Grand River Plowmans Ale

Brewed by Grand River Brewing
Style: Amber Ale
Cambridge, Canada

From a growler, at a tasting at Matt7215 place. Dark reddish brown appearance, off white head, very complex flavour, starts malty and ends very hoppy. Very strong flavour for a lowish % beer.

Growler. Amber-brown with a medium, sticky whitish head. Aroma is sweetish, with caramel, toast, and hops. The taste is quite hoppy, with just enough malt to back it up. Nicely bitter finish. Medium body and carbonation. Kinda like an English bitter made with Belgian yeast. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Pours a deeper shade of amber, topped with long lasting off white head, leaving good lace. Gorgeous, fresh aroma of leafy, floral hops, bursting with pine essence, citrus (lemon, orange), and hints of butterscotch and cotton candy. The inviting aroma is matched by assertive floral hops, lemon zest, grass, a touch of sweet malty caramel and bubblegum. Medium body, with a very forward and enjoyable bitter finish. As with other beers from this brewer, the focus is on balance, full flavour, and lower ABV. It seems they can’t go wrong. Excellent.

Shared growler from brewery, served cold in a Stella chalice. NOV17/07.

App.: Medium amber, clear, decent whitish head. Aroma: Some soft, biscuity malts, lovely dank piney hops, light fruitiness. Palate: Medium body and medium-soft carbonation, a touch astringent. Flav.: Some caramel and crunchy toffee, slightly nutty, lighter hops than on the nose but same profile, lightly off-dry, with a good bitter finish.

Really nice. My brother and I killed the bottle the next day after it had sat out over night. Even slushy it was a pleasure to drink. I will certainly get more, even if I have to drive 7 hours to do so!

Deep copper-amber in colour, thin beige coloured head, light lacing. The aroma is quite hoppy, lots of pine and orange with some light caramel malt undertones. The flavour is again quite hoppy, good amount of sweetness, the pine carries over and grapefruits are introduced, the caramel malt provides the balance. Bitter mouthfeel, medium body, tingly carbonation. Finishes long, hoppy and dry. This completely blew me away. Totally unexpected, a brewery to watch in Ontario for sure.

Cask at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? target=blank>Volo in Toronto, Ontario on October 20, 2007.

Finally, an American-style ale I can be proud of. Copper colour, impressive head with nice lacing, a mild but long and dry finish. Clean, thick, feels refreshing in the back of the throat. Maybe the best pale ale in Ontario. Lawnmower beer? Hell, no. Plowman’s, bitches.

The beer smelled nice and hoppy, but I found that all the taste was middle-loaded (ie my first impression and the finish were both low on flavour. I also found this brew a little watery. Its not offensive, but not something I would order again by choice...their mild is amazing though!

This poured a nice reddish color with lots of head. Smell was a bit musty with a very strong hop aroma. Flavor was extremely bitter, hops very prominent here. A little bit much at times. Overall however it is quite a good brew, if you’re a hop-head I’m definitely sure you would appreciate this one.