Day 73: 03.14.10 Highland Seven Sisters Abby Ale

Highland Brewing Co.

Asheville, North Carolina


Seven Sisters Abby Ale


Style: Dubbel 
Availability: Seasonal - Spring
Format: 12oz - 6pk
ABV: 6.5%


Bottle text & Info:
"This Abbey Style Dubbel Ale earns its appellation by being brewed with double the normal grain bill and the addition of Belgian dark candi sugar. Fermenting with Trappist yeast creates dark fruit esters. Pilsner, Pale, Extra Special and Chocolate malts evoke classic Belgian Ale sweet aromas with a hint of nuttiness. Use of Hallertau, Hersbrucker and German Select hops enhance authenticity and provide a restrained bittering of 20 IBUs and a slight spicy aroma.


Tasting Notes:
Alright. A brand new seasonal from Highland. Interesting. Let's check it out. Pours a pale amber showing near golden around the edges. Surprisingly light for a dubbel. A somewhat aggressive pours yields a quarter inch white head that dissipates rather quickly leaving, light wisps on top. Yeast esters dominate the nose with loads of dark fruits up front with some noticeable candi sugar notes in the mix as well. Medium bodied mouthfeel with adequate smoothness. Taste follows the nose quite closely, just ratcheted up a few notches. Powerful sweet candi holds the front, middle, and finally gives way to some slight clove and noble hop spice. I don't know, a decent effort I guess. Nice to see Highland step out and do something that isn't a english style. This one's just too light in body and appearance and not malty enough for me to consider it a true dubbel. This guy actually drinks eerily similar to Delerium Tremens with a bit lower ABV. Despite, perhaps, a miscategorization in style, it's nice to see a local NC brewery take on a belgian yeast.

Day 28: 01.28.10 Highland Fifteenth Anniversary

Highland Brewing Co.

Asheville, North Carolina


Fifteenth Anniversary Auld Asheville Vintage Ale


Style: Old Ale
Availability: Limited - One Time Brew -December 09-January 10
Format: 22oz
ABV: 9.5%


Bottle text & Info:
Highland’s 15th Anniversary Auld Asheville Ale has been brewed to celebrate our tradition of brewing fine ales and lagers. This version of an English Old Ale has a bold profile from fine British malts, woodsy and estery aromas from traditional British ale yeast, and bittering from Styrian Bobek hops. The addition of Sterling hops provides a hint of spiciness on the nose. These flavors combined with a bright cheery redolence create a savory "Auld Ale" that will warm the dreariest of winter nights.


Tasting Notes:
Pours dark ruby to rust with little to no off white head. Smells of molasses, prunes and booze. A pretty impressive collaboration of flavors burst forth the best of which have very brandy and sherry like qualities. Caramel, toffee, tobacco, cola, dark tart cherry, plum, peaking with warming alcohol and finishing with a mellow nuttiness. This is my third go around with this. The first was a bit green and then I tried this a few days ago a beer dinner and it mellowed and benefited greatly from another month in the bottle. To date, this has been my favorite release from Highland and I hope to see them step out from their balanced english style core ales and out into these high ABV special releases. In short, a great old ale that at $5.99 a bomber, would be a solid addition to any cellar.