Keegan Ales Old Capital

Brewed by Keegan Ales
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Kingston, New York USA

Bottle from a trade with tgncc. Pours hazy pale straw color with white head. Grainy aroma with some floral hops. Mild cereal flavor with moderate bitterness and a watery flavor. Thin body with lively carbonation. Tastes like a macro light beer to me. Thanks Tom.

There are some niche styles of beer which are acquired tastes, but I’ve never understood the appeal of a blonde ale because it’s an inherently mild, generic beer. That’s why Keegan Ales Old Capital caught me off guard because it’s made by a microbrewery whose other two beers were great examples of nice styles.

POUR, COLOR AND AROMA

This beer pours smoothly and forms a slightly dark golden body which is a little cloudy (which is odd because there’s no sediment noticeable). The head is white and foamy and about an inch and a half thick. Strangely enough, it is quite hoppy-smelling for a lighter-style beer.

TASTE

The ale family of beer is usually known for its specific taste styles, unlike lagers which are quite similar across the board. Maybe that’s why Old Capital threw me for a loop – because I was expecting something more substantial, but what I got was so seemingly average.

The beer starts off with a distinct hop bitterness along with a mild, but noticeable, flavor of banana and clove. However, as I continued to drink I found the fruity flavors took a backseat to a dry, doughy, yeast-like taste. There also seemed to be hints of lemon, but it was washed out by the beer’s thin, watery body. Overall, it wasn’t bad-tasting, but there just wasn’t a lot to like.

FINISH

When people hear a beer has a hop bite to it, they tend to assume it’s difficult to drink. While Old Capital certainly is more bitter than your average session beer, it’s not strong and tart like an India pale ale. Combined with its mild taste and watery body, it’s no surprise it’s very smooth.

BODY

I wasn’t able to find out the ABV or calorie count for Old Capital so my judgment of its weight is entirely subjective. However, since this is a lighter beer it definitely drinks and feels like such. I didn’t feel overwhelmed or filled up at all. If this beer is intended to be a session brew, it certainly has a case for such.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Beers like Keegan Ales Old Capital are a bit of a head-scratcher because I’m not sure who their target is. It’s too bland for the connoisseur seeking potent flavor and a little too crafty for Joe Six Pack wanting something without surprises. It’s drinkable, to be sure, but not as enjoyable as I’d prefer.

NOTE: watch the video version of this review at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25B82IFQUj0

12 oz. bottle via trade with j12601 - Pours a clear light golden color with a one and a quarter finger thick white head. Very little lacing. Aroma is grain, soap, and grassy hops. Flavor is light grain and herbal hops. Medium body. A nice blonde. Thanks Jay.

Clear golden head with a firm white head, light fruity aroma, crisp, straightforward flavor,not too distinctive, but a fine daily beverage.

had one of these at a family gathering. what can i say, it’s a very light beer. no body at all. off golden color with a white head. i didn’t get much of a discernible taste out of it. it went okay with meat, but with no taste, that is not saying much. i’d never buy it.

bottle: smells definitely lagery, which is a bit odd. That is to say, yeast and grain. Taste is a bit better... thin and light, but a little flat definitely a refreshing brew. The color is a pale yellow and white head.

Bottle provided by a co-worker who recently picked this up in NY. Has an odd lactic sour note in the nose with a hint of stale grain. The flavor is pretty simple; pale grains, light lemon and some light hay/grassiness. Medium light body with moderate carbonation. Ok for a quick drinking beer but nothing you would ever want to come back to again.

Cloudy, golden, sunny yellow. Minor snow white head. Lots of carbonation. Nice golden look. The smell is German lagerish malt. Very bitter; deep, rich and heavily roasted grains. Not a wimpy aroma. The taste is bitter as hell like the German/amberish malts of a Heineken. But also has an English, bready base. Hint of ringwoody (okay fine, chlorine) sourness. The feel is like a real English ale, or a cream ale. Adds the perfect amount of substance. It’s a damn good, thick golden ale.