Town Hall Grinch's Grog 2016

You know what, bitter ones? I searched though all one hundred of my posts about Town Hall Brewery here on the ol' Nib, and I could not find Grinch's Grog. Nowhere. I did Elves Elixir once, (and then a second time) and Festivus over the years (it seems like every other year. why did I skip the odd-numbered years?), but never Grinch's? So, this will be a two-fer. First, I'll share the one I wrote back in 2008, (when I added it to the BeerAdvocate.com database), then after that, I'll share the notes taken a few nights ago.

First, notes from 12-16-08:

Grinch's Grog, American Pale Ale, 5.4% ABV.

Why is the Grinch green? Because he loves hops! That's what Hoops is telling us, and I believe him. Not because his beers make me drunk and susceptible, but because Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, creator of the Grinch, was the grandson of a German brewer. In fact, Geisel's grandfather took over a Boston brewery in 1876 with his friend Christian Kalmbach, and their new brewery, Kalmbach and Geisel, was given the nickname by Bostonians of "Come back and guzzle." Honest to Horton, I Sneetch you not. (from "Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel: A Biography" by Judith & Neil Morgan, De Capo Press, New
York, 1996) Seriously. It's true.

So, the beer...an American pale ale full of Simcoe hops. They've got my number.

More evidence of the Dr. Seuss and beer connection from
my breweriana collection, a Narragansett beer tray from
the 1940's, which I got on eBay for $110--a steal!

Clouded golden hue, huge pillowy white head. Gorgeous, lace leaving, lovely.

Pine and citric nose, apricot, tangerine...maybe pineapple, a little. Fruity and spicy, and fine.

"What a great grinchy trick!" So many Christmas themed beers go for the sweet, here's one that delivers on the deliciously bitter. "Garlic in the soul"? A little. Spanks the palate with bitter hops, but it's a delicious thrill, this one.

Medium bodied, and wonderfully drinkable. Plenty of zesty hops. Well balanced, never too much. Beautiful stuff, really.

I like this Grinchy Grog. Could've made it bitterer, perhaps. But then what would happen if my heart had grown three sizes today, then what, huh?

P.S. I liked this so much I downed the whole grinchy growler in one sitting. Yikes! That's what I'm talking about...

And, then, just a few nights ago, I downed another growler, this one of the smaller variety, and had this to say (pretty much the same thing): 

Crystal clear, bright golden coloration, slim whitish head.

In the nose: vibrant, citrus-y hop notes. Doses of tropical fruit, too, and not too bitter, either. Rather smooth and creamy.

In the mouth: Light hop attack, a pleasant blitz on the palate, and underneath is nothing but easy-going. Like I said, smooth and creamy. Oat malt in the bill for this one. Slightly sweet, lush and likable malt. Smoo-, oo-ooth.
Well, this is a tasty treat, but it's not meant for the likes of me. I need more from hops.

You go ahead and drink it up, though. I'll stick to Masala Mama and it's brood.

Addendum: Looking at reviews online, others find it hoppier than I. I think my palate has been abused by over-consumption of hoppy beers.