Apprentice Series AKU
White Birch Brewing
- From:
- White Birch Brewing
- New Hampshire, United States
- Style:
- California Common / Steam Beer
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.74 | pDev: 10.96%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jul 13, 2015
- Added:
- Jun 23, 2012
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
The California Common style is a hybrid of a German Lager and an American Ale. For Geoff’s beer he’s honored that tradition by uniting the best of each style. The result is a flavorful ale that is nicely hopped and sessionable. AKU = All Kinds United.
As Geoff moves on, we raise a toast and hope you enjoy this beer as much as we do.
As Geoff moves on, we raise a toast and hope you enjoy this beer as much as we do.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by beermeright
3.66/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
3.66/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
I did the tour at White Birch sometime in September. Loved all of the beers and this one especially. Sampled an extra one the day we stopped in. Great color and a striking flavor there is something about it that was created just right. We loved the creativity and the thought put into the ingredients and the brewing company.
Nov 22, 2012
Reviewed by mountdew1 from New Hampshire
3.8/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.8/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured into an imperial pint. Color was a dark reddish/brown that almost perfectly matched the glass color. Poured with next to no head to speak of, but left a thin small layer with a few bits clung to the sides. Aroma was a nice fruity sweetness, almost like a sweet mellow wine. Definite subtle hints of grape with a tad of alcohol in the back. Taste was similar to the smell. A bit sweet, a bit malty, with a tad of dry wine bite at the end. Felt overly dry in the mouth. Actually seemed to leave my mouth drier than before I took a sip. A strange bit of bitterness tapped the tongue as well. Overall not a bad beer. The feeling in the mouth definitely knocked it down a bit, and made me think twice about it. Outside of that, it was a great beer.
Not bad at the $5.50 I paid, but if it was closer to $7.50 or higher it would have a been a bit pricy in my mind.
Sep 29, 2012Not bad at the $5.50 I paid, but if it was closer to $7.50 or higher it would have a been a bit pricy in my mind.
Reviewed by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin
2.97/5 rDev -20.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.97/5 rDev -20.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
$7.50 for a 22 oz bottle.
A: mahogany color, clear, poured with almost no head
S: roasted malt, woody, earthy
T: mild taste overall, a bit on the sweeter side, some decent hop finish that is well balanced for style
M: rounded
O: decent enough but nothing overly special for style
Sep 06, 2012A: mahogany color, clear, poured with almost no head
S: roasted malt, woody, earthy
T: mild taste overall, a bit on the sweeter side, some decent hop finish that is well balanced for style
M: rounded
O: decent enough but nothing overly special for style
Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico
3.38/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottled May 2012
Batch One
Bottle count 1296
This beer was a murky tarnished copper color with a thin tan head.
A fresh, grassy aroma. Some sweet fruit. Caramel. Not that aromatic.
Fruity. Grassy hops. A bit of caramel malt.
Pleasant to drink. More fruity than I expected it to be.
Aug 13, 2012Batch One
Bottle count 1296
This beer was a murky tarnished copper color with a thin tan head.
A fresh, grassy aroma. Some sweet fruit. Caramel. Not that aromatic.
Fruity. Grassy hops. A bit of caramel malt.
Pleasant to drink. More fruity than I expected it to be.
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
4.12/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a slightly cloudy deep reddish copper color with a stingy off white head that dissipates quickly, but manages to stick some lace to the sides. The smell is rich dark caramel, burnt sugars, and melanoidin with a toffee like sweetness. Nice dark dried fruits like raisins and prunes in there as well with a bit of a floral earthy edge. Honestly this smells more like a nice scotch ale than a cal common. The taste is sweet and malty with lots of bready and dark sugar flavor. There's a bit of prune and raisin in there as well as some earthy bitterness to balance some of the sweet. Medium body with a light to moderate level of carbonation and a sweet smokey mouthfeel. I did enjoy this beer, its very flavorful and well made. Cal common is a stretch for what is in my glass.
Jun 23, 2012
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