Demented Duck Amber Ale
4th Street Brewing Co.

 

 

Just had on tap for lunch. This brew could almost be an IPA... but it's not, and is very good.

- Amber, slight mucky brown color... very light off-white head.... quickly down to a little bit of spotting... mild lacing overall compared to their lace monster of an IPA.

- Smell is almost absent. Very light sweet brown sugar, very light malt... all which traps a huge piney hop bitterness... that just can't really be smelled.

- Fantastic light sweet malts.... a true winner of an amber... slight brown sugars, caramel malts... fresh bitter hops... slight pine, herbal.... overall a well hopped amber that is just smooth as can be.

- Light bodied... only very slightly oily and sticky... overall great carbonation..

- Huge drinkability. This is one of those types of pints that fresh, you can just tip back... and forget about it. Its a fantastic Amber on tap... and a new regular for me when I go there.

The foul smell intruding upon my Scottish beer made a similar appearance here. Though the odor wasn't overpowering and it dissipated at half pint, the implied sanitation issues were disturbing.

Demented Duck is presumably named in honor of a certain collegiate athletic program known to be popular in our state. It is brewed as an alt-style amber in contrast to a more English-derived pale ale variant. Strong wooden and cola nut flavors with a lingering specialty malt roasted graininess (Marris Otter?) make for a nutty beer with a satisfying edge. Saaz hops remain primarily in the bittering range.

Despite a momentarily distracting odor, Demented Duck's drinkability is intact and commendable. It shows as dark polished oak with low carbonation, a sickle head, and thin dispersed lace. Pair this beer with: bourbon.