Holy Mackerel Special Golden Ale 2009

Holy Mackerel Special Golden Ale 2009:

Well, I jumped the gun a little by drinking this one right away. Our friends from Gordash suggest cellaring this Belgian style gem for 2-3 years. I have to admit that I'm a bit of a sucker for Golden Ales, and the Mack delivers a nice treat: a delicious Belgian style chill out beer. It's a bit like Golden Monkey Light--just a pinch drier and less boozy, weighing in at 8.5% abv as opposed to V.G.M.'s 9.5%. I'm actually a huge fan of Victory's Golden Monkey and Weyerbacher's Merry Monks so to mention the Holy Mackerel in the same review is pretty high praise.

I would really recommend this beer to a non-beer-drinker--someone who "doesn't like beer" because it's bitter. This is just the opposite. You can bring this brew with you to a BYOB seafood place and drink it in place of white wine. Oh, and ladies usually have a more delicate palate but will love the mellow b-nanna-y flavors of this Golden Ale. I'm definitely going to grab a few more and put them away in my collection. 2-3 years from now I'll let you know how it goes.

Holy Mackerel Special Golden Ale 2009:

Representation: .925
Accessibility: .95
Style: .90
Personal Preference: .90

Total: 3.675 Flags

Holy Mackerel Mack in Black

Holy Mackerel Mack in Black:

This Imperial Black Ale brewed with pomegranates is pretty sumptuous. It manages tart and sweet adn creamy and full-bodied with no problems at all. Mack in Black is a smooth fruit beer with the strong framework of a toasty ale, bordering on porter. The hop profile is subtle -- a modest presence in the finish -- but the pomegranate juice really nails it down, offering up a mellow and accessible flavor experience.

Many fruit beers are a little too sweet for my tastes. Or too tart. Or too heavy-handed. Or too boozy. Mack in Black is certainly a fruit beer but it is pleasantly complex and rich. It is most likely meant to be a dessert beer and I don't disagree. At 8% abv, it earns the "Imperial" moniker but won't beat you up. I may only choose to drink one and enjoy it and then move on to something else a little crisper and drier. I say this because if I were to drink two in a row, the math would become a little fuzzy: you know that beerquation when two equals five, plus a shot of Jager equals inexcuseable behavior, minus common sense plus pounding headache.

I would recommend Mack in Black to lovers of fruity porters and stouts and anyone who is afraid of dark beers because they might be too bitter. It is chocolatey and toasty but not bitter in the slightest. The Gordash Beer Company is new to me but I'm looking forward to more offerings.

Holy Mackerel Mack in Black:

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: .875

Style: .95

Personal Preference: .925

Total Score: 3.75 Flags