Alpine Beer Company Ichabod Ale (2008)

Brewed by Alpine Beer Company (CA)
Style: Dunkelweizen
Alpine, California USA

Name: Ichabod
Date: June 12, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: South Bay Drugs, San Diego
Vintage: 2008
Appearance: opaque dark brown, fine beige head, bits of lace
Aroma: dark chocolate and roasted aroma with light fruity winey character and a slight tartness
Flavor: sweet chocolate flavor, sweet wine brings out the rich chocolate before leaving a light balancing tartness, light oak comes in with a bit of bitterness
Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.2/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

(22oz. bottle, courtesy of BMan1113VR) Pours a mahogany body with a small tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, toasted grain, light smoke, cocoa, nutmeg, banana, and clove. Flavor of roasted malt, pumpkin, nutmeg, cocoa, caramel, and cinnamon.

22oz bottle shared thanks to Josh.Poured a dark black color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of roast, lightly earthy, some spices,a nd light pumpkins. Tastes of pumpkin seeds, chocoalte, caramel, and some spices. The pumpkin (both aromas and tastes) where on the softer and subtle side.

Bottle… Pours extremely dark and sits black in my glass with a mid-sized, creamy, light brown head. Very nice retention. Chocolaty, mocha, banana nose with a suggestion of coriander or clove. Medium-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel and tingly carbonation. The flavor is perfectly balanced, but sort of nondescript; very subtle roasty, spicy notes. Crisp, refreshing finish. As with most of Alpine’s beers, very drinkable; very sessionable.

Bottle shared at Noogfest High 5. Poured a black color with an average light brown head that was mostly lasting and produced good lacing. Good toasted malt, chocolate and coffee aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and soft carbonation. Good dunkel bittersweet flavor with an average bittersweet finish of moderate duration. Good drinkable brew.

Bottle from South Bay Drug. Very dark brown color with a dark tan head that subsided rapidly. Dark aromas; chocolate among them. Medium body with frothy carbonation. Flavor is a bit earthy with roasted dark malt and some coffee. The finish is more dry than sweet. Drinks right well.

Noogfest High 5. The body was black with a khaki head. The aroma was sweet musty leather with some pear. The taste was largely roasted coffee with some peaches. A little tart in the finish. I was not impressed.

Sampled on 3/19/2009. This dunkel weizen pours an eclipse brown color from a 22oz bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head with good retention and nice lacing. The aroma is caramel, chocolate, pumpkin, fruity and sweet. A medium bodied dunkel. The malts are fruity and sweet, with hints of semi-sweet chocolate. The hops are earthy. Nice malt flavors with just enough hoppiness. Nice spicing, the pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon become more evident as it warms. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.