Alt
New Glarus Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

Date: 10/12/2013
Type: 12oz. Bottle
Vintage: 2008
Glass: East End Tulip

*Big thanks to TATURBO for getting me this long time want to sample! Finally, knocking this one off the list.

Pours a light brown mahogany in color w/ a skim coat white head that leaves light lacing on the glass. Aromas of dark fruits, light tropical fruits, caramel malts, and that spicy/herbal quality typical of Alts. The flavor was of dark fruits (plum/fig) mixed w/ tropical notes and caramel, leading into a bit of oxidation and wet cardboard, and finishing w/ herbal spice and mild hop bite. Medium bodied and lush and finishes clean and light. Pretty drinkable except for the off oxidation flavor.

Overall, slightly disappointed as this one has fallen off as Chris had warned me about. However, I could see underneath the oxidation as to the wonderful brew this once was. Amazing that a lagered Doppelsticke Alt has fallen off and oxidized after only 5yrs.! One would think the extended conditioning would benefit a good Alt, I guess New Glarus has yet to master the Alt the way Uerige has. Anyway, New Glarus please brew this again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thin tan head on a clear dark orange beer. Decent to good head retention with a little lacing.

Definite spice, alittle oxidation.

Hops are there but a little subdued. Real sweet aftertaste. Well hiddden alcohol!

Still carbonated nicely with a medium to medium thin mouthfeel.

Held up pretty well. Second venture into the Alt style, this being the best thusfar. This is the second time TATURBO has pulled this out, glad I reviewed it this time...thanks for helping the NG tickathon Chris.

Pours a slightly-cloudy (partly chill haze) copper in color, topped with a lighter tan head that recedes after a couple of minutes. Minimal lacing.

Nose is a little bit different, definitely more fruit-forward than any of the imported German Altbiers I've sampled over the years. There are definitely notes of tropical fruit (e.g. pineapple) blended with ripe and tart apple, and this one is sweet and yeasty all at once. No hops presence that I can detect. A lighter booziness in the nose, but considering the ABV for the style I'd expect this to be boozier than it is -- I imagine that several years since in the bottle since it was packaged has mellowed this aspect. There's also lighter notes of toffee and vanilla.

Sweet, tangy and musty on the first sip, and there's definitely been some oxidation (and doubtless some fading of the flavor profile), but there's still a good bit of potency here. Juicy and fruit forward, just as it was on the nose ("fruit punch" comes to mind), with a light cherry tang paired with green grapes and grapeskins. Despite the lack of hops on the nose there's still plenty of lingering bitterness here to balance the sweetness. The alcohol is warming and subtle enough for the strength of the beer. Chocolate notes in the finish, and they definitely linger and blend with the other fruit notes as this one warms.

This one is definitely not to style in the sense of a traditional Alt, although Uber Alt or Doppel Sticke would work as a descriptor. More than anything I'm getting British barleywine / old ale, and it's favorably reminiscent of e.g. a fresher 'Lee's Harvest Ale'.

Whatever the style, New Glarus Alt is an impressive beer and one that I'd say is among the more memorable beers from the brewery -- worth seeking out (and I'm guessing it won't be re-visited...).

Had to hide the BA rating real quick 'cause I'm not sure where it's gonna go and I don't wanna be influenced by it.

OMFG only three more days after this...wow...

Thanks be to great and excellent cohort in beer trading GraniteSkunk for the fine extra. Prost, mein freunde!!!

The basics: No idea on price (though I suspect it's hefty) and 9.5% ABV (nice)...

The beer looks good, a tasty yet cloudy amber with an orange hue...Nice three fingers of persistent head, yet a decided lack of lacing. Above average but towing the line, so to speak...

I'm in one of those moods, ya know...A mood wherein I like to picture what woman this beer reminds me of. So far it's very cute, yet not as stunning as many others. Methinks it will be one of those that surprises ya in the end...

Ahh, the aromas are wonderful...I get a lot of caramel malt, heaps of it, in fact. A nice strong sweetness also, that must be from the Turbinado sugar. The aromas meld well, and there are other things going on, such that I get things like roses and lavender in there also. It's compelling. Riding on top of all this is also a plethora ("Would you say I have a PLETHORA of balloons?") of berry notes: raspberry and blueberry being alpha amongst them. Very excellent...

This beer is striking me as the Robin Wright of ales: Compelling and beautiful, with a mysterious intrigue hiding beneath the surface...

The flavor is off the chain...It's very big and uber-malty. Lots of caramel malt smacks you around. The alcohol is VERY apparent, however...So much so some will be turned off by it. The oaked aspect is subdued rather than forefront, and lends it a wonderful characteristic. Kind of like drinking in Germany out of a wooden flagon...The beer evolves as it warms, such that the bigger malt flavors take the place of the alcohol...I still get a touch of raspberry in there also. Maybe I'm crazy, but that's what I get. Wonderfully made beer, and complex enough for a second round to really pull all the nuances out. Great beer and definitely worth tracking down.

What I like most: The wonderfully complex and inviting flavor profile.

What I like least: The strong alcohol notes when it's cold.

Verdict: Fantastic and unique, worth tracking down in every sense of the word.

12oz bottle poured into glass - i forget who sent me this, but thanks!

Pours a brilliant auburn color with some golden orange hues. A thick off-white head bubbles up and dissolves fairly quickly, retaining with some film. Some patches of lacing as well.

Somewhat richer, doughy malts with breaded notes. Burnt brown sugar with some hints of candied dark fruit. Some oaky notes as well, maybe a hint of oxidation?

A bit sweet up front with raisin and cherry. Thick malted backbone with caramel and bread crust. Some earthy, woody tones with sweetness and burnt sugar. Noticeable booze heat in the finish with some residual sugar.

Fuller medium body, high carbonation, somewhat dry and chewy. This was pretty solid, although I think it might be showing signs of turning a bit.

A-Pours a rich copper color with two fingers of off white head.

S-Smells of some dark fruit/Munich malt and some mild, estery yeast.

T-Follows the nose with dark fruit and clean, slightly herbal hop presence.

M-Light to medium bodied with a light drying feel and low carbonation.

D-This beer is a little better fresh, but not bad with some considerable age on it.