Arcadia Whitsun

3.4/5

AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20

12 ounce bottle into weizen glass, bottled 6/14/2011. A bit too old but lets give it a shot. Pours to instant head after a loud release of carbonation upon opening(no gusher though). Eventually turns out to be a hazy and cloudy deep orange color with a dense and fluffy 2-3 finger off white head with great retention that reduces to a thick cap that lingers. Some slight bits of lacing cling to the glass. The yeast seems to have clumped up and is floating around in the glass like bits of ground pepper. Aromas of orange peel, lemon, coriander, light pepper, bread, and not much else. Pretty weak aromas without much complexity; but not offensive. Taste of orange peel, pepper, coriander, wheat, spicy yeast, and breadiness. Some lingering notes of bread, wheat, orange, and spiciness on the finish for a bit. Medium body and carbonation; with a bit of a creamy mouthfeel that drinks very smoothly. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish. Other than the grainy appearance and weak aromas; this was pretty solid stuff. Good balance of flavors and easy drinking.

Overall pretty solid and drinkable. I was afraid it may be infected like the Nut Brown I had when I cracked it to insane carbonation, but it turned out fine.

Arcadia Nut Brown Ale

3/5

AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20

12 ounce bottle, bottled 10/12/11(I think). Pours hazy reddish brown color with an instant head. Super carbonated as evident upon opening. Turns out to be a fairly dense 2-3 finger light khaki head with insane retention. Obscene amounts of carbonation streaming up from the bottom. Small amount of lacing clinging to the glass as well. Aromas of apple skins, caramel, toasted malt, roasted nuts, and light chocolate. Welp it looks like we have an infection here. Taste of caramel, toasted malt, chocolate, roasted nuts, and light fruitiness. Insanely dry finish with a bit of lingering caramel, chocolate, and fruitiness. Did not seemed so infected in the taste, except for the super dry finish. I swirled out the carbonation; so it ended up having medium carbonation and body. A bit of a creamy mouthfeel, with very smooth drinkability. No alcohol noticed other than a slight warming after the finish. Overall I have to say this: for being infected this was still quite drinkable and minimally offensive. I will probably be picking up another single for a re-review because the price is pretty nice. I have a feeling I will probably like a non infected bottle.

Despite being obviously infected, this was pretty decent. I would guess that a non infected bottle would be pretty good.

Arcadia Jaw-Jacker Ale

3.7/5

AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20

12 ounce bottle, no bottle date but most likely from this season. Pours very hazy golden orange color with a fairly dense 1-2 fingers of off white head with nice retention that reduces to a thin lacing cap. Aromas of big cinnamon, clove, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, caramel, and a bit of citrus. Decent aromas here, but there seems to be an odd medicinal aroma as well. Taste of big spiciness, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon up front; with some caramel and sweetness near the finish. Not much bitterness on the finish; but notes of big spices, pepper, clove, and cinnamon linger on the finish. Medium bodied with fairly high carbonation; with a bit of a creamy moutfeel and smooth drinkability despite the carbonation level. No alcohol noticed other than a slight warming after the finish. Overall this is actually quite good for a spiced ale. Good balance of spices and sweetness, and I definitely enjoyed this.

A surprisingly nice and tasty spiced ale. I would probably have it again, but not buy a 6 pack.

Arcadia Cocoa Loco Triple Chocolate Stout

3.6/5

AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20

12 ounce bottle. Pours deep dark brown color with a fairly dense 2 finger tan head with very good retention that reduces to a lacing cap. Aromas of chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, molasses, and some vanilla. A bit weak on the nose. Taste of chocolate, coffee, molasses, roasted malt. Sweet tasting up front with the chocolate, molasses, and lactose; which moves on to a fairly strong coffee bitterness on the finish that lingers for a bit after the finish with roasted flavors. Fairly creamy and medium-full body with medium carbonation. The creaminess felt a little odd though, and there are a few off flavors in the taste, and the flavor balance is a bit off. The alcohol is well hidden, only a slight warming after the finish is noticed. Overall this is a pretty good stout, and I would have it again in the future, it has some good qualities to it.

My first Arcadia Ale, I will definitely be seeing what else they have to offer, just out of pure interest.