New Albanian Beaks Best

Pours light brown with a nice off white head. Aroma is caramel with hints of citrusy and earthy hops. Flavor is a nice rich bready, biscuity malt flavor with hints of caramel and a surprising amount of citrusy hop flavor for a beer that is only around 30 IBU’s. Great bitter.

Date: April 23, 2009
Mode: Draft
Source: Rich O’s, New Albany, IN
Appearance: muddy brown, fine off white head, streaks of lace
Aroma: sweet and bready aroma, light earthyness
Flavor: rich malt flavor, touch of caramel sweetness, lots of earthyness for balance keeps it pretty dry, heady woodsy character, floral hops, long flavorful bitter finish
Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.2/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **+/4

On cask at New Albanian Bank Street Brewhouse. Cloudy, dark brown pour, tawny, light brown lasting head with decent lace. Nice soft mouthfeel typical of cask ales. Roasty, coffee notes, and a nicely bitter finish.

On Tap at the "New" New Albanian on Bank St. Nice bitter. Right amount of citrus. Would have it again.

Indy Winterfest ’09. Lightly hazed orange with a thin offwhite head. Lightly fruity nose. Floral hops. Toast. Something seems a bit off, not sure though. Flatter and even body with lower carbonation. Orangy to toasty astringency with lighter malt. Floral hops. Lingering toast.

Tasted 12/3/08. Growler from the brewpub. Hazy with an amber brown hue. Thick layer of bread white head. Medium bodied. Bitter and brown. Good dose of malts with a dry finish.

On tap at Rich O’s. Fresh balanced and easy drinking. No alcohol on aroma or flavor. Hop and malt deliciousness medium body. Fantastic.

Draft at NABC. Light brown color with moderate off-white head that diminished slowly. Moderate sweet malt aroma. Medium body with smooth texture. Medium sweet malt flavor with a short finish.