Fall Festivus - Cricket Hill Brewing Co.

pwoods

Ohio

2.75/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks to NJpadreFan for the brew!

12oz. brown bottle poured into an imperial pint.

A: Pours a light glowing amber. Not much head leaves a creamy skim and light lacing.

S: Not a whole lot going on here. A bit of sweet, grainy malts but that's about it.

T/M: A small touch of light, earthy hops. Some lightly toasted malts, biscuity, maybe some toffee. Body is medium or so and carbonation is accurate.

D: Drinkable but very ho-hum. Was excepting a least a little something more from this.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2009 04:16:29 | More by pwoods

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

2.78/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Picked this up a few weeks back because it was available via the single bottle. I have no idea if this is play on the Seinfeld episode but I've never had a Fall Festivus beer before and after having this, I'm not sure if I'll ever have one again. This doesn't look or feel like an American Amber and only because I've let it warm up quite a bit am I even getting this down...

The pour to this was alright - very hazy, a murky apricot hue, and decent head to boot. The lacing was there but didn't last that long. The taste is very sharp - think grapefruit, rind, and an acrid metallic undertone with a bit of wheat and rye thrown in for thickness. The aftertaste lingers quite a bit and this almost reminds me of an inferior gin in terms of the mouthfeel. Although I love a good Sapphire and Tonic, there's just something missing in this beer. It's probably more malt as there just doesn't seem to be enough of a backbone to this.

The ABV% isn't listed and I've hardly felt it as I've worked my way through my glass. I think that I'm so used to the American Ambers from Troegs that something like this is a stylistic opposite. While I've had worse beers, this is probably my biggest disappointment for 2009 and I'm glad that I didn't start off the near year this way. Only worth a try because of its single-bottle availability and ability to clean my mouth out of any food or drink I've had beforehand.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2009 10:00:16 | More by JerzDevl2000

mikesgroove

South Carolina

2.78/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

clear copper colored amber with a nice thick two inch head of white foam that capped off the top and gave it a nice appearence

very light, which to be honest kinda dissapointed me. What I could pick up was very grainy and boring with big notes of cereal grain very apparent as well as a musty kinda of bread smell. Some light grassy hops There was a slight hoppiness in the finish, but again I stress light as it was really not a factor in the overall flavor. This was truly a malty lager and really not the normal flavor I would expectVery light bodied ale, actually lighter then I thought it would be which was suprising, but still not terrible just neded a little bit more to put it over the top. It did come come off a little bit slick and thin despite having really good carbonation

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 03:20:19 | More by mikesgroove

Bendurgin

Maine

2.88/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a pint glass. The pour is a clear orange slightly amber color with just a very thin white head that vanishes almost instantly and doesn't leave much more lace. Lots of visible carbonation. The smell is mostly candied orange with a twinge of barley and caramel to add a bit of sweet graininess. The taste is dry bready malts with a bit of citrus and caramel to the finish. A very bready and grainy beer that kind of leaves a bit of a mineral aftertaste. The mouthfeel is decent; light body and expected carbonation. For my money, I think I've had better ambers. This is fair enough and easy enough to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 03:10:41 | More by Bendurgin

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle on 12/25/09

A - Pours a deep orange brown with just some spotty bubbles

S - not alot of aroma of all, just some light malts and citrus

T - light malt, some brown sugar and lemon, not alot going on here

M - good carbonation along with some bitterness

D - light flavor, nothing amazing, just easy drinking due to lack of flavor

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 16:02:23 | More by mikereaser

Risser09

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ouncer into a pilsner - fridge - Fall 2009 brewing

Appearance: Transparent golden orange and yellow beer with a 1" tall, off-white head. There is a ton of carbonation bubbles that cling to the sides of the glass and don't let go. Looks like quite an active beer. Great retention and plenty of lace on the glass for the top-off.

Smell: Some pepper, clove and nutmeg are all quite subdued in strength. Munich malt freshness and an underlying cereal grain aroma. No hops.

Taste: Mild flavors of cereal, nutmeg and some crisp hops. A nicely balanced beer that is aching for more maltiness!!!

Mouthfeel: Crisp, lightly bodied, well carbonated and very refreshing. Nothing cloying in this beer. Just a solid, mild brew. Not as spicy as I thought it would turn out.

Drinkability: Excellent. Not a powerhouse, but worth returning to for a few rounds.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2010 02:53:18 | More by Risser09

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.03/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I got this bottle in a trade with jwc215. Thanks Joe!

This pours a hazy orange gold with a 1 finger head of foam.

The smell is hoppy and earthy with the hops winning out....quite bitter nose overall. Oh, and it also has some corn notes that reminds me of a typical macro. Not the best nose...

The taste starts off bitter, can't say it's of citrus or pine or grass, just bitter. I get some earthy malt tones and a strange feeling of some funk and..yeast?? Weird. The finish is bitter but again, it's a weird bitterness and the aftertaste lingers on a bit too much.

The mouthfeel is thin and the carbonation borders on high. Head retention is good and there's some nice lacing.

Drinkability? Not too bad but I could do without that blasted aftertaste. For the style though, I thought it missed its mark.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2009 16:43:08 | More by Bitterbill

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass. Reviewed alongside Peak Organic Fall Summit Ale.

A: Clear amber with lots of tiny bubbles and a three-finger, white, foamy head that lasted a few minutes. Too foamy. Not much lacing.

S: Malt and hops. Mild. Kind of off.

T: Pretty hoppy. Not much malt flavor. A bit spicy. Mineral taste.

M: Light to medium bodied. Lively carbonation. Dry.

O: I didn't like this beer too much. The head was too foamy and the smell was off. The taste wasn't much better.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 02:18:04 | More by SolipsismalCat

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.13/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

extra via jwc215

Pours a cloudy orange with a 2 finger, bubbly white head. Some lace, and ok retention.

At first it smelled like burnt cantaloupe and tuna fish. That went away and it smelled like non-burnt cantaloupe with yeast and spice. Smells like a orange wheat beer actually.

Tastes like tangy, burnt orange rinds with a nice yeast finish. Tastes like an orange wheat beer.

Are you sure this isn't a wheat beer?

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2009 00:57:11 | More by donkeyrunner

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.2/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On-tap 9/21/2010 at The Cloverleaf Tavern in Caldwell, NJ, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep amber color, with a short dense off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a very thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of caramelized malts, fruit, nuts and a little bit of hops.

T: The taste is very bready with a hearty malt character up front. Then some sweet flavors of caramel, citrus and other fruits come in. The hops presence is mild and provides a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly bready.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Not very tasty, goes down ok, slightly filling, mild kick, not the best representation of style, it's not a bad beer but there are several others that I would choose first.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2010 15:30:23 | More by TheManiacalOne

jwc215

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber with a thin, lasting, off-white head. Uneven rings of lacing stick.

The smell is bready/biscuity, grainy with a hint of orange and light hop spicing.

The taste is yeasty - sweetish with some orange marmalade and a light sourish note. It has a dryish finish with a floral/herbal touch.

Light-bodied with somewhat sharp carbonation.

Not bad, but a bit yeasty in a "home-brewish" way. And I'm not quite convinced that a thin beer necessarily makes for a "cross-over" or "session" beer. More caramely, smoother maltiness would improve it, I'm thinking. Not quite sure I catch the "fall" aspect here, either. Drinkable, but something "off-ish" about it that I would want to "session" with it.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2008 17:37:16 | More by jwc215

barleyroad

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance is a hazy dark gold. Smell has a hint of spice, some what floral. Good mixture of spice and hops on the taste. Mouthfeel is ok, hangs a little on the tongue. Overall, this is an ok tasting beer which finishes hoppy. We feel this beer misses a little, but is drinkable. Will go well with some beef.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 23:13:34 | More by barleyroad

MrOH

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear burnished gold with one finger off white head, decent lacing

Slight smells of caramel malt and a hint of nuttiness, leafy hops

Tastes pretty much like it smells with a very malt forward flavor, slight bitterness toward the end

Light to medium bodied with low carbonation and a touch of syrupyness towards the end

Overall, goes down pretty smooth and would go great with low intensity fall activities, not something I'd want as an only beer for the evening, but not something to pound a sixer of either. Kinda like a slightly sweeter/ less nutty Newcastle

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 22:41:08 | More by MrOH

zoso1967

Michigan

3.38/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Pours a very clear and attractive orangish light amber color, but has almost no head. The slight ring of foam does leave some lace on the glass, but it there is not a whole lot to write about as far as the head goes.

The aroma nice and floral with hints of orange zest and lemon. It is a pretty subdued nose, with a some slightly toasty malt character.

The flavor is quite balanced and not as malt forward as some ambers I have had. Citrusy, slightly floral and spicy hops give way to caramel malt sweetness and a bit of toasted character and some grass. There is also a nice fruitiness to this beer, but as it warms I am picking up a bit of an off putting plastic like flavor.

The mouthfeel on the lighter side of medium with subdued carbonation. It finishes very well, with a nice balanced feel that pretty much disappears.

This is a very drinkable beer, but just not very interesting. I am not sure what makes this a fall ale, and to be totally honest I think the name is the best part.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2010 22:24:18 | More by zoso1967

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cricket Hill- Fall Festivus

A- Light orangish obrown with a small light ringed lacing head.
S- Nutty earthy malt with slight pine hops.
T- Malty, Slight caramel, wood/ bark earthiness. A touch of pine hops.
M- Very malty and earthy with a decent sweet hoppy finish.

Overall- Decent, didn't WOW me but it was drinkable. Mediocre at best.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2009 16:48:20 | More by NJpadreFan

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Transcribed from undated notes.

To say that I did not get much head would be gilding the lily. Realistically, it settled into wisps before I had a chance to engage my pen. Color was a slightly hazy orangish-amber with the haze attributible to my aggressive pour in which I stirred up some of the sediment at the bottom. I did not mind it, but others may want to be aware that it is bottle-conditioned, apparently. Nose had a maple-sugary sweetness underlain by a piney hoppiness. Mouthfeel was medium with a good bit of pine hops on the tongue. Finish had the same pine flavor. How to quantify this one? I like the Cricket Hill peeps, I generally like their beers, I like hoppy beers, but I do not think of a "Fall Festivus" as hoppy.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 20:57:20 | More by woodychandler

ATPete

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle

Pours a dirty orange brown color with a thick head of foam that leaves nice sticking on the glass. Sweet nose of caramel malt, banana, and a woody/earthy hop character. A hoppy bite kicks things off in the mouth settling to a slightly spicy, candy sweet slightly orange rindy bitterness, sharp and still with enough sweetness from the malts to make it feel fall-ish. Easy to drink. Worth trying a single bottle before diving head first into a 12pk...

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2009 19:28:34 | More by ATPete

rfgetz

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a lightly hazed orange amber color with little head. Scent is quite sweet and leads with caramel and brown sugar, followed up by yeasty bread and stale nuts, faint grassy, pine and lemon hops. Taste a touch less sweet than nose dictated and overall less bold, brown sugary sweet, bready, nuty and mildly hoppy. Medum bodied, good carbonation. A lot going on in the nose, less in the taste, just a decent brew.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2011 13:23:57 | More by rfgetz

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a single from Abe's. The brewery describes this beer as earthy, and damn, I have to agree. The big, yeasty, nutty malt (and likely yeast) combine with earthy garden lemon rind. The aftertaste of this beer is almost like a lemon drop, and I kind of like that. This is an interesting ale in a typically boring style. I'll do a better job decanting next time, which is to say, I'd drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 21:07:00 | More by tempest

stingrayvr6

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. Clear amber/yellow color, apparent carbonation, frothy white head, decent retention and lacing. Smell bready and malty, some toasted malt and caramel. Taste light and malty, sweet up front balanced by some hop bitterness in the finish. Spicy finish, almost clove-like. Very drinkable, a bit light but solid brew, nothing wrong with it.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2010 01:28:40 | More by stingrayvr6

Gavage

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: hazy orange in color with some yellowish highlights. A two inch head lasts a while before breaking apart.

Smell: floral hops and some sweetness is detectable.

Taste: caramel, orange, pear, and a floral hop bitterness are most notable, but there is a bit of earthiness here too.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp to start, less crisp and lightly dry at the finish. Bitterness lingers on the tongue after swallowing.

Drinkability: this beer went down easily and more than one could be had in a session.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2009 11:53:59 | More by Gavage

tpd975

Florida

3.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours an orangish gold hue with a nice tall head.

S: Light blend of spices and hops.

T: Nice blast of hops up front. Some cereal grains to provide sweetness. Real nice balance between hops and malt.

M: Medium in body, smooth, creamy.

D: Good, I think this is a solid as hell beer. My favorite of those I have tried from Cricket Hill.

Serving type: growler

02-13-2010 02:33:37 | More by tpd975

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Aroma is quite hoppy and woody, rather like an IPA, with a nice undertone of - yep - autumn leaves, as well as a subtle note of yeast. Pours a hazy amber with an extremely thick, fine-bubbled, persistent pale creamy-tan head. Sharp flavor is quite hoppy, more at an IPA, quite bitter but not fiercely so, with a nice dry-leaf undertone and malty and honey hints. Quite tasty! Smooth texture has average body and good fizz. This ’un will have you singing "Autumn Leaves."

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:31:53 | More by Cyberkedi

chefdaddy18042

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

just purchased a keg of this for my kegerator and i have to say that this is a unique beer. On their website it says that it is a combination of hops and malt. you can definitely taste that it is strikingly similar to an ESB. It pours a small white head, with an amber color. it truly is a session beer, but i am still in the dark about the ABV. i think it is in the lower category. overall though, i think that it is a great beer that is new to the cricket hill brews.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2008 16:25:11 | More by chefdaddy18042

stingo

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This one has session beer written all over it. An agreeable tasting amber ale with finely balanced malt and hops. This is a beer you drink, not think. The mouthfeel paired well with the taste as it was neither watery nor thick. Definitely a brew to reach for after more complex/heavier beers. I enjoyed it enough to have a second pint.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2008 15:31:04 | More by stingo