Jack Russell Harvest Apple Ale

Brewed by Jack Russell Brewing Company
Style: Fruit Beer
Camino, California USA

Date: July 07, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Roadtrip
Appearance: hazy orange, wispy off white head
Aroma: light sweet malt aroma with a touch of apple
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, nice apple character but plays behind the malt leaving it lacking
Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 9/20
Rating: 2.5/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

Bottle poured a clear orange amber with a lasting amber head. Aromas of carmel, honey, light earthin ess and a hint of aspple. Palate was light bodied and crisp with a smooth dry finish. Flavors of carmel, honey, light earthiness and a hint of apple with a smooth dry earthy finish.

On tap and the Raley Field Brewfest in West Sacramento, CA. Something just wasn’t right about this beer. The apple flavor was definately there, but was not well balanced. Overall an average attempt...I guess apple flavor is better in cider.

Sampled on 4/6/2009. This fruit beer pours a slightly cloudy medium orange gold color from a 112oz bottle. Small sized white foamy head. The aroma is apple ciderish, malty and spicy. A medium to light bodied fruit beer. The malts are fruity and sweet. Mostly apple cider and spices. Hops are very mild, maybe earthy. Kind of a cross between an amber ale and apple cider. Not sure if it really works. Apple flavors are semi-sweet. Decent carbonation. Nice balance. Worth trying, but not really my cup of tea. It needs a little more tartness in the apples and some citrusy hops. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is sweet.

~Pours a cloudy amber color with small off white head. ~A spicy apple cider aroma with predominate amount of wheat. ~Flavor is a bit watered down. Some crisp apples in there.Couldn’t detect any tartness Pretty weak. ~Light feel with some carbonation. Hardly any finish. ~It’s ok. Thats about it though. Just ok.

Bottle from Corti Bros., Sacramento. Something of an apple skin aroma accompanied by celery. Slightly hazy amber color with a white head that never really arrived. Less than medium body with mild, not quite creamy, carbonation. The flavor comes on mildly sweet with light apple flavors. Very light. The finish is smooth, very light caramel, with hardly any bitter. Tart? It’s arguable. Over all, the flavor seems weak. Not really interesting. However, the mild finish is good enough to keep one sipping.

12 ounce bottle purchased at Corti Brothers in Sacramento, CA. Again, this has the typical floral/swampy house yeast character in the aroma. This plays second fiddle to the appley, spicy, cinnamon aromas. They are not overdone, but they do seem like they are from a Yankee candle or something. Mildly hazy orangey amber body with a pretty weak off-white head that is rather small and wispy. Well, this has a lot of roasted malts and well. Um roasted, nutty maltiness. A little bitterness later on, but there is virtually no apple flavors that are appreciated in the flavor. They do not add anything to this amber ale, nor do they detract anything from the amber ale. The beer is ok, but it is weak when it comes to the apple flavoring.

Bottle. Clear, amberish color with a white head. Sweet, apple and malt aroma. Tastes like apple vinegar.