Atlanta Laughing Skull Amber Ale (2009 - present)

Brewed by Atlanta Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
Atlanta, Georgia USA

16 ounce pint - $4.50 at Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia. The first official pint of Atlanta Brewing’s revived and reformulated Laughing Skull poured at this location from a handle-less ta. It’s been more than a few years since we’ve last seen Laughing Skull. The last encounter I recall, was when I lived within walking distance of their previous location on William Street. Heck, I may even have a well-worn LS shirt around here somewhere. Appearance: Served up a crystal clear, appropriately amber-hued body with a thinnish, near white head. Though thin, it is lasting and provides for some nice lacing. Smell: Offers a modest nose smelling lightly of toasty amber malts, a vague hint of fruit, and some spicy, herbaceous hop notes. Taste: Toasty, sweetish flavor of amber malts with a background hint of light brown sugar. A little blip of fruitiness passes by now and again. A touch of crisp graininess arrives late in the taste. Earthy, spicy, lightly zesty hop character but with only a subdued bitterness. Beyond a small, final hint of toast, Laughing Skull finishes quite clean and dry. Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-high carbonation. Drinkability: I recall the old Laughing Skull performing well in terms of ease of drinkability, and this new rendition definitely follows in its footsteps.

On tap at Vortex on Peachtree. After quite the hiatus this beer is back. It is pretty cool to see a place in Atlanta with a house beer. I wish it were a better beer. A somewhat floral hop aroma, with an off putting yeast aroma. I believe this is due to the fact that we had half a pitcher of the last of the keg. Not that pungent, but not a weak aroma. Coppery brown with a nice head, but with all the red fucking lights around me who the hell knows what color it ACTUALLY is. Floral hops come through in the flavor, but still that dumpy yeast flavor is there again. Not a creamy palate, but not horrible either. Overall, a solid weak beer.