Emmetts 1 A.M. Ale

Brewed by Emmetts Tavern and Brewing Company
Style: Bitter
West Dundee, Illinois USA

Serve in English pint

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Paddle sampler on tap at the brewpub (Downers Grove, IL). My first visit to Emmett’s. Pours a crisp amber gold hue, dulled glow from within and the edges. No haze as a transparent beer comes forward. Decent sized whitish head sits atop and rings, dies to a decent ring and laces small. Aromas are some touches of caramel and pale malts, biscuits and a mellow sweetness hit a dry floral and earthy hopping. Touches of fruitiness mix with the sweeter malts, mellow. Initial is lighter end of medium bodied offering some sufficient touches of pale malts, caramel, and biscuits. A mellow sweetness grows, mixing with some gentle fruitiness and spice. Calming, mellow body offers some dry florals and earthy hops into the finish but doesn’t keep the beer from being a bit sweeter. Ok. A gentle touch of American citrusy hop elements comes into play late and after it warms a bit more..

Tap at Emmett’s in Downers Grove on Dec. 27, 2011. Mild caramel nose. Clear light amber pour. Medium palate, and a mild caramel taste.

Date: December 27, 2011 Mode: Tap Source: Emmetts DG Description: Translucent copper with minimal head. Hoppy and malt in aroma. Taste was caramel start and mild bitter finish. Thin and easy to drink.

Tap at the brewery. A nice session beer. Honey colored pour with a thin head. Pretty much as billed. An English mild but with bright aromatic American hops.

09-May-08 (22-oz bottle with a competition label only: Free bottle for stewarding the 2008 World Beer Cup in San Diego, CA) Every now and then, it’s nice to kick back and pour an easy-drinkin’ session ale. This is a wonderfully nutty ale, fairly malty, mildly chocolaty and toasty, but low in sweetness. Floral hops adds mild bitterness in perfect balance. The nose is very nutty and malty, and the hops contribute a nice, floral aroma in the background. Clean on the palate, light-medium in body, and light-medium in carbonation, this 4.5% beer is as easy on the palate as it is on the intoxication level. In the glass, the beer is dark-amber in color and fairly cloudy, but it pours only a quarter-inch of off-white head that dissipates to a thin ring. Overall, 1 A.M. Ale is not going to bowl you over with big, brawny flavor, but rather seduce you with great balance and solid craftsmanship. A nice change of pace.

Had at Downers Grove location. Nice session bitter. Not too bitter, not too malty or sweet. Serving: Tap

This one arrived on tap in the appropriate glass. No head, but lacing. Had the expected caramel, slightly sweet, with the exact herbal hop balance needed. Well made. A good session brew.

Growler my daughter brought home from the Dundee brewpub. A big off white takes a few moments to separate from the beer and then takes up 2/3 of the glass. Beer is clear gold with an amber tint. Aroma is hoppy with some basement. Flavor is softer than expected with light fruit, caramel, bread. Mid glass the malt steps up with a hint of spice. Finish offers nice balance with fruit, malt and s dollop of bitterness. Very fresh and pleasant to drink. I love the low ABV. I love my daughter just a little more now, too.

Sample at the Downer’s Grove location. Clear copper pour with a thin off-white head. Nose is caramelly, dank and slightly fruity. Flavor is of creamy malt at first with some caramel influence before a hop finish that is a bit more crisp than expected.

Sample at the Palatine brewpub. Pours a clear pale orange color with a medium off-white head that diminishes steadily. Rings of lacing on the glass. Bready malt aroma with an underlying fruity character. Medium, smooth body with flavors of biscuity malt, light hops and a touch of fruit. The finish is short and malty. Barely average overall.