Gordon Biersch Alt

Brewed by Gordon Biersch Brewing Company
Style: Altbier
San Jose, California USA

Serve in Kölsch/Altbier

Location: We have a bunch of these in the metro DC area, I think I’ve prob been to 3 of them, including the one in "Downtown Rockville" that I visit pretty often, I’ve had this one on tap there

Overall Impression: Another decent offering from GB, this is one of their seasonals, and it’s got some hop distinction, but overall its a pretty average brew.

Blah...did not really care for this one. Some malt but definitly seems a bit skunky to me. Bad aftertaste as well.

On tap in Atlanta location. Always nice to try a new alt, as it is a style I enjoy and would like to see more of around. Copper color, thin but lasting white head, clear. Aroma was of clean malt, faintly nutty, with an undefined hop bitterness. Flavor was interesting - rather sweet malts were a bit out of style - an alt should, in my humble opinion, be quite malty, but also quite dry. The hops added some balancing bitterness, but not enough to dry things out. In fact, it was in some ways a bit like a Cali common. Inoffensive, but perhaps a touch under attenuated. Didn’t hate this by any means, but I didn’t order a second either.

Caramel coloured body with a thinnish tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, nuts, light spices and a bit of hops - not really altish - but I’ll give it an amber. Medium-bodied; Strongish malt flavour with some toffee and caramel sweetness coming out, followed behind by alcohol and toasted malt. Aftertaste has a lot of nutty and caramel characteristics, but the overall finish is fairly light. Overall, I thought this wasn’t too alt-ish, but it wasn’t offensive in anyway. Regardless, this isn’t such a great beer, and like most of their beers, not necessarily worth trying. I sampled this half litre served from draught today on 26-March-2009 at the Washington [DC] location of the brewpub.

On tap at the Arena District location. Pours a deep amber with a big frothy beige head. Malty aroma with some crisp hops for balance. Hop flavor up front with malt on the back end. Not knocking my socks off, but a solid Altbier.

This was incredibly easy drinking, almost to the point of being thin. Nice brown color, some malt and hops in the flavor, mostly indistinct. But only $3 at happy hour, so that was good.

Draught at the DC location. Brown with a fluffy beige head. Light molasses and earthy hop aroma. They served it ice cold so it took awhile to come through. The server described it as the hoppyest of their beers, and while it did have some spicy hop flavor and respectable bitterness, it was far from a German IPA. A bit of caramel and toasted malt sweetness. Strikes a good balance. Not great, but respectable from such a mainstream brewpub.

draft at plano location, almond colored pour with slight head, bitter malty aroma, flavors tend towards dusty caramel and fruity bitter, better than expected