Alpine Beer Company Emerson Lager

Pours with a deep gold body topped by a medium thick head with some lacing. Uh! I don’t know...sweet and spicy, kinda. Not much flavor and weak. Light bodied and smooth.

(Draft: O’Brien’s in San Diego, CA) I simply cannot understand the recent fascination with great brewers trying to make a bad beer. This is a bit different from the typical pale lager, but I can’t say it’s any more enjoyable. Lightly hoppy, minimally malty with a mild sweetness, but there’s a fairly strong sourness to this beer, kind of a lemony citrus. Just not a pleasant tasting beer. The nose is also quite sour, somewhat grainy, and very light on hops aroma. Light-to-medium body, somewhat crisp I suppose, but that sour finish really hangs on the palate. Medium golden color, very cloudy in appearance. The average size off-white head quickly fades to a small rim. With as many times as I’ve mentioned sour, I’m just hoping there’s something wrong with this beer, or maybe there’s some infection in the lines, so I’ll give this another try the next time I see it.

On tap@O’Brien’s: Chill haze golden color with a small (bar pour) white head. Aroma is sweet and fruity. Flavor starts with a touch of honey sweetness followed by fruity flavors (think juicy fruit gum) and ends with a lighty hoppy finish. Light smooth palate. More pale ale like than lager IMHO.