Grand River Plowmans Ale

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

Growler. Ruddy amber body with a good sized foamy tan head. Hoppy aroma with a strong presence of toasted malt. (7+) Decent amount of bitterness in the flavour, and healthy dose of earthy malt. Hops have a light citrus character that threatens to become very astringent, but pleasantly stops short of doing so. Seems more bitter than it really is because of the leanings toward astringency. Average palate is smooth and appropriate. (3+) More fruitycitrus expression of the hops would suit my palate, but it is a solid quaff as is. Bodes well for future endeavours from Grand River. 7+/4/8/3+/16

Growler at 2007 Golden Tap Awards, beerbistro. Pours a clear amber-copper with a good size mostly-lasting off-white head. Mild aroma of caramel malt, grain, light roastness and some light yeasty sweetness. Flavour has a good amount of resiny hops, some lightly roasted malt and a nice bitter finish. Average to medium bodied. Good stuff, very well done.

In short: An earthy and hoppy amber ale. Good stuff.
How: Bottle 500ml from matt7215, thanks a lot Matt. Consumed very fresh, bottling date October 03 2008, drank 12 days later (October 15 2008).
The look: Clear amber body topped by a medium beige head with medium retention
In long: Intriguing nose, very hoppy for a so-called amber ale with lots of perfumy flowers citrus. Taste has a good amount of earthy caramelized despite a rather light body. Fresh red fruits and even a hint of pineapple. The perfumy note of the aroma translate into earthy leafy hops in the taste with a slight dark tea and green tea flavour. Hopping is actually reminiscent of a ESB but with a dirtier caramelized body. Nice beer. But calling a beer Plowman’s Ale up here in the snowy north is not really appealing, it’s like calling a beer the Dentist’s Ale in England.

500. thanks, scrizzz! pours a lightly hazed very dark amber. tangy, peachy, toffeeish nose. creamy medium body with soft carb. woody, earthy mid palate. mild earthy finish.

Aroma is a malty forefront, some pleasant hops follow, dark amber, good sized, long lasting custard head. Fine taste of malt, subtle bittering. Medium bodied, very well balanced, a pleasing bitter aftertaste. Terrific! Thanks R.

Bottle from scrizz. Instead of us giving him beers for his birthdat, he gave them to us. It was almost a bizarro world tasting without the beer controller pouring my beer and telling me when to finish. Light buggy nose, some toffee/caramel, and some sharp fruity notes. Golden amber no real head. Somewhat tart with an earthy bitterness in the finish. I don’t get much else in this one. Not really my favorite.

Draught @ Winking Judge. Deep amber with small off-white head. Grapefruity hop aroma is subtle, not in your face. Smooth, balanced, quaffable with low carbonation. Solid malts and hops both. Pretty nice but thins out in the finish a lot.

500 ml bottle from HogTownHarry; Bottled Feb 11 2009; Nose of flowery hops, caramel, and some lemony notes. clear rust with a small beige head. Flavor is bitter with some toffee; the big bitterness almost covering the toffee. Very hoppy for an amber.