Cricket Hill American Ale

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

Nice reviews here but this one didn't particularly strike my fancy. Picked this up in the liquor store at Penn Station Newark of all places. Was going to drink it on the train into New York but forgot. Poued a semi clear amber colour with ann off whiteh ead. Some decent hoppage going on. Floral, soft and piney with some fruitforwardness to it. Semi sweet undertones, particuarly some caramel and red apple. Other then that pretty average amber.

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

Re-rate, KSBF07 on draft: Definitely not as bitter as my previous experience, probably evolving taste buds more than anything. More refreshing, good hop and malt balance, golden colored pour. Original rating: Too simple to speak more highly of, but decent. Wow, this one was darned bitter, no joke. The pour was orange-copper with a huge head and very good lacing all the way down. The aroma was herbal hoppy, lightly bready, somewhat oxidized. The flavor was strong herbal and resinous hops, stale broad leafy greens, and one year old sun-dried orange rinds, really quite bitter (do they put old trash in this brew?). The finish was somewhat tart, really bitter, moreso than an IPA. And man, not until 10mins after drinking the last sip did I find anything close to caramel and light bread underneath. The old saying that the only difference between Jersey girls and Jersey trash is that the girls sometimes get picked up.... boy, throw this in a trash can and I'd settle for the girl. Not a fan here.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 5

08.13.05 12oz bottle with a blank area below where it states: bottling date. The only thing that irks me more than a brewer not giving some sort of date on a bottle or other packaging, is a brewer that teases with the promise of a date but does not come through. Okay, that rants out of the way....Beer is orange amber with slight head of uneven white bubbles, attractive. Aroma is peppery, resinous, and biscuit, also some dead grass, taffy (no, not toffee). Flavor is standard, plain, and mostly uninteresting. Spicy resins are gone, as is most of the swseetness. What remains is a dead grass tea. Thin body is almost peat smoked, but not; almost sweet, but not; almost sweaty, and, oh yes, it’s swwweaty. There’s an underlying mineral something or other that I was trying to pin down as something from the hops, but no, it’s just a musty sweat that lingers, subtly, but it’s there. No thanks. Body is light and effy. I don’t know what about this beer is supposed to be "American".

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

A brewery I never heard of -- in a rather sleek and artsy package (side-wise lettering, light blue and white on a black background). To be honest, I had some doubts, but I figured I'd give it a fair try anyway.

Not a bad effort at all, really. Very easy in the mouthfeel, with a slightly tart (Golding? Cascade?) hop profile, and satisfying malt backbone. Label write-up mentions rock candy, whereas I tend to think more along the lines of sweet cornbread....

One of the things I especially appreciated about this one was that it's no where near what be considered "eXtreme". Probably around 1.050 or so, 5%ABV..., and without a metric ass-load of hops. Just a solid, well-made sessionable American Pale Ale, with an easy finish and pleasing after-taste.

A nice session starter..., or an even nice sixer to curl up next to after work. :) Recommended.

Music: Defleshed "Under The Blade".
//TB

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

Medium amber colored body with a slightly yellowish head. Fairly strong citrus aroma of oranges and some flowers. There is also a very light pine note. There is also some biscuit. The taste is light with caramel and some light smoked wood. There is also a light note of Golden Delicious apples in the finish. Nicely done.