Brooklyn Ale

Brewed by Brooklyn Brewery
Style: English Pale Ale
Brooklyn, New York USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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UPDATED: JUN 20, 2006 Bottle, BB Aug 06 (and still called Pennant Ale ’55). Head is initially small, fizzy, off-white, fully diminishing. Body is medium amber. Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (cookie), lightly to moderately hoppy (apricot, orange), trace yeast (dough). Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Easy going quaffer, nothing special.

Brooklyn Brewery describes this beer as an EPA. A gorgeous beer on pour. Nice frothy off white head, crystal clear cooper color. The nose is malty with definite biscuit aromas and more diacelyl than I prefer in a beer. Hop aroma is low but evident. A bit over carbonated which makes this ale a refreshing quaff but with a tangy not creamy mouth feel. Medium to light bodied, well attenuated. A well balanced palate with decent bitterness. Hop flavor is restrained. Malt flavor is ther but diacetyl rears its ugly head once again and lingers through the finish. A bit one dimensional relying too much on biscuit flavors with too little caramel. Some carbonic tang through the finish. A nice beer that hits all of the marks but it seems to be a bit road weary. Reminds me too much of New Castle Brown Ale with all the diacetyl. Yes, this style can have some diacetyl, but there is much more than expected in this example. I will chalk the flaws up to a hard trip from Brooklyn to Central Iowa via Chicago. I must get to the brewery to sample this on tap.

Bottle as Pennant Ale ’55 from Vintage Cellar. Poured a slightly hazy amber with a minimal white head. Aromas of dust, lightly roasted caramel and some lightly spicy hop. Medium body with mild carbonation. Flavor is lightly roasted malt, "biscuity" seems appropriate, and a very light bitter. Fairly tasty, but not all that exciting.

Perhaps my least favorite Brooklyn so far, which has been very solid to this point. Unpleasant bitter-style malt. Tart. Good looking light brown. Maybe a tad watery. Still better than midline.

Draft at the brewery. A fairly standard pale ale. Amber in color with an off white head. It has a smooth hoppy aroma. There is a great balance of flavors. Mild hops mix with a smooth malty sweetness. The malts impart almost a breadiness character. It is medium bodied with a clean finish.

Dark amber to copper color with a moderate light beige head. Light floral hops drift over the floor malt. Feel is a bit fizzy for me and this style. Caramel and cream flavors. A light herbal bitterness balances things out. Even after a vigorous swirl there is a lot effervescence. Quite drinkable. No real flavor faults. Light bitter finish and linger.

Nose of butterscotch and hay. Well balanced taste with fruity hops. Just not a whole lot going on in this beer. Getting points for clean flavors and overall balance. One of those beers that’s better than it’s Ratebeer rating because of the emphasis in rating on strength and complexity over balance and quaffability.

On tap. Aroma is very hoppy(west coast) some malt undertones. Amber, small custard head. Soft malt flavour, the hops are subdued, compared to the nose. Light bodied, balanced. Good.

Thin bodied and smooth with some bitterness in the aftertaste. I prefer the increased presence of hops in the average APA to this, but this is a good representation of the English version and would make a good session ale.

Clear amber with a frothy tan head. Sticky caramel malt and mellow hop aroma. Malty toffee flavor with soft hops and some fruitiness. Has a wet paper note and the finish is a little metallic.