Common Sense
Upstate Brewing Company

Common SenseCommon Sense
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From:
Upstate Brewing Company
 
New York, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #338
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
79
Ranked #26,489
Avg:
3.45 | pDev: 12.17%
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
108
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!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SonictheBeerhog:
Photo of SonictheBeerhog
Rated by SonictheBeerhog from New York

3.5/5  rDev +1.4%

Jul 16, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of BrewMaven
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
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, 2023
 
Rated: 3.43 by Sellen from Connecticut

Aug 07, 2023
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed 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
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, 2023
Photo of vette2006c5r
Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota

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, 2023
 
Rated: 3.79 by Shantzak from Pennsylvania

Nov 11, 2022
 
Rated: 3.67 by robotic_being from Illinois

Jul 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.47 by Curt3 from Ohio

Nov 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.52 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Jun 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.24 by hozersr from Pennsylvania

Feb 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.33 by deonreds from New York

Jul 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.12 by dar482 from New York

May 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.63 by digitalflood from New York

May 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.64 by epyon396 from Pennsylvania

May 03, 2017
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

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
 
Rated: 4 by GFD400 from New York

Aug 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4.1 by Ultra-Plinian from Connecticut

Jul 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.74 by Gkruszewski from New York

Jul 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.23 by garyloveman from Massachusetts

Jul 06, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by papat444 from Canada (QC)

Jun 19, 2016
Common Sense from Upstate Brewing Company
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 108 ratings