Widmer Brothers Double Alt (84/09)

Brewed by Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
Style: Altbier
Portland, Oregon USA

22 oz. bottle (labeled 84(09) Double Alt, 25th Anniversary) poured into .2L Kolsch glass- poured transparent brown with dark maroon tints when held to a light source, heavy carbonation subsided after a couple of minutes, a small off tan head formed and lace. Aroma of a roasted malt, brown sugar, caramel, and toffee. Hits the mouth with a high medium body, alcohol is easily noticeable from first sip, malt is there but the alcohol gets in the way, very light taste of dark molasses in the middle, finish lingers and does have some acidity to it. Very much all over the place, and when that happens you get a train wreck- alt isn’t the style, more like alcohol modified/alt/weak "impy"/belgian ale. That works.

22 oz bottle from Market of Choice. Not sure why the super low rating on this one, it wasn’t half bad. Poured out a deep brown with a small tan head. Very caramelly in the aroma with a bit of pepper and cinnamon. Flavor much caramel with light pine hop, earthiness and some spice to it. Not half bad, though I probably won’t be picking up another one. Better than the typical Widmer fare and alcohol well hidden.

Bottle. Mahogony beer with a tan head. Light malt and light caramel aroma with light spice and light earth. Caramel flavor with light spice and light earthiness. Medium-plus bodied. Caramel/toffee lingers with light earth and very light roast - a bit of a concentrated malt feel. Alcohol well hidden.

bomber from "Habits" ,Salem OR Nice looking beer, dark brown with a nice tan head..The head is small yet tight and stays around. Aroma pretty weak..brown sugar, raisins etc. Taste is quite sweet, then a nice acoholic burn in the end.Inbetween we are treated to treacle,turbino sugar,cocoa and figs. I quite enjoyed the thick mouthfeel on this. This is OK.A good drink ffor a more colder time of year! I think this is nearer dobblebock territory than altbier.

Bottle. Head is initially small, frothy, light brown, mostly diminishing. Body is medium to dark brown. Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (caramel, toasted grain, husks), trace hops (herbs, resin), with notes of brown sugar and metal. Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, moderately bitter, unclean, slightly husky. Medium to full body, watery texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic, slightly metallic. A very clumsy rendition...little to appeal in the nose, and not very clean...unpleasant dirty aftertaste. A drain pour.

Bottle from South Bay Drug. Deep ruby amber color with a big beige head. Aroma of brown sugar/malt with some notes of raisin and grassy hop. Full body and mild carbonation. Flavor is fruity, grassy, malty, and maybe a tinge of chocolate. Finishes rather thick, pretty much malt. Overall a double alt seems to head towards a doppelbock. Which is fair, as an alt tends to head towards a lager. In both cases I think we get more flavor variations with top fermentation. I like this stuff. It is a bit gooey, but why should that be a problem?

Bomber poured a clear reddish brown with a lasting creamy amber head. Aromas of carmel, fruittiness, cocoa, brown sugar and toasted malt. Palate was medium bodied and smooth with a dry finish. Flavors of cocoa, carmel, brown sugar and light fruittiness with a smooth dry lingering malty finish.

Bottle... Clear, dark crimson ale with a mid-sized, creamy, khaki head. Good retention. Toasted, metallic aroma of singed toffee and nickel... I guess I’m just not a fan of German hop aromas – very metallic to me. Full-bodied and fairly silky with medium carbonation. Sweet, toasted biscuit, caramel and toffee followed by balancing, tannic hop bitterness. Lengthy, moderately bitter, roasty finish.