.

More chocolate, dark burnt malts, chili quite faintly shimmering late in the finish. Dense flavors, sweet up front, dry and grainy in the finish. Brown ale with better then average complexity, interest and balls. And for a good cause. Glad I could help out-I enjoyed it

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 00:30:00 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a larger 2 finger head that fades fairly quickly at first then slows, over dark molasses brown almost black colored beer.

Nose has darker malts, molasses and brown sugar, toasty brown malts, slight creamy brown black malts and hints of chocolate, some vanilla starts to come through more and more, then a bit of hop character.

Taste starts with lots of chocolate, cocoa nibs galore, fresh chocolate flavors and cocoa! With that is some vanilla, lots of vanilla flavors come through following the cocoa, with a touch of spicy pepper taste. Some malts follow all that, darker malts with lots of caramel flavors, dark crystal malts, then some slight syrup like caramel flavors. A slight hop character comes through with a little bitterness and slight earthy hops. Finishes with a spicy hot pepper flavor, then some lingering vanilla and light chocolate, as well as hint of syrupy caramel, and a touch of warming booze.

Mouth is med bodied, decent carbonation, and hint of warming booze.

Overall it's pretty good, nice tasty flavors with chocolate and vanilla, but I think the vanilla is a bit overboard. some nice malts but I also think the malts were a bit too light overall, and it should have had a bit more body and been creamier as well. The hot pepper spice was a nice addition as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 03:17:19 | More by jlindros

Zorro

California

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Clear dark brown colored ale with a tall tan colored head. No real way to make it look better without special effects.

Smell is spicy with strong chocolate and brown sugar. Sweet caramel and I can smell the chili peppers in this. This irritates my nose a little bit probably the chilies.

Starts out semi dry with a spicy and woody flavor, vanilla and chocolate in the aftertaste. Tastes spicy almost like a Winter Warmer. Absolutely no indication that this is a strong beer, alcohol is completely hidden. Beer seems to have no real flavor beyond the chilies, chocolate and vanilla. This would be a good Christmas beer.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall this is tasty but nothing out of the ballpark. I could see buying this again as a Christmas Beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 22:21:04 | More by Zorro

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deep amber-chestnut with a light tan head, good retention & lace.

S: Faint aroma of cocoa, roasted nut and bread with hints of vanilla.

T: The cocoa, vanilla and chilli are all there, but they're fairly subtle... just enough to tell what the are. Fairly bready, nutty, hints of caramel, balanced bitterness and alcohol is remarkably well-hidden.

M: Moderate body has a hint of residual sweetness with an off-dry finish.

D/O: Overall I thought this was really well-crafted and very drinkable (not something you often find in a unique brew that's outside the traditional style guidelines).

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 03:51:35 | More by Derek

JohnGalt1

Idaho

2.58/5  rDev -31.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22 picked up last night at Brewforia... shared tonight with Inflatablechair... Poured into my HotD goblet.... great 2 finger tan head initially, but it drops pretty quickly leaving a decent cap and drapes of splotchy lace... the brew is dark brown with nice clear garnet highlights.

Big brown sugar and vanilla.. light sorta artificial chocolate aroma and something that is fruity that I wasn't expecting and seems out of place..

Flavor.... I have to mention the finish first just because it is so off-putting... a lingering synthetic vanilla trails on forever.

Up front is a pretty flimsy malt profile... and the same weird chocolate flavors that I picked up in the aroma.. no where near enough "real beer" flavors to make this interesting (let along good) for me... almost no chili..

The body is a bit thin.. carbonation is fine, but the overall product is just okay at best.

I respect the "Beer For Hope" series for sure... and I am glad there are brewers out there that make a sacrifice for their passions.. but I honestly just don't care at all for this beer.

3.5/3/2/3/3

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 05:49:45 | More by JohnGalt1

mactrail

California

4.3/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Rich near-black beer with a brown edge. Very fine lacing and foam. The malt is well-roasted and rather dry for the fullness of barleyness. I wonder what kind of peppers? They start out faint but the warmth is fanned a little as you sip. They do add a little depth as well as a hint to the nose. Fortunately the advertised cocoa and vanilla are even more subtle. Fine highly drinkable stuff. Less pretension, more filling. After a glass I love the warm peppery aftertaste with the whiff of curry.

Call it an American Strong Ale. Interesting that the Shmaltz news release from September called it a "Dark Imperial Brown Ale" while the actual label just says "Dark Imperial Ale."

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 06:19:46 | More by mactrail

gford217

Georgia

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber.

Pours deep, murky brown that shows very little light coming through underneath a huge bubbly tan head that recedes really slowly.

Aroma is heavy on cocoa nibs and vanilla with the peppers stinging the nose a little but not dominating the nose by any means. There is a general roasty malt aroma throughout as well.

Taste has more chocolate than anything else with the vanilla coming out in the finish and the chili peppers bringing very little heat at all. Lots of roasted chocolate malts in the background.

The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and fairly dry and chalky, presumably from the cocoa nibs.

I really enjoyed this beer and it's a great beer compared to most brown ales. Complex, with lots of interesting flavors, yet very well integrated and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 04:09:32 | More by gford217

cokes

Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark mahogany brown with a moderate rise of beige froth, which both retains and laces moderately well.
Cocoa nibs and vanilla are both immediately evident in the aroma, but not overbearing or artificially so. There's a treacle-y dark malt base, with liquorice and dark fruit and jammy vinous overtones.
That same treacle/liquorice is the hallmark of the flavor. Some small toasty/roasty notes, then a burst of treacle and fudge. Vanilla is subdued, but noticeable. Plum-like as it warms, and the chili pops out just a bit (and only as it gains temperature, I was totally ignorant to them when this was chilled down). Hopping is a quiet nonfactor.
Full bodied, and a little grabby sweet as the carbonation fizzles itself out rather fast, though once it warms, the chilis help cut through any cloying aspects. Let that be a lesson, this is much better as it nears cellar or even room temperature.
Overall, a somewhat strange but pretty good beer that grew on me with its intriguing moments, and its for a great cause. We can all drink to that.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 06:57:09 | More by cokes

nickfl

Florida

4.13/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours with two and a half fingers of light brown foam on top of a black body with some clear, amber highlights. The head settles fairly slowly and leaves nice rings of lace on the glass.

S - Dark, sweet malt with notes of caramel, toffee, and lots of molasses. There is also a spicy quality in the background with cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.

T - Dark caramel and molasses up front with a little bit of cinnamon. Some bittersweet chocolate comes out in the middle with a surprisingly strong note of vanilla. The brown, sugary malt intensifies in the finish with more molasses and some dark, rye bread character. Lingering toasted malt and dark caramel coat the palate in the aftertaste with vanilla, allspice, and nutmeg notes.

M - A somewhat thick body, moderate carbonation, and a surprisingly well balanced finish.

D - I was a bit skeptical going into this; dark, spiced beers are not usually my cup of tea. However, this is surprisingly pleasant for what it is. The spices and dark malt are on the edge of overwhelming the palate and becoming cloying, but they manage to just barely avoid getting there. The vanilla is a nice touch that seems to help brighten things up a bit. Very nice, overall; I might even consider cellaring this if I come across another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 06:18:15 | More by nickfl

smakawhat

Maryland

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Crush that Hanukkah gift cap! Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A real nice off tan head in color, with a foamy retention body, seems to fall fairly slowly. Body color is very dark, almost black as all get out. Clumpy head after some time, and minimal lacing.

Nose is a small roasted malt, but a good bit of chocolate. Kind of subtle and dense, pretty nice.

Char roasting coffee sense on the finish, with a good bit of carbon. Mid palate is bitter chocolate with a small hint of hop. Light char continues throughout on the finish. A little carbonated but also a nice dense chocolate sense.

Overall pretty solid and enjoyable, nothing crazy but pretty tasty and luckily not a collaboration nightmare.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 22:57:48 | More by smakawhat

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle (label says the ABV is 7.3%), $7.99 a bomber. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours a dark ruby red/brown color with about an inch and a half tan head. Head retention and lacing are both decent. Aroma is mostly sweet, it smells like chocolate, vanilla and roasted malt. I don't pick up any of the chilies in the aroma. Luckily, I can taste the chilies! The brew tastes like roasted malt, chocolate, chilies and vanilla. The chili pepper flavor isn't overpowering at all, but the spicy heat is mostly noticable in the finish. There's a good balance between the sweet and spicy flavors, although I think overall the sweet flavors are stronger. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit creamy and has moderate carbonation. I think this is a good enough beer, it's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 21:39:46 | More by bluejacket74

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

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

355ml bottle poured into tulip 22/12/11

A dark cola with red hues when held to the light, thick finger of mocha foam retains for a little while leaving just a few patches of lace

S coco and vanilla as written on bottle no chilli though but I like the chocolate notes, just a little raisin and molasses

T some cola to go with what I smell and very faint peppery spice and just a little coffee, pretty solid stuff

M medium bodied, lots of little bubbles but not too many, very faint spicy heat and a nice chocolaty aftertaste and slight heat from the booze or chilli I can't quite tell

O pretty well concealed booze and well rounded flavors, an interesting combination but it works pretty well

I liked this one but I better be blown away by the 15 for it to make up for this overpriced Gift Pack

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 04:26:09 | More by wordemupg

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev -9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I'm all for charity, so I bought this guy. Looks interesting.

Dark brown (brown ale?) pour. Very big head, off-brown/tan. Foamed up about six miles. Slick lacing mostly, but with some crystalization going on too

Aroma is mostly subtle cocoa and chocolate. Some caramel and bourbon-esque stuff going on, too. Made with cocoa, vanilla and chili...I don't get the last one.

Nor in the taste. Vanilla dominates here. The cocoa/chocolate is wimpy in the mouth. It amazes me how dominate the vanilla is. From start to finish, although booze comes in at the end. For a brown ale, this misses completely. Caramel, nuts? Nerp. Vanilla and toffee bomb. Which is alright, just didn't expect it.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 06:25:02 | More by Mebuzzard

Gmann

New York

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep brown color with a fluffy and puffy light brown head that settles down into a solid cap.

The aroma is of a dark malt, perhaps with some raisin sweetness. The next wave is a pleasant chocolately note. There is a bit on an odd spice from the peppers. Nice aroma, not super strong though.

The taste is quite bold. Strong chocolate notes from the cocoa nibs, with a smooth vanilla presence. There is a rough barky bitterness that is unwanted. The malt brings some light nuttiness but gets overshadowed by the cocoa and vanilla. Some chili pepper pops through but doesn't add to much. The taste while bold is a bit jumbled.

Moderate body with spritzy carbonation. Starts off smooth but gets bitter towards the middle. The aftertaste is a combination of artifical sweetness, bitterness and a small burn from the chilis, perhaps the ABV. Kind of dry.

I wanted to really like this beer as it has some bold flavors but I didn't think they meshed all that well. The aftertaste is a bit of a bummer. It's interesting.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2011 01:28:06 | More by Gmann

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark brown color with a finger of frothy chocolate colored head. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of roasted dark chocolate malts, some chilies, vanilla, and some dark fruits and coffee.

T - Starts off with a mix of roasted dark chocolate malts with some vanilla and dark fruit sweetness and a bit of spicy chili. Through the middle, the heat from the chili comes through a bit more with a bit of roasted coffee, molasses, and black licorice. The finish is a mix of roasted dark chocolate malts with some dark fruit, vanilla, chili, and molasses.

M - Medium-plus bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a spicy, sweet, and roasty finish.

D - Very drinkable. Interesting mix of flavors with the chilis adding some nice complexity. Surprisingly well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 04:30:19 | More by ngeunit1