Altbier - John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.05/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed 3/6/09. On tap at JH. Pours a clear brown with a barely there white head. Aroma and flavor of sweet malt and bready notes. Seriously, I really didn't get anything else from this beer. Boring and bland. Not BAD per se, but pretty dull.
6/4/6/3/13 (3.2/5)

Serving type: on-tap
@ John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House, 2093 Smithhaven Plaza, Lake Grove

03-31-2009 02:12:23 | More by LilBeerDoctor

psinderson

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on-tap in a pint glass.

Appearance: Deep brown color, mostly clear. Thin caramel head.

Smell: Quite malty, lots of darker sugars.

Taste: My first taste is maple, but not overly sweet. Some dark fruits in there as well. Not much hops detected, mostly a complex malt flavor.

Mouthfeel: Fuller body that feel nice on the palate.

Drinkability: While malty, this is not too sweet and is nicely drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap
@ John Harvard's Brew House, 3466 William Penn Highway, Pittsburgh

04-02-2008 01:15:48 | More by psinderson

plaid75

New York

3.98/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a medium copper hue with a half finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a solid malty grain with a suprising citrus hop aroma.

The taste was moderately malty and grainy with a musty and earthy, yet citrusy hop.

The mouthfeel was of average fullness.

Overall a tasty and easy drinking ale.

Serving type: on-tap
@ John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House, 2093 Smithhaven Plaza, Lake Grove

11-07-2007 21:17:20 | More by plaid75

BBM

New York

3.88/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer is quite different from their old "Alt" and deserves it's own rating. The beer pours a hazy orange-amber color with a 1/2 inch wihte head that doesn't stay long. Very nice and cloudy to accentuate the "old ale" style it's going for. The smell isn't overwhelming, but there are hints of caramel maltiness and mild hops.

The taste is very well balanced. The malt backbone accentuates a strong hop presence, but one that's never overwhelming or distracting. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, but still acceptable. Highly drinkable. Great beer to go with food, and a good session beer as well. A very good altbier from JH.

Serving type: on-tap
@ John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House, 2093 Smithhaven Plaza, Lake Grove

11-23-2006 14:36:08 | More by BBM

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Sample at the Pittsburgh location. Clear amber color with a medium thin off-white head that lasts pretty well. Sweet aroma of malt and caramel. Medium-bodied, borderline thin at times, with roasted malt and nut flavors. Just a bit of hops are present too. The finish is roasty and lightly bitter and ultimately short-lived. This one is fairly average in all respects.

Serving type: on-tap
@ John Harvard's Brew House, 3466 William Penn Highway, Pittsburgh

08-31-2006 21:34:18 | More by Dogbrick

Phatz

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I had this today at John Harvard's Brew House in Wayne, PA. It was on a nitro-tap, making it so remarkably smooth it was a real treat. The color was golden with a tinge of red hue to it. It had an absolutely magnificent head that lasted the entire beer. WOW. The smell was very malty with hints of sugar and hops making it a very pleasing bittersweet aroma. The taste is very good; it was just a bit straight foreword. It had the taste of malty sweet-tarts in a toffee base. The mouthfeel was the best part of this beer. It was fluffy light, creamy; you almost wanted to hold it in your mouth like whip cream and then chew it. This may have been in part because of the nitro-tap giving it a magnificent body. It was very drinkable, maybe in part because it was not an overly complex taste. All I thought about was putting taking the next sip and swallowing this very fine beer. One sip after another and before you know it the glass is empty. Congratulations on the award as well JHBH.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: nitro-tap
@ John Harvard's Brew House, 629 W.Lancaster Ave, Wayne

12-05-2005 08:51:46 | More by Phatz

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The '05 GABF Winner...
Appears a copper toned amber with a lush ivory white head that sticks around. Tons of lacing cling to the interior of the glass.
Smell is of a rich malt with toffee, hard candy, bitter hops, along with a sugary sweetness.
Taste is about the same of the aroma with a nice hop addition.
Mouthfeel is chewy, bitter, sweet, and semi-dry.
This is a great rendition. One of the best American versions I’ve had.

Serving type: on-tap
@ John Harvard's Brew House, 629 W.Lancaster Ave, Wayne

10-28-2005 14:34:09 | More by weeare138