Elk Grove Otis Alt

This dark amber ale poured with a thin off-white head. There is a thin, somewhat hoppy flavor with some herbal notes.

Caramel and toffee nose. Nice full yet soft mouthfeel and very mild dry astringency. Herbal and malt forward with a soft finish.

GABF 2007: Poured a clear copper color with a large off-white head. Big caramel malt aroma. Caramel flavor . Semi-dry finish. There was some light earthy hops that came in from the middle to the finish.

Date: 10/11/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, GABF

hazy dark yellow, frothy dirty white head, rich malt aroma with a light tartness, rich malt flavor, light chocolate, well balanced with light earthy hops,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Mixed aroma of hop and malt. Dark amber color w/lacing head. Good mouthfeel. Starts slightly sweet, with some spicey hop, and a fruit note. Nice light bitter finish.

half pint sampled at the brew pub. Light buttery, roasted, metallic aroma present with small amounts of citrus orange and lemon in the nose as well. Rather quaffable. Transparent amber/dark copper body with a light tan/yellowish head. There is attractive lacing present. Metallic, lightly bitter, dry hoppiness to start. Becomes a little citric and bready in the middle. Finish has some more of the dry noble hop bitterness present. This is pretty good--it is a little too hoppy for my tastes and expectations from a traditional alt, though. Good, but I liked The Cambridge House’s Alt-45 better. Either way, this beer won a gold at this year’s GABF, so it is certainly well-crafted.

GABF '03. Nice amber color with thin pink head. Strange dry hop flavor followed by warm roasted malt finish.

A regular winner at the GABF, this alt is vasty over-rated. Flavors are not nearly pronounced enough, and there is just nothing here to make me remember this brew. Not terrible, but that’s not enough to garner a high rating.