Long Trail Ale

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

This ale pours a light amber color with a frothy, small head. There is virtually no residue on the glass. The body is clear with minimal bubbles. Not an overpowering aroma, but there are hints of flowery hops, as well as some peach. Taste is lightly acidic and lightly bitter, finishing just lightly bitter. Light mouthfeel with a watery texture and lively carbonation. A somewhat chalky feel on the finish.

Coppery gold color with little head. Sweet caramel malt aroma. Decent flavor of hearty breadiness, though it is really thin as is the malty sweetness. Extremely muted flavors. Fairly highly carbonated and medium body. Not a great beer.

12z bottle. Ruby and clear with a clinging white head. Slight bready nose. Caramel and fruit. Short lived malty sweetness, taken over by a sticky, piney hop bitterness, then left with a lively zesty finish.

pale amber color, light tan foamy head. aroma a littly grassy/sour malt. flavor is faintly sweet caramel malt, but also a little sour metallic hop. weak for an alt, try the double bag instead.

Bottle: Darker golden, very slight haze, moderate white foamy head, decent lacing, very little carbonation.   Musty grain aroma, slightly grassy.   Taste reminds me of a hefty Helles, sweet grass with a touch of malt.   Moderate body and mouthfeel.   Clean finish, lingering sweet grass.   Not half bad.   Thanks Dan!

Bottle, from Julio’s. Bottle on 9/20/05. Ok nose, sweet & sour. Fruity, green apple, apricot. Caramel. Little sourdough. Clean orangy copper color, small head that faded quickly. Bitter sweet flavors, like aroma, but with a tinny lime/grapefruit taste being more upfront. Medium body, lite creamy smooth mouth feel, bitter finish. OK, but not inspiring. Man I let this sit in my fridge for a month. Oh well don’t think it affected it.

Pours out a beautiful clear brown color with an off-white foamy head. The aroma is of malt-like sweetness with some light spice. It’s a really nice looking beer in the glass. It’s malty sweet with a slightly roasted undertone. The sweetness is almost that sweet-dough like flavor but never quite gets there as the hops kick in with just a hint of sourness and a kick of bitterness on the finish. The carbonation level is light enough not to dominate but present enough to accent the slight bitterness of the hops. It’s a not-quite-medium-bodied beer that is exceptionally smooth and goes down easily mouthful after mouthful. From burgers and steaks to chicken, pork and fish it goes fine. I can see drinking it on a summer afternoon with a salad or during the winter with a bowl of soup or stew.

Decent, slightly bitter/sour taste, something you could pound a number of with no problem. Real clean flavor. Little aftertaste. Sour vegetable nose. Pretty good for what it is, a good drinkin beer to drink several of in pursuit of a good time. Not too exciting as a beer to drink for aesthetic reasons.