BEER REVIEW: James Squire Australian Strong Ale
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Reviewed by:  brew on 2005-06-24 | ||||
| Colour: 9.00 | Aroma: 8.00 | Taste: 9.00 | Drinkability: 9.00 | Total: 8.75 |
| Comments: The MSB crew have once again earned themselves a big thumbs up from the gang here at Brew HQ. Their own tasting notes describe Strong Ale as 'a no-expense-spared beer' and 'deep toasted flavours with a rich toffee edge'. Normally we'd be sceptical, but upon opening this limited edition 2005 release, we're sold to this fine ale. One glance at the 6.8% Alc. vol. on the label would make you think the name 'Strong Ale' is because of the content, but you couldn't be more off the mark. As MSB says, the aroma is complex, full on and the colour of autumn leaves. The best part is the taste - a full mouthwash feeling, with a malty overtone which made some of us think flowers and herbs. Still others say 'deep but not syrupy'. If you can get it at your local, grab it. It won't last long, and you'll be glad you tried it. | ||||
| Reviewed by: miles on 2005-06-24 | ||||
| Colour: 8.00 | Aroma: 8.00 | Taste: 9.00 | Drinkability: 9.00 | Total: 8.50 |
| Comments: A great beer. It's limited edition, so you have to be quick to get your hands on it. The whole MSB range has my vote, and this Strong Ale just confirms my fondness of anything Chuck Hahn and his team turn to. | ||||
| Reviewed by: bobby on 2005-06-30 | ||||
| Colour: 8.00 | Aroma: 7.00 | Taste: 9.00 | Drinkability: 8.00 | Total: 8.00 |
Reviewed by:  ikm on 2005-07-06 | ||||
| Colour: 9.00 | Aroma: 9.00 | Taste: 10.00 | Drinkability: 9.00 | Total: 9.25 |
| Reviewed by: ikm on 2005-07-06 | ||||
| Colour: 8.00 | Aroma: 8.00 | Taste: 8.00 | Drinkability: 9.00 | Total: 8.25 |
| Reviewed by: sueriley on 2005-07-07 | ||||
| Colour: 8.00 | Aroma: 7.00 | Taste: 7.00 | Drinkability: 7.00 | Total: 7.25 |
| Reviewed by: murrays on 2005-07-23 | ||||
| Colour: 9.00 | Aroma: 9.00 | Taste: 7.00 | Drinkability: 9.00 | Total: 8.50 |
| Comments: Lovely stuff | ||||
| Reviewed by: cj18 on 2005-08-19 | ||||
| Colour: 8.00 | Aroma: 8.00 | Taste: 7.00 | Drinkability: 6.00 | Total: 7.25 |
| Comments: Nice. There is nothing more to say. | ||||
| Reviewed by: carthage on 2005-08-30 | ||||
| Colour: 8.00 | Aroma: 8.00 | Taste: 8.00 | Drinkability: 8.00 | Total: 8.00 |
| Comments: Excellent beer for a big Australian manufacturer. I think Mr Hahn has a hand in this one. | ||||
Reviewed by:  allovate on 2005-11-03 | ||||
| Colour: 5.00 | Aroma: 4.00 | Taste: 4.00 | Drinkability: 5.00 | Total: 4.50 |
| Comments: Tasted from the bottle, it is the first Squire Strong ale I have tried, and I am yet to find a Malt shovel beer that lives up to its product description. Poured a teak-copper colour, clear, with a short lather of off-white foam that lasted and left a little lace. Dry, earthy and gritty malt aroma from the bottle, lightly roasted grain, raisins and a light solvent-like note. Generous nose to begin with, but it seemed to lapse on the pour and lost it’s lustre quickly in the glass. A little too watery on the tongue, toasted malt and burnt sugars come through more in the dry swallow than in the mouth. Light bodied and soft in carbonation, it has a little alcohol warmth, a lightly bitter back and nothing really showing upfront. Became a little plastic as it warmed and was generally unbalanced towards husky malt tones than any floral or fruity balance. This one just didn’t work and to taste this alongside some of the other ’bigger’ Aussie brews, including its macro-counterpart Cooper’s Vintage, this one didn’t even compete. Lack of flavour and body spells bastard pasteurisation, and sadly for this one, it was just another disappointing brew from Malt Shovel. | ||||
| Reviewed by: pintschoonerbutcher on 2009-02-11 | ||||
| Colour: 8.10 | Aroma: 7.90 | Taste: 7.80 | Drinkability: 7.85 | Total: 7.91 |
| Comments: Another limited brew from Malt Shovel Brewery, a fine ale and very easy to drink | ||||