Fort Street Steam Engine

Brewed by Fort Street Brewery
Style: California Common
Lincoln Park, Michigan USA

Serve in Lager glass

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Slightly hazy amber, huge off white head, great lacing. Decent hop profile up front, grassy, faint citrus, followed by light caramel malt, bready/toast backend. Malt profile bigger if flavor, toffee/caramel comes through a bit more, toasty, hop bite in finish, balances well, cleanses palate. Highly sessionable.

Draught pint at the brewpub on 11/4/06
Very light amber-beige colored beer, mostly clear, though with a slight chill haze. Some pale gold tints as well. Head is small, dissipating to partial cover, leaving little/no lacing behind. Mild carbonation running through the liquid.
Nuttiness in the nose shows high attenuation, as a hint of toasty, lightly acidic malt is apparent as well. Hops are very reserved, having a lightly grassy and somewhat floral aroma, though I’m guessing it’s mostly bittering hops and only minimal aroma/flavor additions. Some lemon and light breadiness round out the finish. Clean, mild, well-executed steam beer without much fruitiness (some peach and light apple esters are apparent).
Sweet toffee/caramel malt flavors swell on the palate initially and then are gone, as lightly toasted malt dries things out and a nutty astringency gives a rather quick finish. Some light sourness/acidity on the finish, mixing with lemon flavors from the hops. Medium amounts of carbonation do not have to work hard to keep the body light and the malt flavor lean. Not overly flavorful, but quite drinkable as the traditional beer was meant to be. Well done, no brewing flaws that I found.

On tap: Light fruit aroma with a hint of citrus hops. Transparent anber with a minimal white head. Very light fruitiness up front followed by a lightly smokey, moderate citrus hops, and light herbal notes. Somewhat IPA-ish.

Draught sample at MBG 2006 Summer Festival. Orange-amber with a small white head. Mild aroma of toasted malt. Flavour is fresh and clean, with moderately sweet malt and nice herbal hop notes. Quite nice.