Long Trail Ale

Brewed by Long Trail Brewery
Style: Altbier
Bridgewater Corners, Vermont USA

Pours a rich amber to a very light ruby to maroon with orange tinges and a thin white head. The nose is fruity (berry) and light with floral hops and a caramel sweetness. The mouthfeel is good for a session beer, not too thin, but not too fizzy. The flavor is up there too. Lightly sweet with dry fruity acidity. Bears a lot of similarities to a minerally white wine. A little creamy, the finish is dry fruity sweetness, with a crisp hop bite, but nothing too big. There’s a slight lingering bitterness. This is much cleaner than the Double Bag I had last night. A really pleasant session beer.

Clear orange in color with a small bubbly white head. Malty, grassy, a touch of citrus fruits and a touch of caramel. This beer is highly drinkable and full of flavor, not bad overall.

Clear amber appearance with a small, off white head and spotty lacing. Toasted malt aroma, some soft fruit and a mild earthiness. Herbal hop taste, some sweetness, with a fruity finish. A fair interpretation of a domestic alt.

12 oz. bottle. Amber color and thin head. Fruit, yeast and hops in the nose. Full malt flavor, sweet caramel, light fruitiness and a surprising hop bitterness in the back of the mouth. Good and enjoyable full flavored brew. I could see this being a nice session beer.

Bottle. Amber/red body with a thick foamy head. Nose-dusty, grassy, plastic. Taste-very lightly husky, light honey, medium-high CO2, apple, pear, restrained fruity esters, caramel malts. This tastes exactly like Budweiser but with a thicker body. Has the same flavors as Bud but it is richer, fuller, and more flavorful. I wouldn’t call this an Altbier, and I wouldn’t call it bad either.

Bottle (12oz). Clear deep amber, smallish head. Mild malty aroma, light toasted caramel and soft perfume hops, develops a vaguely woody and herbal grain character as it warms up. Taste - sweet malt, light, amazingly quick finish. Thin and watery, easy to drink, no aftertaste - pleasant; not much of an altbier, but tasty.

This is a very standard ale that is also very, very drinkable. It isn’t a really special or interesting beer, but it is certainly well crafted. The hops flavour is not as strong as the hops flavour of most other American ales of this calibre, but that doesn’t go against this beer, as it still has a nice smooth taste. Would definately try this again.

Decent northern altbier - clean, very clear and light bodied. Golden orange with minimal head, and a subdued bitterness.