Long Break Bitter - Magnolia Pub & Brewery

jstuffings

Texas

4.6/5  rDev +35.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap in an imperial pint glass during CBC in San Francisco:

Appearance -- fairly clear copper with a chalk white head with fairly tight lacing and good head retention

smell -- equal blend of toasty maris otter and fruity yeast esters. Pretty damn spot on.

Taste -- more of the same. Really nice malty cracker, breadcrumb, light toast with farily substantial fruitiness from the yeast. Balanced with a little earthiness from the hops, but the yeast/malt combo is the star of the show.

Mouthfeel -- my one knock on an excellent beer was the mouthfeel, which I found a little prickly from the CO2 at first. Although I should note that the previous beer I had was a cask ale. After a little degassing the mouthfeel was excellent.

Overall -- this along with the Brant Hill ESB were as good as it gets for English-sytle beers brewed in the US. Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2011 01:28:47 | More by jstuffings

kojevergas

California

3.7/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on-draught into a half-pint glass at the Magnolia Pub. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a half finger head of slight cream, pretty good thickness, and bad retention. Colour is a solid black.

Sm: Caramel, cream, light caramelized malt, and nuts. Appealing. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Caramel, milk, very light nuts, and maybe a hint of chocolate. Not real complex, but very tasty and flavourful. Very well balanced. Nicely built for the style. I like the malty notes. The caramel is brilliantly handled. A nice light cream finish.

Mf: Smooth and wet, suiting the flavours.

Dr: Very drinkable. Low ABV and sessionable. I'd have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2011 03:21:42 | More by kojevergas

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

3.65/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Hand pull served at the brew pub. Made with special malt from a single source. Very cool.

Amber orange brown. Super cloudy with a great amount of head. Typical for a hand pull. Mild malt and a bit of hops. Oats and earth. Flavors are mostly sharp bitter hops but in a smooth sort of way. Hint of caramel and grass. Very light carbonation. A nice bitter.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2011 06:37:11 | More by beerwolf77

womencantsail

California

2.65/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On-tap at Magnolia

A: The pour is a clear amberish sort of color with a finger's worth of off-white head.

S: Starts off with that ever so delicious buttered popcorn aroma and is followed by some grassy hops. A moderate breadiness and some mild sourness.

T: There's a really high carbonation that gives the beer an acidic flavor from the CO2. Some decent bread, slight diacetyl, grassy hops, mild bitterness, and more sourness.

M: The body is light to medium with a high level of carbonation.

D: Not sure why this beer tastes sour: it shouldn't. Wasn't really impressed by this.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2010 08:33:39 | More by womencantsail