Cropton Monkman's Slaughter

[steveh]

Strong Bitter Style Ale from Yorkshire, England.

16.9 oz bottle - bottle conditioned.

Fruity, black cherry aromas eminated from over arm's length when the cap was popped.

The ale poured a dark, rusty copper brown with a tan, bulbous head that held up well over the drinking length of the beer, only disipating by about 50% the original nice thickness.

Very fruity nose with toffee molases undertones. Cherry/apple notes with some alcohol present.

Tart malty, toffee flavor with fruity undertones and a smooth toffee finish. Toffee malts and citrus flavor hops balance in the aftertaste are almost conflicting, but the blend becomes deliciously pleasing.

Body is medium to heavy with a slightly syrupy feel.

A delicious ale that begs for more. I guessed the ABV to be about 6% and a check at Beer Advocate concurs (though there is no ABV noted on the label). A nicely complex beer to spend time with. Well worth seeking out.

S.

[chazwicke]

Don't know that I have seen this one on the shelves here yet. Is it a new import?

[steveh]

Dunno how new it is. Saw it on the shelf, saw BC, in'na basket!

http://www.croptonbrewery.co.uk/

S.

[chazwicke]

That is some range of beer they bottle. I'll keep my eye out for some of them.

[studentofbeer]

this was an excellent brew, i highly recommend it to anyone who likes strong bitters

[steveh]

Hey Student O' Beer - sorry that I hadn't remembered your review on this same beer from a month ago, I stumbled on it again while looking up something else! I wasn't trying to steal any thunder, and I should have continued the thread you'd started - to that point, here's Student's previous review:

Originally posted by studentofbeer
cute name (the barley grower and brewer of the beer, respectively). advertised as a strong bitter-style bottle conditioned ale.

i poured it a bit too fast into a imperial pint glass, huge cinammon-tinged color of foamy head that subsided to a nice glaze over the beer after a couple of minutes that lasted the whole pint down. the head was delicious, very smooth and frosty.

color is a very hazy rust. got a nice dash of sediment upon pouring the last remaining bits of the beer (hey, i dont mind).

aroma was very toasty with a preserves-like fruit undertone. earthy in a way as well.

medium to thick mouthfeel, hearty bready bitter taste, very well balanced malt and hop profile. the sweet tangyness and bitterness hit all at once, with an almost banana taste at the back of the throat, a spicy alcohol note, and then a long soothing hop-bitter aftertaste that lingers all the way until your next sip.

im not really good at reviews, especially getting aromas and tastes right, but i definitely enjoyed this beer. im a big fan of the bitter style, and a "strong" bitter (almost laughed at 6% as strong after all these belgian and imperial brews ive been drinking), but you definitely can taste the strength in the style. i think it works quite well-- its maybe a bit rough around the edges, but fits the style and is overall well balanced and pleasant. if you like bitters and want to kick it up a notch, i find this pretty tasty.

[studentofbeer]

no worries! the more beer discussion the better, however it happens.