Snow Shoveler
Saucony Creek Brewing Company + Gastropub

These observations were made after the contents of a pint can were emptied into a clear glass liter mug. Its color is brown, mildy hazy and relatively bright. There's a slight off-white head on top. A nice aroma of beer malt accompanies the view. The first impression drinking it is the soft mouthfeel. It's impressively bodied and soft. The taste isn't particularly bitter, nor sweet. That's not to say this isn't tasty, as the malts and hops provide something that's earthy and just slightly smokey. It's sort of a hybrid, bringing just a bit of the hop bite of an IPA and the nutty flavor reference of a Brown Ale. Back to its mouthfeel, which is smooth across the tongue and soft on the way down. There's practically no evidence of alcohol to taste, at least that's detrimental. Even the glass lacing is good, if not spectacular. Overall, this is one fine brown ale, a style we see too little of. In the age of American IPAs striving to taste soft and fruity, the earthy malt character here is gladly welcomed.

 

Pours a burnt copper color with honey edges and a half finger of head. The nose is piney. The flavor has potent hop bitterness, but this offering seriously lacks any of the basic characteristics of a brown ale, such as an earthy or nutty quality.

The body seems thin for the style.