Four Peaks Alt Ball and Chain

Brewed by Four Peaks Brewing Company
Style: Altbier
Tempe, Arizona USA

Tap in Tempe
Aroma was typical malty sweet that isn’t all bad. Dark amber body with off white head and good lacing. Flavor starts out sweet malt and meium. Near the finish and drank this beer on the padio in 100 degree heat. A fruit berry flavor appeared to make this more like a thicker wine. Smooth and refreshing had to have two.

Sampled on tap at the brewery, day of release
This beer sits a deep amber-red color in my pint glass. It shows a brilliantly clear hue around the edges and is topped by a frothy, almost creamy, tan colored head that is pretty good for a beer from the tap. The aroma is soft and fruity; notes of berry and raisin and a sort of green tea like note that is rounded out by some spicy-herbal hop notes.

The taste has a nice, yet somewhat subtle, herbal hop character front, which moves to a solid, structured bitterness in the finish. A characteristic fruit note is here in the flavor as well; notes of berries and a sort of black currant type thing. The herbal, slightly grassy and bitter part of the hop seems to be dominant here. This has lots of hopping, like a good Alt should, but does not have the fresh, vibrant, berry fruit note that my favorite Alts from Düsseldorf have. A tasty example though, and even one which I am happy to have a pint or two of.

Four Peaks Tempe
Dark brown amber with a smallish off white head and good lacing. Medium bodied with a light sweet malty hops aroma with a light hops and malt flavor with a touch of spice at the finish. Easy drinking refreshing beer.