Iron Works Alt - Metropolitan Brewing

guityler83

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Amber to copper appearance, off white mocha colored head, nice lacing that glazes the edges of the glass with each sip.

S: Toffee, butterscotch, and caramel malts pop off the nose. A little fruity (apples, pears), no hop aroma detected

T: Toast and bread crust. apple like character comes through from the aroma. Sweet with a finishing caramel like flavor

M: mouth drying after taste, middle of the road carbonation and big chewy body.

O: I think if it wasn't for the apple like flavor i'm getting (possibly the yeast?) I would have rated this much higher. I've not had many Alts, but this one fell short of expectations.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 02:11:19 | More by guityler83

vickersspitfire

Texas

3.76/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

It’s in a stange! Just sitting there staring at me like I’m some crazy beer knurd…and its got a beautiful semi-dark copper color that just gets darker towards its center, its mildly hazy and filled with some good carbonation. The head is thick and fluffy and just will not go away, did I mention that its in an off white color, maybe even tan. Medium lacing; nothing else to say here. Weak fruit aromas like apple, banana, raisins and mild malts. Crisp and sharp when it first hits your tongue, it mellows out into a slightly tangy beer over all. The malts are well represented here, herbs and mild citrus fruits also come through, very interesting taste. It warms up in the aftertaste and the tanginess wanes just a bit as well, and the alcohol is well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 02:43:06 | More by vickersspitfire

dhannes

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a Sam Adams' Perfect Pint.

A=Darker orange with impressive cream colored head of 2 fingers that lasted a good minute.

S=More malt than hops; also citrus and maple.

T=Honey-like, but with a smokiness; reminiscent of "German" beers I've had an Essen Haus.

M=Nice medium body with slight carbonation...very drinkable.

O=I'm not too familiar with the style, but this was enjoyable...will definitely try the style again.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 01:25:16 | More by dhannes

mfnmbvp

Illinois

2.65/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle, no bottled on date present. Uncapped and poured into a Boulevard tulip glass.

A - Pours a murky red amber colored body with a giant fluffy three finger cream colored head with nice retention. Steady column of bubbles rushing to the top.

S - Smells of pale malts and dusty adjuncts. A little bit of raisins creeps out also.

T - Pale dusty malts again with a bit of hop bitterness clinging on for dear life in the end swallow. Maybe some sort of a caramelized raisin taste, but it isn't dark or pleasant, just adds the tiniest bit of sweetness. Maybe some kind of a grape aftertaste lingering.

M - Mouthfeel is dry, sticky and resinous, but again, not a very pleasant taste to me. Feels a little too carbonated, but not terrible.

Overall, not impressed, and probably not a beer I would try again. Modest 5.8% abv, better than mass produced Bud Light / Miller Lite swill, but still not my favorite.

Metropolitan Iron Works Alt ---3/5

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 22:37:44 | More by mfnmbvp

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.3/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Picked up a sixer of this over Memorial Day weekend at the Binny’s behind Goose Island Clybourn. Served in a pint glass. Pours a moderate brown color with a decent off-white head. Nose has some bready malt and a touch of nuttiness. Some herbal hops. Flavor is similar but has a metallic twang through the finish. The same appears in the nose as it warms. Body is light-medium with a dry finish. Not a big fan.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 18:41:40 | More by Thorpe429

Ryan011235

Ohio

2.3/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a Hannen Alt glass on 11/4/12

Quite the heady beer with three fingers of fast-rising foam sitting atop a deep, hazy honey-brown colored beer. The head deflates leaving speckled lace. Better lace catches over time.

Aromas of toasted bread, herbal hops, soap, apple butter, raisins and hints of nuts. The flavor doesn't fall far from the aromatic tree, as it were, though there is much more of a hop kick upfront (herbal and pine) before leading into notes of bread and fruits. The finish is odd; kinda papery. The body is a seemingly appropriate medium. However, carbonation is sharp.

Overall, it isn't terrible but I grew tired of it quickly and did not finish the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 06:20:05 | More by Ryan011235

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Recieved in beer trade with cousin who lives in Illinois:

Into my stange:

A: copper colored body leaving a nice one finger foamy white head that lasts for about a good full minute before gently dieing into the body. The body is too hazy for any carbonation to be seen rising. Nice foamy clingy lacing appears and lasts for a good minute before slowly sliding down the side of the glass.

S: sort of bland/muted hops with some cooked malts in the background.

T: pretty much the same with a deeper richness to the malts.

M: medium with a dry finish and aftertaste.

O: altbiers aren't necessarily high on my list but I'd certainly have them over other styles. However, for this, I would say this was about average.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 00:04:09 | More by kangarooAdam59

socon67

New York

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Hopleaf in Chicago.

A - Copper pour, high tan foam. Cloudy look to it. Some lacing.

S - Sweet malt smell, with a bit of hops and spice. Scent is muted though; doesn't linger at all.

T - Decent drinking altbier that gets marks for the balance, but seems to take the safe approach; it is not rich in malt nor is the bitterness of fresh hops anything that seems strong.

M - Well balanced and easily sessionable. Soem carbonation is there. Finishes with a slight raspy bite.

O - Wasn't impressed, but didn't feel like it was a bad beer. Felt like Metropolitan rounded out their portfolio. Nice to try, but if you are a diehard altbier fan I'd pass.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2012 03:03:49 | More by socon67

dpodratsky3

Georgia

3.35/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into pilsner glass

A: Light copper-orange, a lasting condensed white head, not as dark as I expected from the description of being brown although it does fit the fringes of an altbier style

S: Sweet and grainy up front, although not corn sweet like some cheap lagers, smells full yet crisp, hops comes through too as you begin to get used to the aroma, distinctly spicy

T: Not quite as good as the aroma, a little flat in terms of flavor, it's missing that malty goodness of an alt, light and crisp, slight metallic note of some cheap lagers, hops start dominating your palate

M: Light with crisp carbonation, clears your palate well but isn't too dry

O: To me it seems like Metropolitan went for an easy drinking "different" lager, rather than make a true altbier

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 00:47:46 | More by dpodratsky3

chanokokoro

Illinois

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

Enjoyed at Fountainhead in Chicago, IL. Served in a tulip glass.

Displays an amber color with a two finger off-white head. A bit of toffee, caramel, and grassy, herbal hops dominate the nose. Starts smooth with notes of caramel, notes of apple and pear join in the midpalate and finishes somewhat dry and clean. A very tasty locally-brewed altbier. An easy-drinking, yet complex beer for almost any occassion.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2012 04:55:31 | More by chanokokoro

bluemoonswoon

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a mini pint glass.

Nice and hoppy, surprisingly so for an Alt. A great balance between hops and malts and a great beer to transition or turn someone to Alts. Seriously this is a great beer to wean people who have been suckling on IPAs for too long.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 05:06:29 | More by bluemoonswoon

Star80

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- A dark reddish-copper color with some hops clinging to my glass but with a quickly dissipated head. The color is rich and attractive.

S - Smell is nice and fruity, but also toasty with some sweet ripe fruit undertones.

T - Beer has an odd oxidized flavor. In fact, does have a bit of an iron flavor. Is that why they call it Iron Works? Once I get past that I get a nice toasty malt with dry bittering hops. The hops are more spicey, herbal in the German Noble hop style. Some alcohol warming and a touch of sweetness on the aftertaste. Malty.

M - Lightly carbonated and fairly smooth.

O - A complex lager for sure if you're in the mood for one. But I am having trouble with the metallic taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 21:52:10 | More by Star80

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

Finally sitting down to try what comes across as the highest-regarded of the Metropolitan beers (which, for whatever reason, I've sorta neglected over the years). It pours a clear amber-copper topped by over a finger of dirty white foam. The nose comprises caramel, Belgian candi sugar, lightly spicy greens, mandarin orange syrup, and a touch of red apple skin. The taste brings in more of the same, with the candi sugar really taking on a leadership role now. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a generally smooth feel. Overall, a very nice brew, one of the better altbiers I've had in a long time.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 06:17:30 | More by TMoney2591

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Got this one from Monsone, cheers Eric!

Pours a bright copper with 2+ fingers of tan head. Minimal head retention & lacing

S: Grainy & pear scents, plus a little metallic hop

T: Pear, bready sweatness & caramel up front, along with some dryness & a little herbal hoppyness. More pear fruittyness, woody dryness, & more herbal hops as this drys. Finishes grainy, dry, herbal, with some butterscotch & bready sweetness

MF: Light/Medium bodied, firm carbonation, good balance

A pretty good example of the style, pretty darn drinkable

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 03:08:13 | More by russpowell

TTAmod

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. ====> 16.9 oz. glass.

A: Clear amber with frothing, thick white head. Good retention and lacing.

S: Smells heavily of caramel, bread, candy, brown sugar, and molasses. Nice...nice.

T: Bready malts up front, followed by a nice sugar/candy sweetness, caramel, and finally a long, grassy, sweet and spicy aftertaste.

M: Creamy, medium...really spreads that sweetness around.

O: Complex, traditional, fresh....overall quite really nice. Another great beer from Metro.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 06:50:08 | More by TTAmod

matjack85

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz. brown bottle with no freshness date. The label says to think of this beer as an octogenarian with a punk rock attitude. We'll see.

The beer pours a brilliantly clear and beautiful burnt amber color, but unfortunately I couldn't get any head out of the pour at all. All I got was a thin white rim on top that left just a few spotty patches of lace on the glass.

Not much of an aroma, but what there was was nice. Light sugary sweetness with some fruit and mild herbal hops in the background.

This is a very well made and mild beer. It has both a caramel and hard candy sweetness to it but it is delicate and not overpowering at all. Hop bitterness is low but you can still taste the mild herbal flavor they give off. A bready yeast flavor helps to make it more dry than sweet, and then at the end a touch of citrus and raisin flavor come through. Nothing is really dominant, but all blended together it makes for a pleasant taste.

Very smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel with only moderate carbonation. This goes down easy without any trace of alcohol at all.

I get the octogenarian part as this is a smooth and mellow beer, but I'm not so sure it has a punk rock attitude. I found it totally pleasant without any harshness at all.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 07:16:06 | More by matjack85

JonB1958

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a beautiful copper color with a healthy head on top. If I didn't know better, the look and aroma would have me thinking this was a Märzen or Bock; it's very bready and sweet with some strong caramel overtones.

The flavor also tapers to a soft sweet finish that reminded me of a Bock. This is a very nice and easy drinking beer, that I'd be happy to offer to guests. It would also, in my estimation, be a great gateway beer if you're trying to get a macro fan to try some craft beer; it's straightforward enough, yet very subtle and intriguing personality that makes your points obvious.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 19:42:59 | More by JonB1958

ChadQuest

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Looks fantastic, very large dense head that is over an inch in vertical magnitude. Color is a rich copper that remains clear. Again, the head is super dense and sticky.
The aroma instantly hit me as unique, it seems that the yeast gives a bit of a farmhouse note to it, but buried within caramel and other malts sweetness.
Flavors indeed make me think malty saison, this seems odd since i dont see other reviews thinking this, but some coriander like spices and the yeast type here, albeit they are buried in malt sweetness, caramel, burnt toast, and grains.

Is my palate broken tonight? grab a bottle and find out.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 05:10:47 | More by ChadQuest

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.28/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Copper color with a thin off white head and a few tiny specs of lacing.

S - Bready malts with caramel notes, raisin and herbal hops.

T - Bready, biscuit, little bit of sweet caramel, toffee, a touch of fruitiness and a dry herbal hops finish.

M - Light to medium with just the right amount of carbonation and a lingering dry finish.

D - Very tasty and easy drinking alt. Has all the great sweet malt characteristics while still being dry enough to have several in one sitting.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 02:25:35 | More by brewcrew76

jamescain

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a sniffer, thanks to who shared this at the bottle release.

Appearance: Dark copper-amber with an off white head about a finger thick that fades to a thin ring around the side of the glass.

Aroma: Spicy, earthy hops, caramel and bready notes.

Taste: Roasty, caramel and bready flavor with a slightly spicy and earthy hoppy finish.

Mouthfeel: Light-medium body with medium carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: One of the better alts that I have had, nice complex aroma and taste.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 14:59:05 | More by jamescain

KDawg

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark copper color with some head.

Complex nose of malts, cinnamon, navel oranges, hops, and cardamon

medium bodied and really smooth feel. Pretty good complexity as with a real nice christmas spice finish along with a lot of malty tones as well

this is really good. The feel is very good though the taste is lacking a slight bit. This is a real enjoyable beer on the whole

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 03:05:16 | More by KDawg

tewaris

Minnesota

3.1/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 oz poured into a pint glass. Thanks AgentZero. Pours deep and clear copper with only a small-medium head in spite of a regular pour. The head retention is alright in that the bubbles manage to stay on the surface and lace the glass as it gets emptier.

A very strong malt aroma without the sweetness: quite rare in most beers that I have had. Smells like the inside of a homebrew shop. Very biscuity, and dry. A wee bit of fruitiness at the end. Crisp and biting with a slightly sweet taste profile balanced by light bitterness. The finish is way too sweet for a beer that tastes otherwise clean.

More lager-y feel than an "old-style" beer but it seems to be the norm for Alts. The body is light and the carbonation very high. Overall nothing too impressive going on here... tastes like lagered Fat Tire.

Disclaimer: This is my second Alt ever and the first one was aged in barrels, so I don't know anything about Alts from direct experience.

3, 3, 3, 4, 3

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 06:59:54 | More by tewaris

Redrover

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz brown bottle poured into a standard pint. The beer is a chill hazed brown with a thick beige head. It has nice lacing that leaves multiple rings down the side of the glass.

I like the aroma of lightly roasted malts, a bit of dark fruit and tea.

It is fresh and slightly earthy. Raisins, malts, herbal hops and toffee. It is well integrated and is blessed with a slick mouth with excellent carbonation levels.

This is seriously easy to drink. It has enough facets to keep you engaged. Well done guys!

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 00:39:34 | More by Redrover

AgentZero

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark orange color with next to nothing in the way of head on the pour, although I think that was more due to the inexperienced bartender than anything else. Sides of glass left clean.

S - A lot of yeast, I actually do get the bit of raisin in there as well. Very sweet, with grain and noble hops.

T - It's pretty sweet, with a sort of syrupy sweet grain taste and caramel. Lager yeast adds a bit of body to the flavor and there is a hint of raisins. Noble hops lead to a crisp and clean finish.

M - Medium bodied, lower carbonation than expected.

O - Actually not a bad beer, after looking over some of the reviews I get the feeling this might be considerably better on tap than in the bottle. Easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2011 13:27:14 | More by AgentZero

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got this as an extra from RC0032. Thanks again!

This review may not be perfect because I drank this sucker straight from the bottle. I can't speak much of the appearance since it's behind a brown bottle, nor the smell, since it's only being channeled out the end of a narrow bottle. However, this is one tasty beer. It comes across to me as almost a Newcastle Brown Ale clone, although it is not a brown ale. Real smooth drinker. I could definitely put a handful of these back in short order. Would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 18:44:11 | More by Retail1LO