Taps Red Cream Ale | Taps Brewing Co. Inc.
Brewed by:
Taps Brewing Co. Inc.
Ontario, Canada
tapsbeer.ca
Style: Cream Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.90%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Is a delicious full-bodied ale with a clear beautiful red colour and smooth caramel flavour. Our red cream ale is a silky texture that is crisp and strong in flavour, with a fresh, clean finish and no lingering aftertaste.
Added by pootz on 05-08-2006
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 39 | Reviews: 28
Reviews by Cylinsier:
More User Reviews:
3/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Review from BeerAdvocate magazine Vol. II Issue VIII:
Canned craft beer from Canada, and a Cream Ale at that.
Pours a hazed tawny color with a crackling, off-white head that lands with only a thin ring of lacing. Slight buttery and vanilla aroma with a light but pungent grapefruit juice tartness. Medium body. Crispness and tartness pucker the palate to start, maltiness comes in with mellow biscuity flavor and a caramel undertone. Hop character is very mild, with a small amount of bitterness. Finishes quite dry with a clean husk flavor.
Decent, a little difficult to drink with the tartness and all. This beer has the potential to be a stellar session beer if it was cleaned up a bit.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Review from BeerAdvocate magazine Vol. II Issue VIII:
Canned craft beer from Canada, and a Cream Ale at that.
Pours a hazed tawny color with a crackling, off-white head that lands with only a thin ring of lacing. Slight buttery and vanilla aroma with a light but pungent grapefruit juice tartness. Medium body. Crispness and tartness pucker the palate to start, maltiness comes in with mellow biscuity flavor and a caramel undertone. Hop character is very mild, with a small amount of bitterness. Finishes quite dry with a clean husk flavor.
Decent, a little difficult to drink with the tartness and all. This beer has the potential to be a stellar session beer if it was cleaned up a bit.
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3.67/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
My mother went on vacation to Ontario and brought this back for me to try.
Poured from 500ml can into pub style glass
Look - This is really the best part. I could stare at this beer all day. Pours a rich, slightly murky amber and really is a work of art. Produces a generous, yet loose head which slowly retreats to a thin cap that lasts the duration. Lace is moderate but sticky.
Nose - Nothing really stood out here; Floral aromas and fruitiness - mostly apple but not very strong, there is a touch of sourness but overall quite sweet. Everything is quite subdued.
Taste - Much like the smell, but amplified. Much with the floral aromas, the fruit is less apparent but overall quite sweet and honey like... as if someone might have thrown in some extra sugar. This all gives way to a bitter finish, but it's not quite enough to balance the sweetness.
Feel - Very smooth but also quite heavy and dense feeling. Some mild carbonation, but it's enough to keep things interesting.
Drink - This is definitely one you have to take your time with. There are good things going on in this beer... if you're looking for them. It is nice, but the heavy sweetness makes you want to chase it with a Kokanee.
Definitely worth checking out.
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look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
My mother went on vacation to Ontario and brought this back for me to try.
Poured from 500ml can into pub style glass
Look - This is really the best part. I could stare at this beer all day. Pours a rich, slightly murky amber and really is a work of art. Produces a generous, yet loose head which slowly retreats to a thin cap that lasts the duration. Lace is moderate but sticky.
Nose - Nothing really stood out here; Floral aromas and fruitiness - mostly apple but not very strong, there is a touch of sourness but overall quite sweet. Everything is quite subdued.
Taste - Much like the smell, but amplified. Much with the floral aromas, the fruit is less apparent but overall quite sweet and honey like... as if someone might have thrown in some extra sugar. This all gives way to a bitter finish, but it's not quite enough to balance the sweetness.
Feel - Very smooth but also quite heavy and dense feeling. Some mild carbonation, but it's enough to keep things interesting.
Drink - This is definitely one you have to take your time with. There are good things going on in this beer... if you're looking for them. It is nice, but the heavy sweetness makes you want to chase it with a Kokanee.
Definitely worth checking out.
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2.53/5 rDev -22.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
On-tap at West 50 Pourhouse. Red with lace. Sourish, intentional from the yeast? Play taps for this brewery if this is their standard.Fizzy carbonation, lightish body. I was expecting a malty beer. Unfinishable. Different and something went horribly wrong in the lab or in the transport over.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
On-tap at West 50 Pourhouse. Red with lace. Sourish, intentional from the yeast? Play taps for this brewery if this is their standard.Fizzy carbonation, lightish body. I was expecting a malty beer. Unfinishable. Different and something went horribly wrong in the lab or in the transport over.
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3.3/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a rather cloudy orange, with a fairly thick one-finger off-white head that lasts well, leaving some lacing, though rather less than I'd have expected given the consistency of the head. Smell is quite sweet, with some grainy notes and a noticable hop presence as well. Taste is sour up front, with rather fruity notes following, and some licorice and grain in the finish. For me the flavours don't quite blend well, and it seems a bit muddled. The mouthfeel is crisp and well carbonated, but rather thin, and the drinkability was good. An interesting departure from the usual cream ale, but not something that I'd be likely to revisit.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a rather cloudy orange, with a fairly thick one-finger off-white head that lasts well, leaving some lacing, though rather less than I'd have expected given the consistency of the head. Smell is quite sweet, with some grainy notes and a noticable hop presence as well. Taste is sour up front, with rather fruity notes following, and some licorice and grain in the finish. For me the flavours don't quite blend well, and it seems a bit muddled. The mouthfeel is crisp and well carbonated, but rather thin, and the drinkability was good. An interesting departure from the usual cream ale, but not something that I'd be likely to revisit.
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2.45/5 rDev -25.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Can: Poured a medium amber color ale with a great white bubbly head with average retention. Aroma of light malt with some hints of sweetness. Taste is also comprised of semi-sweet malt with no hops discernable. Body is lightly creamy but overall this beer is really lacking in character.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Can: Poured a medium amber color ale with a great white bubbly head with average retention. Aroma of light malt with some hints of sweetness. Taste is also comprised of semi-sweet malt with no hops discernable. Body is lightly creamy but overall this beer is really lacking in character.
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3.67/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a ruby colour with a small head and some lacing. I must say I really enjoy the smell of this beer it is sweet a huge amount of toffee! with some hops barely making there way in. The taste is good but could be more balanced, it is to sweet IMO, citrusy, malty and a lingering sweet and sour finish. A well made cream ale but a bit to sweet to make it extremely drinkable.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a ruby colour with a small head and some lacing. I must say I really enjoy the smell of this beer it is sweet a huge amount of toffee! with some hops barely making there way in. The taste is good but could be more balanced, it is to sweet IMO, citrusy, malty and a lingering sweet and sour finish. A well made cream ale but a bit to sweet to make it extremely drinkable.
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2.35/5 rDev -28.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Purchased at a Kingston, Ontario LCBO. 16oz, 473mL can, 4.9% abv. No freshness statement. Poured into a gold-rimmed Stella Artois glass.
Appearance is hazy copper, substantial off-white head. Leaving lace just sitting in the glass. Decent retention.
Aromas are powerful for a 4.9% abv cream ale. Hits me first with citrus hops - sweet grapefruit juice, tropical fruit huge here... almost too sweet and juicy. Softens out after a few minutes to some light sourness - grapefruit rind? Some bready, toffee, vanilla malt. Make sure to sniff this at pour, it is really out there. Distinctive but straightforward.
This leaves me with high expectations for the flavour. Mouthfeel is medium, moderate-high carbonation. Sour on the palate like sour mix, balanced with light sweetness. Maybe this is from the yeast. Not quite vinegary but it makes me wonder, sort of white winey. Green apple and stuff too. I'm not wholly convinced this was a cream ale in the first place but I'll run with it. Dry finish, like 90s dry beer.
I don't know what to do with this. Definitely weird. Check it out at your peril.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Purchased at a Kingston, Ontario LCBO. 16oz, 473mL can, 4.9% abv. No freshness statement. Poured into a gold-rimmed Stella Artois glass.
Appearance is hazy copper, substantial off-white head. Leaving lace just sitting in the glass. Decent retention.
Aromas are powerful for a 4.9% abv cream ale. Hits me first with citrus hops - sweet grapefruit juice, tropical fruit huge here... almost too sweet and juicy. Softens out after a few minutes to some light sourness - grapefruit rind? Some bready, toffee, vanilla malt. Make sure to sniff this at pour, it is really out there. Distinctive but straightforward.
This leaves me with high expectations for the flavour. Mouthfeel is medium, moderate-high carbonation. Sour on the palate like sour mix, balanced with light sweetness. Maybe this is from the yeast. Not quite vinegary but it makes me wonder, sort of white winey. Green apple and stuff too. I'm not wholly convinced this was a cream ale in the first place but I'll run with it. Dry finish, like 90s dry beer.
I don't know what to do with this. Definitely weird. Check it out at your peril.
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3.12/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Another above average beer from this brewer. Pours coppery red with a good foamy beige head. Bready, caramel, slightly burnt malty and spicy aroma. There's a sweet burnt malt, treacle type flavour, sugars, and an odd yeasty funk I am not sure is supposed to be here, but here it is. Well made though, and good for a cream ale
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Another above average beer from this brewer. Pours coppery red with a good foamy beige head. Bready, caramel, slightly burnt malty and spicy aroma. There's a sweet burnt malt, treacle type flavour, sugars, and an odd yeasty funk I am not sure is supposed to be here, but here it is. Well made though, and good for a cream ale
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3.7/5 rDev +13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Another 473 ml can (as pictured) compliments of Pootz.
Pours a orange brown color with a thick white head. Large bubbles settle down to a thin floating cap, thin lacing. Smell is a bit malty with some fruity sweetness. Taste is grainy and malty, with a bit of a sour finish. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, but that keeps it refreshing and easy to drink. Medium carbonation, good for a cream ale. Nothing spectacular, but another enjoyable beer, consumed under the warm sun on my deck.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Another 473 ml can (as pictured) compliments of Pootz.
Pours a orange brown color with a thick white head. Large bubbles settle down to a thin floating cap, thin lacing. Smell is a bit malty with some fruity sweetness. Taste is grainy and malty, with a bit of a sour finish. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, but that keeps it refreshing and easy to drink. Medium carbonation, good for a cream ale. Nothing spectacular, but another enjoyable beer, consumed under the warm sun on my deck.
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1.55/5 rDev -52.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1
Visiting Toronto, pulled this of the local Liquor Control shelf as a local. I've traveled all over, and this is about the worst beer I've had since BrewII in Baltimore in 1979. That says alot. Love thetaps logo, that was the only good feature of this beer.
Big Daddy
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look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1
Visiting Toronto, pulled this of the local Liquor Control shelf as a local. I've traveled all over, and this is about the worst beer I've had since BrewII in Baltimore in 1979. That says alot. Love thetaps logo, that was the only good feature of this beer.
Big Daddy
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2.11/5 rDev -35.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
Poured from the 473 ml. can pictured.
To sum this beer up in one word: sweet. In more words, sickly sweet. Poured a beautiful colour with a thick head, i was initially impressed and looking forward to a taste. The beer did have a nice creamy mouthfeel, but the taste just did not work for me; too much toffee/caramel flavour and not much else. A beer that was indeed too sweet for my tastes and not for me, however I would recommend anyone to give it a try, as I think it is a beer a lot of people would like.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
Poured from the 473 ml. can pictured.
To sum this beer up in one word: sweet. In more words, sickly sweet. Poured a beautiful colour with a thick head, i was initially impressed and looking forward to a taste. The beer did have a nice creamy mouthfeel, but the taste just did not work for me; too much toffee/caramel flavour and not much else. A beer that was indeed too sweet for my tastes and not for me, however I would recommend anyone to give it a try, as I think it is a beer a lot of people would like.
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3.7/5 rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A: Copper with a white head, very little retention, some lace.
S: Sweet caramel, cotton-candy fruity esters, slight earthyness.
T: Slightly sweet; caramel, cotton candy fruityness, candied fruit, slight earthy zest. Taste is as much "British" as it is cream ale.
M: Moderate body is smooth, moderate carbonation.
D: Very approachable, but a little sweet for me to session.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A: Copper with a white head, very little retention, some lace.
S: Sweet caramel, cotton-candy fruity esters, slight earthyness.
T: Slightly sweet; caramel, cotton candy fruityness, candied fruit, slight earthy zest. Taste is as much "British" as it is cream ale.
M: Moderate body is smooth, moderate carbonation.
D: Very approachable, but a little sweet for me to session.
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3.6/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Hazy reddish orange color with a fit and uniform head of foam. Medium low carbonation, and some notes of lacing inside the glass.
S: Sweet malts and a distinct aroma of hops give this brew a nod above similar counterparts in the style. Fresh and inviting, this one's got the goods in the smell dept.
T: Strong notes of cloying citrusy flavors, hops and buttery malts, with a touch of dried biscuit. Not bad. Smooth aftertaste leaves a mild character of grain flavor.
M: Smooth and rich. Very nice. Almost cask-like creamy texture. Nice. Carbonation is mild, yet still present and adds to the depth and enjoyment.
D: Good. Nice drinkability for a cream ale. I will be looking for this on my next escapade to the Great White North. Worth trying.
Notes: Special thanks go to biegaman for the sample.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Hazy reddish orange color with a fit and uniform head of foam. Medium low carbonation, and some notes of lacing inside the glass.
S: Sweet malts and a distinct aroma of hops give this brew a nod above similar counterparts in the style. Fresh and inviting, this one's got the goods in the smell dept.
T: Strong notes of cloying citrusy flavors, hops and buttery malts, with a touch of dried biscuit. Not bad. Smooth aftertaste leaves a mild character of grain flavor.
M: Smooth and rich. Very nice. Almost cask-like creamy texture. Nice. Carbonation is mild, yet still present and adds to the depth and enjoyment.
D: Good. Nice drinkability for a cream ale. I will be looking for this on my next escapade to the Great White North. Worth trying.
Notes: Special thanks go to biegaman for the sample.
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3.72/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a rusty brown colour into a pint glass, with a bigger head and darker shade than the other two Taps offerings. Some orangy highlights.
Aroma is hoppy, with a good malt backbone. No fruitiness, unlike the other two Taps beers. Some citrus and vanilla notes.
Taste is hoppy, with some licorice notes, raisins, mild pine and citrus.
Good clean aftertaste, and a thick mouthfeel.
I'd rank this in the middle of the three Taps beers (with Charleston on the bottom and Premium on the top).
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a rusty brown colour into a pint glass, with a bigger head and darker shade than the other two Taps offerings. Some orangy highlights.
Aroma is hoppy, with a good malt backbone. No fruitiness, unlike the other two Taps beers. Some citrus and vanilla notes.
Taste is hoppy, with some licorice notes, raisins, mild pine and citrus.
Good clean aftertaste, and a thick mouthfeel.
I'd rank this in the middle of the three Taps beers (with Charleston on the bottom and Premium on the top).
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3.53/5 rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Cloudy orange/brown, thick off white head forms, settles down a layer, nice lacing all over the glass, looks better than expected, head really lasts. Smell is sweet, very malty, bit of toffee/chocolate, bit of alcohol, some spice, not bad. Wow, very malty, some grains, nice toffee/dates middle, bit of a sourness in the finish, lingering malt in the flavour, some citrus notes as well, really not bad. Mouthfeel is pretty full bodied for its ABV, medium carbonation, slightly too aggressive, but smooth and easy to drink, surprisingly malty, almost a Caledonian 80- earthiness to it, actually quite enjoyed this.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Cloudy orange/brown, thick off white head forms, settles down a layer, nice lacing all over the glass, looks better than expected, head really lasts. Smell is sweet, very malty, bit of toffee/chocolate, bit of alcohol, some spice, not bad. Wow, very malty, some grains, nice toffee/dates middle, bit of a sourness in the finish, lingering malt in the flavour, some citrus notes as well, really not bad. Mouthfeel is pretty full bodied for its ABV, medium carbonation, slightly too aggressive, but smooth and easy to drink, surprisingly malty, almost a Caledonian 80- earthiness to it, actually quite enjoyed this.
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3.74/5 rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
First had this in a pub in Niagara on the lake, then stopped by the brewery and brought a sixer home for taste club.
One first opening, the cream ale bouquet enveloped my senses. Poured a mild amber color with a fine, tight head. The taste has malt, vanilla and just a fleeting millisecond of anise. The mouthfeel was good.
This is a break away example of a style of beer that is tradionally brewed by companies only interested in a cheap product. I was very glad to see this beer and enjoyed that it was done correctly. Definately a taster and a sipper. Gotta wait another year until I'm back in Ontario.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
First had this in a pub in Niagara on the lake, then stopped by the brewery and brought a sixer home for taste club.
One first opening, the cream ale bouquet enveloped my senses. Poured a mild amber color with a fine, tight head. The taste has malt, vanilla and just a fleeting millisecond of anise. The mouthfeel was good.
This is a break away example of a style of beer that is tradionally brewed by companies only interested in a cheap product. I was very glad to see this beer and enjoyed that it was done correctly. Definately a taster and a sipper. Gotta wait another year until I'm back in Ontario.
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3.75/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Pours a nice dark brown/red colour with a small head.
Smells very hoppy and nutty initialy with some sweet citrusy undertones.
Tastes very nutty and hoppy upfront then finishes creamy/caramel and sweet, very nice. A very enjoyable beer that I recommend.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Pours a nice dark brown/red colour with a small head.
Smells very hoppy and nutty initialy with some sweet citrusy undertones.
Tastes very nutty and hoppy upfront then finishes creamy/caramel and sweet, very nice. A very enjoyable beer that I recommend.
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Taps Red Cream Ale from Taps Brewing Co. Inc.
Beer rating:
12.8% out of
100 with
39 ratings
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
tap
Pours a clear scotch copper with a white lacing for a head.
Smells of light barley and creamy biscuit malts.
Coppery flavor with biscuity malt.
Medium, creamy body with a light tingle of carbonation on the tongue.
Nothing special, but very drinkable and perfectly adequate. Would have it again although I'm not sure I will remember it.
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