New Holland Pilgrim's Dole - New Holland Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine March 2007.

Named after the assistance (free bread and ale rations) given to wayfarers on holy pilgrimages in early 14th cen- tury England. We scored a couple of extra cases after our American Beer Fest in June 2006. Loved it then, but we've been dying to try it after some cellaring.

Pours pretty damn thick; mildly syrupy, with thick, fluffy, off-white head and excellent lacing and retention. Wonderful cascading carbonation up front, but once the chaos settles, the bubbles seem to struggle in the murky brown-and-orange depths of this brew. Impressive. Quite alcoholic in the nose. Toffee, overripe pine- apple, floral hops, and charred raisins. Thick, smooth and viscous on the palate. Massive malt body and presence. The syrupy texture seems to glide across the palate with toffee, caramel, brown sugar, golden syrup, hints of candied pineap- ple, and rich, toasty flavors. Boozy and fruity. Rum-soaked raisins. A smack of bit- terness helps to break things up, pricking the palate with an aggressive spiciness and a slightly wheaty twang. Vodka notes. Big, lingering sweetness; toasty toffee notes, with a foundation of alcohol heat and spice in the finish.

If this was life on the dole, we'd be two very happy pilgrims. Enjoy on its own, in a snifter. Serve slightly cool, but allow the beer to warm and unfold.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 19:05:59 | More by BeerAdvocate

Jason

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 12 oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

Appearance: Poured hard in a pint glass, a surreal viscous cascading foam emerged out of no where … quite amazing to look at. From there it produced a thin tiny bubbled lace that was comparable to a good pint of Guinness. The deep tawny hue only showed a minimal haze.

Smell: Wafts of alcohol and ripe fruit … suggestions of pineapple and raisins come to mind. Sweet to the nose.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Creamy mouth feel and full bodied. Right off the bat I think of rum raisins, lots of sweetness not the palate but not cloying. A touch of rough spiciness from the wheat but not astringent, nice spicy bite from an alcohol and hop mix. Finishes with a lingering alcoholic spice and some residual sweetness.

Notes: One of the most interesting strong beers I have had to date, tastes of a mellow English Barleywine though with a big wheat accent. Truly a great beer and a must try if you are in to strong ales of any kind.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2004 00:13:52 | More by Jason

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-19-2013 16:45:49 | More by Photekut

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-19-2013 14:31:46 | More by drgonzo2k2

minterro

Michigan

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-18-2013 02:04:55 | More by minterro

GinsuDave

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-15-2013 10:32:30 | More by GinsuDave

HarmonMW

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-14-2013 22:56:00 | More by HarmonMW

UHCougar12

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-12-2013 14:17:55 | More by UHCougar12

MSandahl23

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-10-2013 19:59:02 | More by MSandahl23

rkf1976

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-10-2013 03:29:06 | More by rkf1976

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

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emyers

Illinois

4.06/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into a Founders snifter.

Appearance: Pours a clear copper color with a thin off-white head. Not much lacing.

Smell: Caramel, bready notes, bourbon. Bourbon is fairly subtle. Smells quite sweet. Smell is fairly simple, but quite good.

Taste: Similar to the smell, with tons of caramel and some bourbon up front, bready notes, and not a whole lot else. The bittering hops do a great job of holding the sweetness in check. I expected it to be cloying based on the aroma, but it isn't. Once again, simple, but quite good.

Mouthfeel: Pretty thick, especially with the caramely theme.

Overall: It's defintely not a complex beer, but the flavors are quite nice. I'd definitely revisit this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 05:00:06 | More by emyers

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Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

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Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.3%

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Vermont

4/5  rDev +2.3%

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Vermont

4/5  rDev +2.3%

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Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

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Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

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Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

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Seaba

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

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Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

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Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

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Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.3%

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Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

02-13-2013 14:17:47 | More by Gotti311

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Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

02-11-2013 00:30:55 | More by VinnieVanGogh