10 Squared Fish Tale Ale - Fish Brewing Company / Fishbowl Brewpub

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Originally had the chance to sample this at the Calgary Beer Fest this past May, and was duly impressed, even from the small sample. I've been salivating with anticipation up until the moment I managed to get my grubby little mitts on a lone 650 ml bottle on this. I adore the label as well, my new fave, that pink octopus fondling that undersea keg possesses a heck of a lotta charm.

A 2006 vintage it says on the neck label. Pours out a stunning burnished ruby red/copper hue, can't quite put my finger on that colour, but it is enchanting. A small beige head forms on top of it, but I really didn't leave it much room in the glass to expand. Speckled sticky coral reef lacing.

Enticing aroma, a plethora of hops, from mildly herbal to the sucker punch of citrusy Cascade. Fairly balanced chewy toffee malt lurks behind the hop bill, and that patented "leathery" aroma that I associate with Fish Tale.

I allowed this one to warm up a bit before tasting. Impressively balanced for the hop bill, let alone the abv content. Sticky, full bready and caramel malt up front that really holds its own against the hops. Some brown sugar and molasses in the middle. Really, the hops only start to pick up well into the finish. Even then it's a touch grassy, a bit herbal, then pine and citrus rind, which lasts long into the aftertaste. It's here in the aftertaste that the alcohol becomes more apparent.

Creamy but somewhat thin mouthfeel at times, oily from the hops, it really coats the mouth.

A fantastic barleywine, very balanced especially at 100 IBU's, this one's a keeper, time to go out and try to grab some more to cellar and to leisurely partake in. With the glass almost empty my palate is overwhelmed with brown sugary malt, hops, and alcohol, this most certainly leaves a lasting impression. Part of me says I just had an old or Scottish ale, part of me is convinced I had just had an IPA, and the "other" other part of me is saying that was one helluva barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2006 22:30:34 | More by IronDjinn

Dakotah

California

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Out of the bomber, so I can't really say how it looks

S- more like a heavy or dark ale than a barley wine

T- Also more dark ale/ Arrogant Bastard than Barley wine. Very tasty and drinkable, soft malty backbone, boozy ale up front.

M- light! for a BW.. but lingering

O- not what's expected from the category, but a very delicious brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 03:55:49 | More by Dakotah

Nonikins

Washington

1.75/5  rDev -55.6%

02-05-2013 18:17:31 | More by Nonikins

fivetime

Idaho

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

01-22-2013 02:59:08 | More by fivetime

Treebs

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bottle served in a Pumking goblet. Bottled October 2011. Thanks to mfavoino for the bottle.

A: Pours a deep amber color with some ruby and brown hues in the body. A light khaki head forms on the pour and recedes to a thick, bubbly ring. Sheets of soapy lace are left down the glass.

S: Piney and earthy hops upfront with a malty backbone. Some slightly sweetness on the backend, but this a hop forward and earthy barleywine. Mild raisin pops up as it warms. A little brown sugar as well.

T: very malty upfront. Oaty and sweet there are underlying pine and grass notes. Some dark fruits with a little alcohol notes. Not hot though. Some caramel sweetness on the back end. The hops creep back up on the finish with a bitterness that cuts the sweetness.

M: Medium bodied with a medium carbonation level and a drying finish.

O: Pretty solid overall. I can't imagine how hoppy this was a year ago, but I like the level where it's at now. Earthy and piney bitterness meet a sweet and oaty malt base.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 02:10:38 | More by Treebs

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

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

Props to my western Canada connection joemcgrath27 for this treat. Bottled October 2011.

A - Pours a murky copper colour with a thumb of head with solid retention and nice sheeting lacing.

S - Solid earthy cedar hop profile, sweet citrus and a bold peppery spice and musty caramel that comes through on the finish.

T - Much like the nose with the earthy hop profile dominating, heavy bitterness that comes through alongside the musty caramel malt, hints of burnt toast, espresso and a sour citrus rind lingers.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and dry and sticky on the finish.

O - A bold and tasty brew with loads of flavour and an incredibly well hidden ABV. I suspect the aging of this bottle helped to smooth it out, making it extremely drinkable. Super stoked to have had the opportunity to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 03:45:55 | More by andrenaline

cfrances33

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle extra'd from trodersark, poured into a tulip.

Pour: Murky amber brown, with a finger of light tan head. Nice lacing, head hangs around as a rim.

Smell: Caramel, booze, and floral hoppiness. Meh.

Taste: Follows the nose, but with a HUGE caramel malt presence... way more than I would like when taking into consideration the floral and grassy hops. A light toffee and some booze on the back.

Mouthfeel: Heavy and sticky, yet light and drinkable at the same time. Not very good.

Overall: A mediocre American barleywine that went too hard with the malt profile to match the hoppiness, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 02:49:00 | More by cfrances33

jmdr

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%

10-28-2012 03:12:09 | More by jmdr

superspak

Michigan

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

22 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled in October 2011(1 year). Pours very hazy brick red color with a nice 1-2 finger dense khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice soapy lacing on the glass, with some alcohol legs. Aromas of big grapefruit, pine, caramel, earth, molasses, toast, herbal, raisin, biscuit, light chocolate, wood, and herbal spiciness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity. Taste of big caramel, pine, toast, grapefruit, biscuit, grass, earth, molasses, light chocolate, wood, herbal, raisin, and piney spiciness. Good amount of pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, pine, herbal, grass, molasses, dark fruit, biscuit, light chocolate, toast, wood, earth, and piney spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Great flavor balance and complexity; nearly zero cloying flavors on the finish. Medium carbonation and full bodied; with a creamy, slick, and sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent barleywine. Very nice complexity, depth, and balance of flavors; quite smooth to sip on. Very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 02:56:56 | More by superspak

adkieffer

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%

10-05-2012 22:40:52 | More by adkieffer

Lordkrystic

Washington

4/5  rDev +1.5%

10-03-2012 05:13:51 | More by Lordkrystic

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

09-26-2012 23:26:55 | More by t0rin0

mactrail

California

3.05/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Woody and earthy, with a murky, mushroomy stew of flavors. Seems to be the hallmark of these Reel Ales. Reminds me of their Imperial Red and the Starfish black. Too Cascadian for words.

Clear, dark amber in the narrow tulip. Not so foamy, but plenty of spritz on the tongue. Hot and dirty. The aroma is one of the better features, with the big resiny hops. Flowery nose with some cedar and black pepper. Lots of malt, but it's more the quantity than any distinct sort of flavor. The hoppy bitterness gradually throws its weight around and take over the place.

I love the new label-- it's all tentacles. Maybe the art director knows something about brewing beer. From the 22 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 05:37:04 | More by mactrail

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - slightly hazy dark burnt orange brown, two fingers of tan head that retained very well, leaving a few random blobs of foam clinging to the glass
S - caramel, citrus and pine hop notes, mild toasty in the end
T - starts with caramel and brown sugar, quickly moves to hop flavours of citrus rind and earthy woodiness, finishes slightly boozy with the hop notes lingering
M - more than medium body, starts sticky and creamy, quickly moves to a hop bitterness
O - big hop presence in this bad boy barleywine which I always appreciate, tasty and drinkable for its size, nice work

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 04:39:17 | More by joemcgrath27

RyanGoodman

Bolivia

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%

07-10-2012 23:45:39 | More by RyanGoodman

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 12/2010 notes. Poured into a Nostradamus flute glass. Pours a dark coppery red amber. Slight head with nice lacing. Light malt and strong hop aroma. Hoppy up front. Sweet malts assert themselves in the middle and a hoppy finish. Not very complex, but sturdy barley wine backbone with nice citrus and pine hops. Worth an annual revisit. This is same ale that I reviewed in 2010 as an American Imperial IPA. It seems like a cross between the two styles.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 03:41:34 | More by LiquidAmber

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

06-24-2012 05:21:36 | More by GRG1313

draheim

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz (based on the four notches in the label, bottled either Jan or Nov, 2010 or 2011 - but I think it was Nov 2010) into a snifter. Pours a clear amber w/ just a thin film of bubbles on the surface, sustained by a constant stream of fine carbonation rising from around the perimeter of the glass.

Aroma is a variety of herbal and floral hops, some caramel sweetness in the background. Rum-soaked raisins, toffee, buttery booze.

Taste follows nose. Sticky sweet countered by 100 IBUs of hoppy bitterness.

Mouthfeel is slick, coating, sticky. But carbonation keeps it relatively light and drinkable.

Overall a good, super-hoppy American barleywine. Nothing earth-shattering, but tasty nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 03:14:13 | More by draheim

UCLABrewN84

California

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared at FosterJM's birthday celebration that I brought myself.

This particular bottle indicates Reel Ale, not Fish Brewing.

Pours a clear brown with a tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, and citrus zest. Taste is toasted malt, brown sugar, and lots of citrus zest flavors. There is a medium level of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good barleywine with lots of hops in the smell and taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 22:25:11 | More by UCLABrewN84

IMS

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-01-2012 00:34:56 | More by IMS

IdrinkGas

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.5%

03-07-2012 02:09:00 | More by IdrinkGas

SageO

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

03-02-2012 21:18:17 | More by SageO

kylemckinnis

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%

02-27-2012 02:21:00 | More by kylemckinnis

shelby415

Oregon

4/5  rDev +1.5%

02-25-2012 07:03:56 | More by shelby415

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Half pint at beer revolution 17/2/12

A dark amber and it looks pretty thick, just a thin film but it leaves lots of unorganized lace

s big toffee notes and a blast of citric piney hops , smells a little sweet

t now we get into some massive piney grapefruit rind, loads of risen and toffee make it hard to tell if its hops or malt overpowering everyone

M feel is powerful taking some of my mouth with it while leaving a fair bit behind, some booze burn and a very long finish, syrupy with just enough bubbles

o some strong stuff here but i liked it, lots of ingredients were needed for this one

a big dipa right now and some age would mellow out the hops and booze

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2012 23:26:23 | More by wordemupg