Panic Attack! - Holy Mackerel

Holy Mackerel is a brewery out of Ft Lauderdale Florida who is doing things different. Their whole ethos is based around small batch, craft beer, and boy does it show. Panic Attack, there Saison offering is a hell of a beer. Brewed with Canadian malted barley, golding hops, and belgian yeast, it is not a feeble beer, but a mighty broad river of flavors.

Sitting down at the bar at Cavallari Gourmet, I poured a bottle of the good stuff into a cup. Not a lot of head of lacing to speak of, but the beer itself is a beautiful golden brown color. You knows from the moment the beer hits the cup that this is going to be an undertaking, but in the best way possible.


The smell is very sweet, with a little bit of fruit and berries mixing in with a strong alcohol vapor on it. It comes off almost a little bit sickly sweet, but not in a candy or light way. Almost in a Licorice sort of way.

As for the taste, it’s definitely full flavored. This is no babies first beer, no sir. Panic attack works every bit of your palate, sitting as heavy as a ton of lead, but with a nice bit of fizziness to it. There’s the fruit, which honestly reminds me a lot of my all time favorite, Three philosophers. Then there’s a nice little slice of hoppiness before washing over a typhoon of maltiness, and then a bit of bitter anise mixing in with the strong alcohol taste.

Oh did I mention it’s 10%? Because panic attack is 10%. This is not a beer to have during a scorching day with your ham and cheese sandwich. this is a sit your fat ass down and savor it kind of beer. so in closing, I’m going to give Panic attack 7.5 out of 10. It does take some getting used to, but it’s a hell of a beer.

• Brewer: Holy Mackerel 
• Style: Belgian Strong Ale 
• 10 ABV 
• Price: $12.00 
• Rating: 7.5 out of 10