Umbra Dark Cream Ale
Firefly Hollow Brewing Co.

 

I have only had this on a nitro tap, which is a complementary pour/texture for this ale. I haven't had many cream ales but this is the first cream ale I have enjoyed and thought to myself, "Ok, this is what a cream ale should taste like". There's an undeniable sweet and creamy texture/flavor, especially in the acute after-taste. If you can find it on nitro, I recommend it as one of the best transition ales in this sequence: hops saturation -> umbra cream -> stout/porter. Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

32oz growler from Firefly Hollow. Pours a pitch black color with a half inch of white head. Lots of lacing. The aroma is earthy and nutty some chocolate milk mix and coffee. Hint of vanilla. The taste is earthy with some dark fruits. Nutty with some milk chocolate. Floral hop notes but this one has more malt flavor to it. Coffee and chocolate at the end. Earthy finish. Medium bodied. This one surprised me when I sampled it at the brewery. Overall, solid choice for a beer to drink during the Autumn months.


App- 3.75 a- 4 t- 3.75 m-3.75 o- 3.75 = 3.8

 

 

 

Poured first into a dimpled Guinness mug (to get a good view), then into a Firefly Hollow founder's mug. Got the growler on Saturday afternoon but did not open it to drink until Monday night.

Appears a dark, woody brown with mahogany highlights. Poured with very little head; only a thin off white top to speak of. Carbonation was a little light but this was nearly 48 hours after the initial fill and is to be expected.

Nose is very vegetal. Puts me in mind of Autumn and dry leaves. Tastes woody and a little nutty, with a backbone of darker malts. A touch of dry hop bitterness on the finish. Somewhat reminiscent of a Scottish ale. Caramel notes creep in as this beer warms, and just a faint whisper of alcohol. A little toasty with just a teensy bit of astringency. Nice and smooth. Little bit of prickly carbonation on the tongue. Nicely balanced between malt and hops.

Overall a nice, solid, sessionable beer with a bit of character. Definitely worth getting a growler filled. This one is really Autumn flavored, if that makes any sense, so I hope to find it there again in the fall.