Cambridge Vienna Gold

Hazy gold, superbly laced white head, fully lasting after 30 minutes. Strong Saaz nose, floral and lemony. As clean as it gets. The melting between the Vienna malts and hops is remarkable to say the least. Grassy rosewater. Very appealing. Grainy malty palate, VERY malty, but unfortunately not my favourite variety. The bitterness is very solid, balancing. Now I know my friends all liked it more than me, but I’m with them on the brewing efforts part. It’s just unfortunate that this wasn’t a dortmunder with the almost exact same recipe using all pils malt instead, because I would have given out the big marks on that. I just don’t enjoy the grainy Vienna as much as the biscuity and charming chewy pils types. Marvellous April beer, a little hidden treasure some will say.

New England Road Trip Easter ’05 with MartinT, tiggmtl and Rastacouere, beer #64. Sample at the brewpub. Ridiculously generous, lasting head with thick gorgeous lacing tops the pure gold body...herbal, grainy sourdough nose feeds my desire...luscious body with complex dissimilar leafy greens jousting at caramel, bitter smokiness, and vanilla cream, but alway fresh grass underlies and an odd pungent farmy texture coats the superb mouthfeel as tongue leads to throat and ecstasy. Easily one of the best Viennas around...

Funky, cheesy wort and citrusy flowers waltz languorously atop the luxurious green Saaz hops...Really reminiscent of L’Amère à Boire’s succulent Cerna Hora...An undying head and nutritious malt body reach perfection and send the soul high above...

Moderately sweet and malty Vienna character with some toasted malts and no hops notable in the nose. Hazy glowing copper-tan coloured body is topped by a dense, fine-bubbled, white head that recedes slowly to a persistent cover with excellent lacing. Toasted, nutty, malty and sweet flavour with light, spicy, herbal hops and fair balancing bitterness in the dry finish. Medium body with moderate carbonation and a creamy texture. On tap at the brewpub with MartinT, muzzlehatch and Rastacouere.

On draught at CBC, March 16, 2005. Served in a tumbler, well-chilled but not overly so, this beer appeared a copper-yellow with light orange tints. Moderate amount of off-white head is well-retained. Slight chill haze. Aroma is not overwhelming, due in part to it being served in a shaker. Husky graininess, light pils malt and toasted malt, with a dry, yet spicy, hops bitterness (saaz). Flavor is much more explosive than the aroma would suggest. Big dose of sweet toffee and honey up front, great malting, with a smooth, lightly dry, saaz bitterness. Crisp and clean on the finish, some light citrus hops notes are perceived as well (sterling). Body is medium to medium-full but yet wonderfully drinkable, as are so many of CBC’s low gravity creations. You can almost taste the cracked grains in this, as you can in the Regatta Golden. Malt is varied, as well, with some light caramel, toffee, toastiness and honey. A touch of fruitiness is also apparent up front, from the yeast and provides more depth. A bit of astringency on the end, from the graininess and drying hops effect, but it’s minor, and I’d rather this beer tend more dry than sweet. Carbonation is soft and bubbly, no alcohol apparency. Keep em comin, CBC!