Piece Anniversary Ale

Brewed by Piece Brewery & Pizzeria
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Chicago, Illinois USA

This review is for the 8th Anniversary, which was sold to me as an ESB at 6.5% ABV. And it was terrific. ESBs to me are usually a Zzzzz style, but I had a feeling that at Piece this particular style wouldn’t be boring. And I was rewarded for my confidence - this was a light, well-balanced, but still assertively hoppy ale that was quite good. Appearance was a light amber, with an abundant tan head. Aroma was sweet, citrusy hop notes. Flavor was more citrus hoppiness well balanced by maltiness. The overall character was a very pleasant but not over-the-top floral, citrus-y hoppiness. Mouthfeel was fairly light and clean. Sort of reminded me of 2 Hearted, but with significantly more maltiness. Quite good. I had this on tap at Piece, and would definitely recommend it.

Draft at the brewpub. The chalk board said 4.5% ABV. Poured a clear dark brown-orange color. Amber, really. The head was thick, fluffy, and off white with good retention and lacing. The arom was of citrus, caramel, and vanilla. Medium bodied with hefty hop bitterness of about 7-8 out of 10. I tasted toasted bread, dark toffee, citrus fruit, and pine resin. Delicious.

This seems a little different than earlier entries (7th Anniversary). On tap @ Piece. Pours a brown/dark red with an off white head. Nice aroma of citrus, caramel, and some grapefruit. Good flavor, with some very nice lingering bitterness. This beer packed some serious flavor for a beer that was only 4.5%. Very enjoyable, wish it was on the rotation more.

I really liked this, and it was easy drinking enough that I expect alot of non beer fans to as well. It is darker than I would have guessed, and very caramely for a pale ale. All works though, very easy to chill out with.

On tap @ the Brew pub: Pours a dark brown with an off white head. Aroma, citrus, caramel, light fruits, some grapefruit. Flavor, pine citrus, caramel, some brown sugar in the background as well. Good brew.

This was the sixth anniversary version, 2007. Very nice beer, but I think it is more of an American Strong Ale, as it had a nice chewy consistency and a fair amount of alcohol. Loads of hops and character. Very nice.

Draught (2005 version): darkish, mahogany colored body with a generous off-tan head. Nutty aroma, laced with copious amounts of piney hops, and citrus zest. Sticky palate that delivers caramel and toffee and smooth malts in front of the bitter finish. Tasty and very drinkable, one of the better session ales I have had at Piece…

Caramel colored body with a thick, fluffy tan head. Piney, hoppy nose with light caramel, grapefruit, nuts, toffee and grape nuts. The body is of moderate thickness, but smooth and very drinkable. A more malt-dominated flavor profile than expected from the aroma. The toffee, nuts and toasted grains all play well together and make for easy drinking. The hoppiness is mild and low on bitterness. It has more of an effect of balancing the rather malty body and keeping things interesting. A very drinkable beer. The menu said this was a dry-hopped ESB, but it looks like last years may have been an IPA (booyatribe), so maybe we need seperate entries?