Common Ground
The Fort Collins Brewery

Common GroundCommon Ground
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From:
The Fort Collins Brewery
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
ABV:
5.6%
Score:
79
Avg:
3.4 | pDev: 18.82%
Reviews:
37
Ratings:
54
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 30, 2015
Added:
Sep 11, 2009
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by magnj:
Photo of magnj
Reviewed by magnj from New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This bomber has been calling my name all week, picked it up on a whim last weekend and I'm finally pouring it into a simple pint glass tonight with a bowl of stew.

A - Very clear copper body sit underneath a generous and stick off white head. Little carbonation apparent.

S - Though this brew is not highly aromatic, cocoa dominates the nose. I was not sure what to expect, but this wasn't what I imagined. Instead of coffee I'm getting raw cocoa nib type chocolate aromas. Nice but not distinctly coffee to me. I'm sure it is coffee as the bottle states, it just seems like an awfully chocolatey brew.

T - Again cocoa dominates here. There is a distinct dry oily characteristic reminiscent of a french pressed coffee. Only long after the main flavors subside does coffee really start to take hold and then it is only briefly. Other than the coffee addition I'm not getting much in terms of hop or malt character. It seems like an otherwise ordinary beer.

M - Thin mouthfeel makes this interesting brew refreshing without being watery.

D - Easy to drink but regrettably one sided. I was hoping for a unique blend of styles to challenge my palate but was delivered what tastes like a red ale dry hopped with raw cocoa nibs. I give credit for being unique and possibly pioneering a combination I would like to see more of but am left wanting more complexity. Despite it's shortcomings this is a nice beer and would recommend trying it, just don't expect to be blown away.
Sep 29, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.38 by rossracing from Illinois

Mar 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by GRG1313 from California

Oct 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by jzlyo from Iowa

Aug 09, 2014
Photo of DrDemento456
Reviewed by DrDemento456 from Pennsylvania

3.81/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sad to see such low reviews on this since I paid 8 bucks for the bomber. Into a pint glass.

A - Hard pour and I only got a 1/4 inch of head that dissipates rather slowly making for decent lacing. Color is average amber brown color.
S - Love the smell sweet toffee malts meets coffee grounds.
T - It taste is pretty good sweet toffee and caramel malts meet some coffee ground taste. It's actually kind of interesting to try coffee without a stout or porter base since it takes the edge off the roasty factor. Tasty yet mild.
M - Kind of watery but on par with the ABV. Light to medium. Drink able.

Overall it was a good experimental that's why I picked it up. Sure an amber ale is a terrible body for a coffee infusion but these guys did it right. I like it.
Jun 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by appetiteforparis from Colorado

Feb 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by jaydoc from Kansas

Nov 16, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by icehawk from South Carolina

Aug 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by redleg411 from Wisconsin

Jun 28, 2013
Photo of cvm4
Reviewed by cvm4 from Mississippi

2.83/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Definitely pours amber in color, slightly opaque with a white head.

S - The coffee is definitely on the nose, just not "in your face" like I'd expect from a coffee beer. There is some toasty element to it.

T - Coffee throughout with a malts on the backend and a bit of caramel flavor.

M - Light bodied with medium carbonation. Pretty crisp, not sticky or cloying.

O - This is just the wrong style for a coffee beer.
Apr 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by Jasonrm72 from Colorado

Mar 16, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by jeremyrbrown from Mississippi

Dec 19, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Dec 01, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by hockeyfighter19 from Pennsylvania

Jul 04, 2012
 
Rated: 2.25 by sleuthdog from Illinois

Apr 09, 2012
Photo of DavoleBomb
Reviewed by DavoleBomb from Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a perfect pint.

4.0 A: Wow, I'm shocked at how light this is given that coffee is involved. Clear orange amber color. Two fingers of foamy beige head. Retention is good given that coffee is involved and a short ring of lacing is left.

3.5 S: Smells somewhat like a really weak cup of coffee. Big toastiness and grainy malts from the base beer. Actually, this smells like a coffee filtered full of coffee after the coffee has been brewed. It's not a great aroma, but for some reason I like it anyway.

3.5 T: Tastes like it smells. Big toastiness and graininess. Weak used coffee filter. 'Nuff said.

4.0 M: Lighter medium body. Good active carbonation. Reasonable creaminess. Light and crisp.

3.5 D: Not an impressive brew by any means, but super easy to drink and different than every other coffee beer I've ever had.
Apr 09, 2012
 
Rated: 1 by ae4pq from Georgia

Mar 22, 2012
Photo of WVbeergeek
Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

4.3/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
It's awesome they were able to get all of the coffee character into an amber all without imparting any flavor or bitterness from the dark roasts. Pours a bright glowing amber hue with a slight off white head. Forms thick with thin speckled lacing left behind. Aroma nice robust coffee notes, earthy, with a hint of caramel malts...hidden in the roasted coffee are some money nutty characterisics like toasted almonds. Flavor is great light and drinkable like an amber ale with nice roasted coffee roasts and fresh creamer, more nutty aspects to follow with toasted almonds and cashews mixed. Mouthfeel is clean light to medium bodied with some slight oily texture from the coffee beans dry finish with excellent balance. Overall the most impressive coffee beer I've had in awhile it sticks ice brewed coffee roasts into a traditional amber ale bases and makes it work.
Mar 15, 2012
Photo of denver10
Reviewed by denver10 from New Mexico

2.78/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Pours a dark amber with just shy of a thumbs width cream head. Head leaves pretty quickly though. Aroma started off great but kinda started to wear on me towards the end. Very strong coffee been aroma. French vanilla, caramel, doughy, and just a little earthiness. Tastes definitely of a marriage between an amber ale fused with coffee and sweetened cream. Again liked it more at the onset than the finish, by the end of the bottle it had wore on me. I also would have liked a bolder, dark, coffee flavor. I drink my coffee black and thats the flavor I'd have preferred here, personally. Medium bodied to this, silky in mouthfeel, not much carbonation. Bought this blindly, the concept of fusing amber and coffee appealed to me and had me super curious. Glad I tried it, its definitely a unique beer, but I did not generally care for it. Would probably not drink this one again.
Mar 06, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by mcallister from Ohio

Feb 19, 2012
Common Ground from The Fort Collins Brewery
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 54 ratings