New Amsterdam Black & Tan
New Amsterdam Brewing Company

 

Sweet like candy... which is a little bit overdone.
Pours a pretty and deep ruby brown with an offwhite/tannish head that fades pretty quickly; not much lacing to speak of.
Smells sweet, caramel mostly with some herbal undertones.
The taste is way sweet malts with just enough hops to dry up the finish just a little bit... though not quite enough because the sweetness is sticky and lingering.
This is unbalanced in a well balanced way, or well balanced in an unbalanced way, depending on what the brewers had in mind when they were making this. The different aspects play off of each other... whether or not you like the game is a matter of opinion.
Definately something you are very much in the mood for, or very much not in the mood for.
Over all a pleasant experience. Reminds me of some brown ales I've had.
A good tool for weening people off of mass produced swill.

It poured a dark caramel color, almost ruby red in tinge. There was a big clinging head and the odor somewhat resembled a porter. There is certainly stout roastiness but it is obviously blended with something more subduing. Ah, must be the amber. Its actually a pretty good balance of the two styles, the only thing missing is the cool separation of the two styles. Finishes a bit dry, but mostly quenching thanks to the amber.

The New Amsterdam Black & Tan is a blend of their Amber and an unspecified stout from the F.X. Matt line. It's clear, deep chestnut body rests beneath a thin layer of creamy light tan foam that holds exceptionally well and leaves a short wall of transient lace with each sip. The nose offers more floral and grassy hops than it does malt, although there is a subtle roasted edge to it as well as some yeasty fruitiness. The body is medium; and it's just slightly creamy and very smooth across the palate due in great part to its fine, moderate carbonation. The flavor is a bit vague, as black and tans tend to be, with it's darker, highly kilned malts masked by the blend of lightly toasted and floral lager. There's a note of roastiness to it, but it's well-heeled, and it contributes more of a generic "dark malt" character than any burnt or coffee flavors. The caramel remains, however, and leaves it with a nice rounded character that could lend itself well to a session beer. It finishes dry with a lingering note of dark caramel and underlying roastiness that's reminiscent of watered-down molasses. A pleasant pint.

Murky brown, chocolate milk color with a low light brown ring for a head. Light roasty aroma and maybe hints of chocolate malt. Light roasty coffee-ish taste. Light bodied but very drinkable.

I suspect this beer was very old and if true then it wasn't too bad for it's age.

Label states: "Stout & Amber Beer" & "Stout: black and caramel malts, Kent Goldings and Willamette hops"