Harvest Ale
Boston Beer Works - Canal Street

 

 

 

 

Received a medium brown brew, some head to this, but no retention, no lace.

The brewery contends that this is a dunkelweizen, so I will review with that claim in mind. Toasted grain, some light spice notes. Wanted more out of the wheat, wanted more spice and fruit in the nose. Not there.

Just toasted grain, some light bitterness. A mediocre version of the style. Lacks complexity. All of those negatives aside, the grain had some nuttiness and a little sweetness to offset mild bitterness.

Lighter bodied, ok carbonation.

Overall, not bad, but not what I'd want in the style.

Tap at the brew pub. I think this is a different beer now, as this is listed as an herbed/spice beer but it was a dunkel weizen, so I will review it as a dunkel.

light fizzy head murky dark molasses brown color.

Nose dark wheat malt aromas, chewy brown malts, light toasty coffee, caramel toasty brown malts,

Taste nice german dark wheat and malt flavors, light esters, chewy caramel malts and hint syrup, fruity, fig, hint of banana, wheats. Finishes a bit sweet, syrupy, more caramel esters and chewy malts.

Mouth is med bodied, decent carb.

overall not bad but not great, starts to get a lot of the flavors right but never quite gets there.

 

Served on-tap in a slender, tapered glass at Beer Works - Canal Street (Boston, MA).

A: Dark brown, opaque but still very dark, with short cap of off-white head which surprisingly leaves a nice rim of lace.

S: The spiced nature is not that apparent from the aroma. The maltiness is, however, with bready, dark fruit maltiness and a soft herbal hoppiness. I think if I had let this stand and warm for awhile, more of the spice may have come through.

T: I am glad I didn't wait because this was a delicious brew. The dark fruit, bready, and caramel maltiness melded well with a light spice note and the herbal hoppiness. The maltiness and heft was a little surprising. I like that the spice component is in the background to accent rather than dominate the malt flavors.

M: The body is firmly medium with with moderate carbonation which gives this a slick, silky feel.

D: I really enjoyed this brew -- balanced and interesting with robust maltiness and a soft herbal hops and spice notes to pull together a really nice brew.

Pours an orange amber color, smallish head that fades to a thin cap, no lacing along the glass.

Smell isn't really spiced (as is listed here, somewhat incorrectly), not a hoppy malty ale as it was described on the board either, the nose is just lacking.

Taste is average with nothing standing out, mostly malty and still not picking up that hoppy bite as was described.

A - Poured a hazy, orange amber with a thick white head that quickly dissipates. There is some pretty heavy lacing almost the entire length of the glass.

S - Smells strongly of hops. Earthy and Piney hop tones, maybe citrus too. Underneath the hop scents there is a very sweet undertone.

T - Very sweet and fruity. Notes of apples and oranges provide a stark contrast to the hop character that is there the entire time, particularly in the finish.

M - Since this is a cask ale no real carbonation to speak of. Its a bit watery.

D - Very drinkable, an excellent session beer.

Served in 4oz. sample glass.

A: Unfiltered, honey colored; thin head, little to no lacing.

S: Pleasant floral notes.

T: Nice and sweet upfront, not too bitter in back.

M: Smooth but under-carbonated.

D: I might do a session, but it is not my first choice.

A: reddish, pale orange. Not very filtered, if at all. Thin, white head. Some lacing.

S: Bright and sweet. Reminds me of a marzen.

T: Wheat/ grain, sort of a hybrid between a marzen and a hefeweizen. Lots of rye. Malty aftertaste. Not much hops.

M: Light and refreshing. Too little carbonation.

D: Good session, very easy to drink.