5 Seasons Düsseldorf Alt

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

This isn't quite up to par with the excellent alt that Copper Creek brewed earlier this year, but it's also not the boring tripe that so many brewers try to pass off an an alt either. Nice copper-amber body is very clear and topped by an excellent head. Very attractive beer. There's a tad bit of fruitiness to the aroma, but other than that, not much. I was expecting more hop flavor since I've heard the real deal in Germany is pretty hoppy (and the Copper Creek Alt was a nice hoppy beer), but the bittering on this one was very low. This one had to be carried by the malt, which it didn't flop on. Starts off very caramelly with a bit of sweetness, but that gradually fades and I picked up that dry, hay/straw-like malt flavor that a lot of pilsner have. With the contrast with the soft, sweet caramel up front and the dry straw at the end, it made for a little interest where there otherwise would have been none. My father-in-law mentioned that this beer smelled a little like cigars, and I admit there was a bit of that musty smell you get when inside and old tobacco barn that hasn't been used in a while with the dust, decaying wood and lingering aromas of the tobacco that had been cured there decades ago.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Dark orange appearance. Fairly watery palate and flavor. Faint malt and hops are present. A nice little beer that will not offend swill drinkers but not impress lovers of more complex beer. Average