New Holland Cabin Fever (through 2006)

Formerly brewed at New Holland Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
Holland, Michigan USA

Date: 04/28/2006
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

dark amber, nice fine off white head, earthy hop aroma on a dry carmel malt base, flavor follows aroma with lots of dry carmel malt well balanced with earthy hops, nice bitterfinish

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Light brown copper color with a thin layer of head. Aroma of noble hops, some cascades, and crystal malt. Smooth flavorful body is a combination of caramel malt and bittering hops. Reminds me a lot of a barleywine, only a little less complex and without as much alcohol. By far the best amber I've ever had. Very drinkable.

Brad’s Mystery X beer and a fine choice, thanks, growler: Reddish coppery hue with a small off-white head and okay lacing. The aroma was piney and aromatic, fruity and yeasty and had a touch of caramel malts. The taste starts with a lots of dry fruits (apple and pear mostly) with a hint of lemongrass. Gets a piney snap towards the finish. The feel is full, twangy and dry, nicely done. Like an APA but with the palate of a richer beer, I like this surprise a lot. A amber huh?

Draft @ New Holland: Clear amber color with an off-white head. Malty caramel aroma with some piney hops. Some nutty notes as well. The flavor is sweet and malty with caramel and nut. Some hop flavor in the back. Medium bodied.

Belgian sort of taste. Bad taste of alcohol.

This really reminds me of an ESB. Very malty and and a lot of grapefruity hops in the aroma and character. Despite the dark reddish-brown color of the beer and the light reddish-tan of the head, this beer’s flavor is surprisingly light Yes, it definitely malty but with the level of hops in the profile, it seems lighter that you’d expect. Not a bad beer.

On tap at New Holland. Cloudy orangish-red body, thin off-white head. Rather piney aroma, caramely, with a touch of fruit. Flavor starts with piney, bitter hops, soon softening to caramely, fruity malts before coming back with a yeasty, earthy, grainy and slightly bitter finish. Reminds me of their Red Tulip Ale (my favorite Amber) but hoppier and with less emphasis on Munich malts. This could probably be placed in a variety of styles, and that’s why I brought a growler of this "mystery" beer to marinaro500’s post-Thanksgiving gathering!

Growler served as Mystery Beer X. I was certain this was a different Michigan beer and was completely wrong. I also would have never guessed this was an amber. If all ambers were like this I might enjoy the style. Hoppy with lots of malt and a hint of the rye. Very nice in all aspects.