Jack's Abby Brewing Saxonator

**Aroma:** “Melanoidin malt notes dominate the aroma of toast and toffee. Rich, complex malt sweetness with date-like esters at the edges. Some cardboard or sherry oxidation. Earthy spice.” **Flavor:** “Full, sweet malt fills the first sip. Decent malt profile, if a bit simple. Caramel, toffee, and hints of cocoa. Some cardboard and sherry aftertaste. Hops are sufficient to just balance the malt. Moderate alcohol drives the sweet finish.” **Overall:** “A great after-dinner beer. The alcohol is a little hot and the flavor not quite as fresh as it could be. Alcohol persists into the aftertaste. A little past its prime, but otherwise a simple, solid interpretation of the style. Well-executed malt profile demonstrates complexity and richness.”

**Aroma:** Sticky-sweet melanoidin and toffee malt is the main aroma, with some alcohol as well. Rich aromas of toast, raisins, plums, and moderate cocoa. No hop aroma. **Flavor:** Crisp hop bitterness up front prepares the tongue for a full, malty body. Robust toffee, coffee, and caramel with good balancing bitterness. Alcohol thins the body, oddly increasing drinkability. Some papery and sherry-like oxidation. Not at all cloying. **Overall:** A well-balanced, classic doppelbock. Slight rough edge to the finishing bitterness is the only thing keeping it from perfection. Very good showcase of malt with a nice, smooth finish. The alcoholic warmth enhances the character.

Aroma: “Lemon, pine, whiffs of citrus, white wine, and fresh-cut grass. Virtually no malt in the aroma. Lemon grass and a mild grape-must character stand out.” Flavor: “Hops flavors of evergreen trees, chardonnay, and lemongrass set the stage for a surprisingly smooth beer. Bitterness is smooth, and despite the appearance of the beer, the malt character is more than just a blank canvas. Finish is dry and pleasant. The complexity in hops flavors that was promised from the aroma is delivered quite well.” Overall: “A delightful IPA. It’s light on the tongue and even spry in its delivery of interesting modern hops varieties. Malt backbone is surprisingly apparent despite the very light appearance. Bitterness is pleasing and complementary. A great IPA that could even pair well with light seafood such as sushi. Citrusy, spritzy fun.”