Odell Brewing Company's India Pale Ale

Pours a hazy, deep amber with a nice tan head. Smells floral, with a sharp alcohol bite right at first. Both mellow to primarily malt. Not really sweet,and not really bready.

Ooof. Tastes like alcohol and sharp bitterness. Not in a good way, either. Thin body that makes it feel and taste week, except for the harshness of the alcohol and a bitterness that isn't really hoppy, just harsh.

Not a good beer, and I'm not drinking any more of it.

Odell Brewing Company's 90 Shilling Ale

I lighter scotch ale billed as an amber? Should be interesting.

Pours rubyish amber with a nice light tan head and good carbonation.

Smells like an amber. Slightly sharp hoppy smell backed by malt, but nothing out of whack or overpowering.

Tastes a bit like a Scottish Ale. I guess I'm having a hard time describing why, but it tastes a bit more peaty, or oaky, than a standard amber. It has about the right amount of bitterness and malt, both of which are balanced and kind of indistinct, it just has a bit more complexity to it that I like.

Good beer. Bodes well for this brewery and the several others from it that are waiting for their turn in the fridge.

Odell Brewing Company's Isolation Ale

I'm going to make the rounds of several winter seasonals over the next few days. I'll start here, and move up to the ones that I expect to be much better. Still, I have high hopes for this one, since it's one of my recent beer haul from out of state.

I'm going to call this one a winter warmer, although it says nothing as to style on the label or the website. If you're listening Odell, you should put that on there. Just because.

Pours a coppery amber, almost like a red. Nice but not impressive tan head and good carbonation.

Smells right for a warmer. Slightly spicy hops smell, with a hint of malt. Light overall, and instead of bitter the hops are more peppery than anything, like a warmer should be.

Nice. Still a little peppery, which gives it a good zip. No alcohol bite or hops flavor, which appear to be just bittering hops that linger just a bit in the aftertaste. Warmers are never really sexy, but when done well, like this one, they're light and drinkable but have good flavor to them. Nothing extreme, just a good beer.