Beer pick of the week: Otter Creek Copper Ale
January 27th, 2009 by Jeff Holland in Drink
Otter Creek Copper Ale
Copper Ale
Otter Creek Brewing
Middlebury, VT
5% ABV
I recently ran across several beers from this small-town Vermont brewery and picked up the altbier on a whim. The Copper Ale is Otter Creek’s flagship beer, and the first one it produced back in 1991. A Czech pilsner and a porter are part of the lineup in Georgia. The brewery also produces Wolaver’s Organic Ales.
Altbier (literally “old beer”) is a German ale style popular in Dusseldorf, and a throwback to the pre-lager days. Altbiers have a bit more malty character and body than German lagers, with perhaps a hint of fruity esters from the ale yeast, but this is still a clean, well-structured ale. Otter Creek’s version features toasted grains and caramelized malt nicely balanced by a floral hop character and a quenching citric sourness. The firm body is consistent throughout, with a lively carbonation and a moderately bitter finish. The toasted malts and slightly sweet grains are a natural match for a burger or wings; just in time for your Super Bowl party.
(Photo by Jeff Holland)
January 27th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
I enjoyed their Alpine Ale during my stint in the Northeast a few years back. Hopefully can find that or something close now in Atlanta.