What ho, friend reader! With great fanfare befitting such an honored guest as thou art, I welcome thee to this humble review of a most fine and worthy brew, Middle Ages Impaled Ale. Tis truly a drink befitting a king, and many have been the glorious battles fought for a mere keg of such fine nectar in days long passed! Countless are the base villains whose perfidy knew no bounds, perchance to pilfer but a sip of such a glorious drink. What say thee? Nary a drop of this fine fluid has ne’er passed twixt thine lips? I say thee nay! This cannot be so! Get thee then to Syracuse, New York, and sample this divine brew, post haste!

Ahem. Excuse me the momentary discretion, I was a bit overzealous and got lost in the moment, excited to be partaking in a tankard of Middle Ages ale. To be sure, ale was an integral part of the period, just as it is today for that matter. And while India Pale Ales are surely a more recent invention, anything brewed by the Middle Ages Brewing Company certainly seems to be in the spirit here.

It’s clear that after a hard day out slaying dragons, defeating the Black Knight, and rescuing fair maidens, your average beer just won’t do. A substantial, restoring beer with body and character is called for, and I can’t think of a more fitting beer than Impaled Ale for such occasions. But hey, even if your days are merely filled with commuting back and forth to the office, you can still enjoy this exceptional brew.

Middle Ages isn’t just a name, it’s a frame of mind, and if you get the chance to visit the brewery in Syracuse you will see what I mean. Decorated to look like a castle, you’ll immediately notice some very severe looking armored fellows just inside. No doubt, they’re there to guard all of that wonderful beer.

Impaled Ale is, as I mentioned earlier, an India Pale Ale. That means hops, and Impaled Ale has them in abundance. This is an IPA with a difference however, because unlike many such brews produced in America today, Impaled Ale is brewed with the distinctive Ringwood yeast strain that imparts a rather unique character. I think that Ringwood IPAs like this one are fabulous. They’re also rather rare. The only other memorable one I recall was Tremont IPA, and since Tremont ceased brewing in Boston, your best bet to try such a beer is Middle Ages.

Middle Ages Impaled Ale pours to a bright orange color with a moderate head formation and a resiny hop nose. The palate is rich and chewy with notes of light caramel and a crisp, toasty character. You’ll also notice a buttery, yeasty Ringwood character too that melds wonderfully with the malt. In the finish, both the buttery notes and the toasty malt blend perfectly with an impressive citrusy hop character that becomes increasingly bitter and lingers on the tongue after sipping.

I love the way all of the elements of this very complex beer blend together to create a very unique drinking experience. At 7% alcohol by volume, Impaled Ale is almost half again as strong as most beers, so drink with caution. Distribution is limited. But fret thee not. Verily, such a beer is worth a pilgrimage of many days.

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