Fred's Old Ale
Michigan Brewing Company

Fred's Old Ale is a robust caramel in color and looked nice, aside from a very thin head nearly absent of foam. While this is not entirely unexpected in an English-style ale, the nose was nearly as flat, only a slight bit of sweetness in the aroma. The first taste was even sweeter, as this brew is very malty--almost too malty--with nary a hop nose. It does, however, drop off into a long, bitter finish. There was a hint of metal in the middle of the palate.

The weather was probably too nice for this one, but it was largely unsatisfying nonetheless. While not a bad beer, it lacked balance as its malty flavors and extreme dryness were flat and pronounced in opposite directions. In other words, there was nothing exactly in harmony and the results were borderline unpleasant.