Ember Ale
Legend Brewing Co.

 

 

 

I am fortunate to live in a city (Richmond, Va) that is literally overflowing with craft beer breweries. That said, Legend was our first, and it is practically my neighborhood pub (much more than a taproom!!!). Their Ember is a new offering that I think might take the place of their former spring seasonal. Legend calls it an APA. As a very experienced BJCP judge, I would have qualms about their choice of category. I’d probably score it higher as an ESB. The color is rich golden and clarity is perfect. The aroma is malty, but subtle. The beer pours with a nice foamy head that settles quickly to a persistent 1/4-inch solid creamy cap.

Hop flavors are clean and rather neutral...much more eNglish than American with some grassy or earthy qualities, but mostly they are about balancing the malt with a solid, pleasantly bitter backbone. These could easily be Fuggles, but they are mostly simply present and doing their job. The mouthfeel is rich, perhaps a tad fizzier than I prefer for an English ale, but about right for an APA.

One of my favorite styles to brew at home is what I call a “Transatlantic Pale Ale”: one that merges and shuffles the main attributes of best bitters and APAs. This brew by Legend makes an excellent example of the type. Too bad we don’tyet have that category in the BJCP guidelines. I’d give it at least a silver medal! Good, quaffable, and tasty beer!

 

 

 

Found this at Publix tonight after a day of geocaching. Always love finding a new Legend's beer. Sampled from bottle.