Peticolas Brewing Company: Velvet Hammer

Official description from the brewery:
A tribute to our favorite Brewmaster, Greg Matthews, the Velvet Hammer appears as a dark, ruby reddish-brown ale beneath a sheath of protective off-white foam. It is malt-forward with elements of caramel and the sweetness of light brown sugar, balanced nicely by a combination of floral hops and a noticeable alcohol bite. It’s a sturdy brew with a smooth character which belies both an inner strength and a slightly full body, along with a moderate bitterness to round out the taste. Velvet Hammer took on a life of its own shortly after the inaugural brew on December 30, 2011. Google Velvet Hammer song and you’ll find the tune penned and performed by Tony Drewry and his friends. The Hammer has been used as the name for a motorcycle and pool cue, was used as an ingredient to produce soap, and got married on our one year anniversary (long story). In the end, this beer is all about balance. It does not come across as a hoppy beeer, nor malty one. It straddles the fence between the two.