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Common Sense
Upstate Brewing Company
- From:
- Upstate Brewing Company
- New York, United States
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #339 - ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- 79
Ranked #26,488 - Avg:
- 3.45 | pDev: 12.17%
- Reviews:
- 26
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 27, 2023
- Added:
- Jun 16, 2013
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 24
This beer is a revival of a beer style that was one of the most popular beers in America prior to prohibition: Kentucky Common Ale. It has a dark color with a rich flavorful taste and a decent hint of hops (22 IBU), but it is light and easy drinking.
Many people today mistakenly think that this style is supposed to have a sour taste, but our research led us to the over 100 year old "American Handy Book of the Brewing, Malting & Auxiliary Trades" (see page 818) which makes no mention of it having a sour quality or using a sour mash to brew it.
Instead, it was just a dark yet refreshing beer that the working class people of the time loved to drink very fresh, which was around 2 weeks after being brewed. We also serve up Common Sense 14 days after brewing it. It is a great resurrected beer for all modern beer lovers!
Many people today mistakenly think that this style is supposed to have a sour taste, but our research led us to the over 100 year old "American Handy Book of the Brewing, Malting & Auxiliary Trades" (see page 818) which makes no mention of it having a sour quality or using a sour mash to brew it.
Instead, it was just a dark yet refreshing beer that the working class people of the time loved to drink very fresh, which was around 2 weeks after being brewed. We also serve up Common Sense 14 days after brewing it. It is a great resurrected beer for all modern beer lovers!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by CTHomer:
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut
3.03/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.03/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: crystal clear; amber colored; less than a 1 finger slightly off white head that receded slowly to an uneven cap; no lacing;
S: caramel malt; toasted grains; a little metallic; no hop presence;
T: caramel through mid-palate; slightly bitter, earthy finish; no hop flavor, except for perhaps Columbus in the earthy finish;
M: a little thin; slightly prickly carbonation;
O: couldn't find either the cascade or Willamette hops; nonetheless, this was an easy drinking fairly neutral beer;
Oct 19, 2014S: caramel malt; toasted grains; a little metallic; no hop presence;
T: caramel through mid-palate; slightly bitter, earthy finish; no hop flavor, except for perhaps Columbus in the earthy finish;
M: a little thin; slightly prickly carbonation;
O: couldn't find either the cascade or Willamette hops; nonetheless, this was an easy drinking fairly neutral beer;
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by BrewMaven from New York
2.74/5 rDev -20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
2.74/5 rDev -20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Poured a medium hazy brown with just a ring that left splotchy lace. I couldn’t detect anything on the nose but, then again, I’ve never been known to do so. Taste has a moderate hint of roasted malt, but not too much else going on clean finish. Mildly carbonated and fairly thin body. Very drinkable but nothing to write home about.
Aug 27, 2023Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.25/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Taster flight at Brewery. Copper colored pour, ring of foamy head. Malty aroma. Taste is malty, light carmel, faint sweetness, a touch of dryness. Seems thin
Jan 26, 2023Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota
3.76/5 rDev +9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.76/5 rDev +9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Common Sense pours a darker, clean brown with a small head. The aroma has a nice cereal note and hints of coffee. The flavor is light, but some dark cereals and grains have fresh malt flavors. A bit weak and a bit flat. Overall, it's a nice flavored beer; very simple.
Jan 09, 2023Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania
3.51/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.51/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a dark amber color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of caramel malts. Taste is well balanced malts and hops, a light woodiness, smooth and easy drinking. Feels medium/light bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer.
Jan 02, 2017
Common Sense from Upstate Brewing Company
Beer rating:
79 out of
100 with
108 ratings
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