Beacon
The Brewer's Art

Poured into an English pint glass. Really looking forward to this. I've been in Baltimore for almost four years now and haven't been to Brewer's Art until tonight.

3.5 A: Golden brown color. Very clear. One finger of head that didn't retain all that well and left little lacing.

3.5 S: Really bready. Some citrus hops.

1.5 T: Horrible! Had the sour/spoiled wine taste that is often found in brewpub brews. In fact, most of the beers I had tonight had this taste. I couldn't concentrate on anything else which was a pity since I expected a lot more.

3.5 M: Medium body. Smooth but nothing special.

1.5 D: I would have rather had a Miller Lite.

On tap at the Brewer's Art, Baltimore, MD. Served in an English pint glass.

Appearance: Served a slightly hazy, dull copper colored-body with one-finger of foamy, creamy head. The head has average retention but isn't replenished at all from the bottom - the carbonation is nonexistent.

Aroma: Earthy and wholesome bready notes, almost crustlike, accompanied by a handful of herbal, piney hop notes. Very English-smelling, hay-like.

Taste: Very mild and subtle. Faint piney hops grapple with heavily roasted and lightly toasty malts; however, this epic battle takes place far, far in the distance. Up close, this one's very balanced but it's also not very ... well, "up close." Slight orange zest and chocolate notes. It's very herbal and almost tea-like in places (definitely the hops) with hints of mint. A very faint bitterness accompanies all this. Very British.

Mouthfeel: Soft and delicate, but well carbonated, fluffy and even. Very nice, and the best aspect of this beer.

Drinkability: My least favorite beer of the evening, but I can still appreciate it for what it is - a solid, very sessionable (low abv%) English ale. It's too subtle and mild for my tastes, but still worth a try if you're looking for something along these lines.

Pours amber with a white head. The nose is sweet. Heavily bitter, and too much so I have to say. Very earthy, leafy, and fairly acidic. The carbonation is full and bites also. Well bodied liquid. A bit too much for me really. I guess it's not quite mild enough.

a: nice dark amber in color with a nice white head receding to thin layer no lace

s: earthy toffee malts, a little toasted biscuit, husky and earthy, moderate aroma of earthy hops

m: medium carbonation and body

t: similar to aroma, toasty and husky toffee and caramel malts, full earthy hop flavors, moderate bitterness

d: quite easy and very enjoyable

16 oz. glass at the brewpub

Not sure exactly what the background to the Beacon is. Little information was given at the Brewer's Art and it doesn't appear to be listed on any of the other beer sites just yet. That being said, it looks like a lightly hopped amber session brew. Taste was awesome and matched up perfectly to a Friday happy hour. Just enough hops to strip off the garlic and rosemary goodness from the frites off the tongue. Enjoyable and tasty. these guys do the drinkable brews as well as the big heavy ones.