Boxcar Amber Ale
River City Ale Works

Hazed, brownish gold in color. Off-white head.
Aroma of sweet, toasty, toffee malt and fruity hops.

Taste shows a sweet toasty malt profile. Fruity. Hops are there to balance, but fall a bit short, IMO. Something is off in this beer. Lingers on the palate a bit too much.

Decent body, but there is some astringency to the mouthfeel.
Overall, this was probably the best beer they had available at the time. Fix whatever is off (with all their beers) and this one might be a solid offering although I'd like to see a few more hops.

Served as a sample at River City Ale Works. The color was copper, with a bit of white head. The smell was citrusy. The taste was slightly cirtusy hoppy, with a bit of dark malt. Mouthfeel was a bit thin. Drinkability-wise, I may have another.

Not a terrible offering from River City, though it's one that could be dramatically improved. Still, amongst the best there, though that might not be saying a lot.

Take a train to get this Boxcar Ale if you must, cause it is worth the trip. The beer is a rich copper color, and pours with a thin, off-white head that seems to last a good while. The aroma is strong, sweet malts, with a bit of hops spice in the background. The taste is more of the hop assertiveness, but it has a very strong malt background. It exhibits a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, more like a good stout than an ale. Truly a surprise to the tongue. There is a fair amount of hop bitterness on the finish, but it cleans up nicely, leaving minimal aftertatse. All that is left is a hint of ale fruitiness. I could drink this beer all day long. I'm not sure if this is the flagship beer of the brewery, but I think it should be. Don't miss this offering the next time you're travelling anywhere near Wheeling.