Rock Bottom Yorktown Amberwit

Murky but brilliantly golden amber with a nice lacing off-white head. Subtley sweet with a nice rich flavor clove, citrus, bready malts. Very drinkable.

Mug Club. Boy, that’s hazy! Murky like a brown Hacker Pschorr, if you will. Maybe it will settle and look a little more appealing later. Tim just told me it was "accidental" too, so I’m missing the story behind that. But actually, a nice smell: a bit of wit with the advertised orange peel. Taste brings out the wit base and some milk, too. More lemon on the tongue than orange, but the orange does build up toward the finish. Light wheat spices and an idea of honey from the amber malts. I agree with Cornfield, this would be great in the summer, but for now it’s a decent wit with a funny look.

Part accidental, part experimental, wholly sessionable, this is a tasty twist on the Wit style that, to brewmaster Tim Marshall’s surprise, is a hit with the brewpub’s regular crowd. It’s got a cloudy, milky amber body with a tall off-white head that deposits a heavy coating of lace. The aroma is yeasty with supportive hits of caramel, bread dough, orange peel, and soft spices. Having a fluffy mouthfeel, it delivers flavors promised by the nose along with hints of softer fruit. If he can manage it, Tim should brew up some more for late July, early August. Nice, but, considering the season, I followed it up with a barrel aged double brown and a barley wine. Chicago area folk need to visit this brewpub.

Rock Bottom Yorktown, Lombard, IL