Pretty Things Our Finest Regards

I am sad to say that, barring some crazy turn of events, this will be my final Pretty Things beer review. I’ll have one more article in my month long tribute that will act as a summary/capstone, it should be done sometime next week. When I found out that Pretty Things was ceasing production and ending their project I started to stock up on a few of their beers that I knew would age pretty well. I had never done a beer cellar, but this seemed like a perfect impetus to start one. One Pretty Things beer that was very high on my list was Our Finest Regards, a bold and malty barleywine released in the late fall/early winter, perfect for the holidays or to ring in the New Year. I bought out the entire stock at one local bottle shop, and I already wish I had more. Many brewers are releasing beers that are labeled as barleywines but feature huge doses of hops. In reality these beers are more like full bodied double or triple IPAs. Pretty Things went in the other direction, brewing Our Finest Regards as a celebration of malt flavor. This was the first Pretty Things beer that took advantage of the double decoction mash technique, which results in a higher level of fermentable sugars in the wort without adding extra sugar or extract, producing a beer with rich malt flavor along with the high alcohol. Pretty Things Our Finest Regards is available on draft and in 22 oz. bottles where you can find it.

Pretty Things Our Finest Regards pours a deep amber-brown with a solid off-white head. The scent is full of rich and sweet malted barley. This beer is truly a celebration of malt flavor, notes of caramel, roasted nuts, molasses, toasted bread and milk chocolate. It’s a big beer at 11% ABV, but the booze is hidden well, just a touch of warming alcohol on the palate. There is minimal hop flavor, aroma or bitterness, I am sure there are some hops in there, but they take a backseat. Our Finest Regards is full bodied but very smooth with a rich malty finish. If you enjoy barleywines at all you really need to seek this out, a few places still have it around. I always hesitate to name my favorite beer in any style, but I am pretty sure this is my favorite barleywine. I will be cellaring my stock and making Our Finest Regards a Christmas tradition for as long as it lasts. Hoppy Boston score: 5.0/5.

Previous Pretty Things Reviews:

Pretty Things Baby Tree, Pretty Things East Kent Saison, Pretty Things Babayaga, BREWERY OVERVIEW, Pretty Things Jack D’Or, Pretty Things Lovely Saint Winefride, Pretty Things Bocky Bier, Pretty Things/Naparbier There’s No Place Like There, Pretty Things Grampus, Pretty Things Barbapapa, Pretty Things Meadowlark, Pretty Things/Yeastie Boys Our Turn, Your Turn.