Secret Spot Alt Ale
Evolution Craft Brewing Company

Secret Spot Alt AleSecret Spot Alt Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Evolution Craft Brewing Company
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
Altbier
ABV:
6.3%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.54 | pDev: 11.86%
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
132
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 25, 2020
Added:
Nov 26, 2010
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  19
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bros:

  None found.

Photo of CyGuy
Reviewed by CyGuy from Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +23.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Note that this is sold variously as "Alt Ale" and "Winter Ale."

I bought a bottle labeled as Alt Ale.

Label notes
Plato:15°P
40 IBUs

Flavor notes, lots of brown sugar. You know the hops are there, but it's so balanced you can't identify bitterness or pineyness, or floral or citrus notes.

In brief, if you like everything about a brown IPA but don't want to be overpowered by hops, give this a try.
Feb 25, 2020
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.71 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Feb 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by ntjockey from Virginia

Dec 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by 1971bernat from Virginia

May 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by bluehende from Delaware

Feb 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.68 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Jan 22, 2018
Photo of dacrza1
Reviewed by dacrza1 from New Jersey

2.92/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
DATE: January 14, 2018... OCCASION: easing into the second half of Sunday after the Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs... GLASSWARE: Ayinger willibecker... pours a triple finger's worth of off-white froth that leaves cracks and crevices; the body is a chestnut brown, translucent body with tiny bubbles evincing life... bright, fresh Hallertau and noble hops create an aromatic, flowery scent with apple cider, toasted malts, herbal tea and light nuts... light to medium-bodied, lightly crunchy, with a metallic finish that lingers pleasantly... light acidity, bringing a hint of orange peel to the fore... the focal point of the flavor profile is the toasted malts, which make for a working man's draught... beautiful white lacing that evokes a skier's snow trail... apple, tree nut, and some odd lagerish sweet caramel makes for an uneven payoff... up until the taste, this beer was moving in the right direction; at about half-glass, it becomes a bit bitter and offish... a slightly creamy consistency makes this more attractive, but the overall takeaway is a clean, easy-drinking malt-forward alt that keeps some of its promises....
Jan 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by TeachChefs from Pennsylvania

Jan 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3.52 by TWRBVB from Maryland

Jan 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.52 by Lucular from Maryland

Dec 04, 2017
Photo of Aichelberger
Reviewed by Aichelberger from Maryland

4.19/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Disclaimer: Alts are a favorite style; and American craft takes on the traditional German style are "hit and miss." Fortunately, this is a good one. A very good one, in fact. It's also a beautiful beer. Rich deep amber to bright brown in the glass, with bright highlights and subtle carbonation, covered by a 1/2 inch head of smooth tan foam that laced nicely all the way down. Malty in the nose, but very little. A hint of caramel sweetness, too. Then the taste followed, with a soft caramel biscuit malt followed by a subtle hops bitterness that lasted in the aftertaste. Not too sweet and not too rich (two common problems I have with some craft Alts). I prefer regular Alts (rather than Stickes) just because of the easy drinkability of the lower ABV (I'm a lightweight), but the alcohol in this one stayed in the background. Very enjoyable. It was a bit hard to find (due to its seasonal nature and popularity) but well worth the trip to a half dozen stores to get it. Definitely not a German Alt, but one of the best craft versions I've tried. A winner in its own right.
Nov 21, 2017
Photo of 57md
Reviewed by 57md from Pennsylvania

3.84/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a brown color with a half finger of head. The nose is the feature here - nicely bready. The flavor follows but it is not as bold as the nose would indicate.
Jun 23, 2017
 
Rated: 2.46 by joshautry from Pennsylvania

Jun 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.93 by paresis from Massachusetts

Apr 19, 2017
Photo of Gajo74
Reviewed by Gajo74 from New York

3.84/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this on tap at Fish House, Rehoboth DE.
Pours a dark amber, slightly brown, color with a nice frothy cap that retains all the way and leaves some soapy lacing.
The nose is fairly straightforward. There is a malt sweetness as well as a fruity quality that is hard to put a finger on; it feels like some kind of dark fruit that has a bit of tartness and zest....maybe plum? Overall, the malts lead the way; they are akin to toasted bread.
Similarly, the taste is predominated by the roasted malts. There is a subtle sweetness in the background, however, a modest to moderate herbal and peppery hops presence adds an excellent balance. The body is medium, gently carbonated and with a slight prickle from the hops. Pretty easy to drink.
I'm not a great expert on the style, but, I suppose it does it justice. In many ways it felt like a simple but flavorful American amber ale. Solid all around.
Apr 10, 2017
Photo of daliandragon
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

4.26/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Murky brown body with cool beige lace that doesn't last. Nose is heavy on the sweet malt, with dark fruit, caramel, and licorice notes. Unique, complex taste with plenty of malt but more balance than expected. Dry lemon hops temper the steady blast of chocolate and caramel malts. Pleasant in texture and solid finish. I see the comparison to Double Bag. Very well done winter seasonal.
Apr 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by cyber_phoenix from Pennsylvania

Mar 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.14 by Hopfenpeter from Maryland

Mar 01, 2017
Photo of drtth
Reviewed by drtth from Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The dark amber beer pours out into a non-frosted Shaker Pint glass with a 1/4" ivory head that soon recedes from a cap to small ring and an island of foam while leaving a little lacing on the sides of the glass. Sipping creates a few scattered patches of lacing, many of which slide back down to the liquid.

The aromas include some dark bready malt with a contribution from earthy and herbal hops.

The flavors are mostly about the bready malt and the contribution from the earthy, herbal hops. There's some light sweetness and some moderately strong earthy, herbal bitterness that works fairly well.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and fairly smooth with the light carbonation. The medium length finish begins as the sweetness fades first to be followed by the dark bready malt. Meanwhile the earthy, herbal hops and their bitterness slowly fade to close out the show with a light dryness that invites another sip.

This is a farily good alt which I'd be willing have again when I find it. While I've had other alt beers I enjoyed more and would probably would pick one of them over this one this one is both drinkable and enjoyable.
Mar 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.42 by deansellers from Maryland

Feb 14, 2017
Secret Spot Alt Ale from Evolution Craft Brewing Company
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 132 ratings