Can You Dig It?
Brewery: 4th Tap Brewing Co-Op
Style: American Amber (19A)
Package: 12oz Can
Purchased: Whichcraft Mueller, May 2018
Packaged Date: N/A
Consumed Date: 5/28/18
Details from the Brewer
ABV: 6%
IBU: 25
Made with a complex blend of German, American, British and Belgian malts.
Review
Aroma – 8/12
Toast and intense bready malt characters at a medium-high level. There is a low citrus, maybe grapefruit hop aroma present, but hard to pick up from behind the malt character. Low level of toffee. An almost cherry note comes out as it warms.
Appearance – 3/3
A deep dark red almost brown liquid. Clarity is decent with some haze. Fine beige bubbles make up a one-finger head. It lasts with average retention, fading to a ring.
Flavor – 7/20
The toast and bready malt character hits first at a moderate-high intensity. The malt flavor dominates the balance, and brings with it a good amount of sweetness. A low level of citrus hop character is present. The finish brings a low level of bitterness but also a slight twang on the tongue. I don’t want to say it’s a sourness, but it’s a sharp note that runs against the rest of the taste. As it warms some papery oxidation character is present.
Mouthfeel – 3/5
Medium bodied accompanied by a medium carbonation. A low level of astringency is present on the back of the tongue during the finish.
Overall Impression – 4/10
This is an interesting take on an American Amber. While there does seem to be a nice malt complexity to the aroma, the flavor is not as complex. The strange note popping out on the finish really distracted from any good parts of the flavor.
Rating – 25/50
Another new canned offering from 4th Tap. I didn’t mind certain aspects of this beer, but the finish really threw me off from wanting to drink my whole glass. I like that they’re blending malts and using a complex grist instead of over using crystal malt. It definitely doesn’t stand out amongst other ambers that have been in the Austin market for almost a decade.
