Beer pick of the week: Otter Creek Copper Ale

Otter Creek's altbier features toasted grains and caramelized malt balanced by a floral hop character, a quenching citric sourness, and a firm bitterness that would pair nicely with grilled meats at a Super Bowl party.

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)





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