Upstream Ebenezer

Brewed by Upstream Brewing Company
Style: Old Ale
Omaha, Nebraska USA

Dark brown and fairly clear. Yeasty. A bit roasty. This is really more of a big porter or an imperial brown than a stout, but not a bad beer.

On tap into tapered ale glass, Legacy location. Good beer. Dark but not opaque brown-black with a meager light brown head of fizzy bubbles that diminishes to a ring around the edge and a dusting across the top broken here and there to let the transluscent beer shine through. Smell was stiff and fresh, dominated by grainy malts, with a bit of molasses and brown sugar. I don’t remember ever smelling a stout like this before; it smells like some other style, although I can’t say which right now. Maybe a maibock? Flavor was also kind of un-stoutish: the grainy malts come on full flavor. The flavor was full as hell, but the body wasn’t as heavy or substantial as I would expect a "double stout" to be. Subtle baker’s cocoa lurked beneath the surface, as well as a light plumy sweetness. If those undercurrents could be developed more, this would be worthy of a 4-ish rating. As it is, however, the beer is more potential than fruition.

Had this one Christmas 2004 on a nice subzero Nebraska night. By far the best beer at Upstream and good alcohol warmth for the cold night. Nice spicy, nutty aroma. Taste of chocolate and spice with little hop bitterness. A very likable beer.

From the Growler at the 2004 Crescent Moon Vintage Beer Tasting. Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m tough on the Upstream Beers. Ebenezer is one damn good ale! In fact, it is excellent. Rich and charming. Dark beige head. Very delightful and big quality full palate. A mouth warmer! I swear I taste and smell molasses! This is a big beer that would get me into the Upstream on a regular basis. This just proves my point that Management at the Upstream is all about profit and not about beer because the brewer must be on a very very short leash. However, every dog has his day and Ebenezer is it.

XMAS beer: brown and garnet hue with solid head and good lace. Interesting nose with hints of smoke, spice, black and chocolate malts, orange peel and nuts. Full malt and spicy taste initially. Has a minor fruity background with most of the hops covered up. Medium-bodied with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel, touch of alcohol present. This is a very nice holiday brew, a spicy stout. Would have been great with extra body.

(Draught) Pours a dark amber-brown color with a medium head and a strong alcohol aroma. Descent double stout to sip on during those cold Nebraska winter nights.