Brutal Bitter Ale
12 oz. bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a muddled, murky reddish amber with a large, creamy and rocky off-white head. Rich, balanced nose, showing bitter oily citrus hops on top of a strong caramel malty base. Underneath is a touch of toasty malt and grassy hops, both very faint. I'm having a difficult time getting much out of this, really, but it smells good. First sip was a shock. Smooth and soft and velvety on the palate; somehow ribbon-like. Rich but subtle caramel alongside lightly bitter hop resins and a touch of earthy dryness. Fades into a soft toasty maltiness, with a longish but soft bitter finish. Medium bodied and, again, soft and velvety. Eminently quaffable, surprisingly so for a beer called "Brutal Bitter." Sessionable and flavorful and a delight to drink.