Iron Works Alt - Metropolitan Brewing

AJacob81

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

12-05-2011 01:27:33 | More by AJacob81

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.54/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Metropolitan's Alt is a pleasantly caramelized malt-driven beer, with a definite, though perhaps still understated, Contintental hop presence. Fairly straightforward in presentation, this should appeal towards those that enjoy bocks and other malt-forward beers. With a more assertive aroma and perhaps another malt added for complexity, this would be a very substantial altbier.

Pours a 1cm tall head of slightly off-white bubbles, which are small in size, creating a fairly dense-looking froth atop the body. Retention is at about two minutes, the foam settling to a thin cap atop the body of the beer. Lacing is modest, a few small complex patterns linger on the sides of the glass, amidst a few thin lines and dots of residual foam. The body is a dark copper color, with light bringing out bright orange-red hues in the beer. Carbonation is visible through the hazy (40-50% opaque) body, moderate in activity and number.

Aroma is of pleasantly sweet and somewhat rich caramel malt, slightly bready malt, and a faint note of woodsy Continental hops. Appealing, but not particularly complex or assertive.

Flavor is, overall, of caramel malt with a mild Continental hop bitterness and a grainy, slightly biscuity close. Front of palate picks up caramelized malt and sweet bread. Mid-palate continues the clean malt flavors with caramelized malt and rich, sweet bread flavors, and faint hints of woodsy, spicy Continental hops. Back of palate finds increased influence of caramelized malts, resulting in a rich, caramel sweetness that's tempered by more notable Continental hop bitterness and a slight cherry-like ester. Aftertaste is malty, rich, caramel-like sweetness with a grainy and slightly biscuit-like backdrop.

Beer is medium-light to medium in body, with carbonation of medium-high to high in intensity, resulting in a fairly fizzy mouthfeel that's a bit too pronounced for the body's weight. The result is a prickly feel that takes more than a few seconds to dissipate, eventually settling to a gentle foam on the palate. Closes fairly dry, with subtantial stickiness lingering on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 20:08:18 | More by falloutsnow

JellyJacket

Illinois

3/5  rDev -21.3%

05-07-2013 00:37:37 | More by JellyJacket

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

Caskaway

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-13-2013 03:23:10 | More by Caskaway

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5%

03-24-2013 23:40:04 | More by Sparky44

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5%

03-05-2013 04:03:07 | More by leprechaunandfatman

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

ssimpson89

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

02-09-2013 02:32:09 | More by ssimpson89

crytion

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5%

01-29-2013 12:10:07 | More by crytion

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

beersvh23

Illinois

3/5  rDev -21.3%

12-31-2012 02:23:01 | More by beersvh23

cvalleskey

Illinois

3/5  rDev -21.3%

12-30-2012 04:46:30 | More by cvalleskey

DMB

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

12-29-2012 19:24:17 | More by DMB

Fuzzycuffs

Oregon

3/5  rDev -21.3%

12-29-2012 04:21:44 | More by Fuzzycuffs

dna1964dna

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

12-20-2012 03:05:39 | More by dna1964dna

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

NeutroMan

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5%

12-14-2012 23:08:34 | More by NeutroMan

ruckus232

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

12-04-2012 02:01:03 | More by ruckus232

Aeroscorp

Tennessee

4/5  rDev +5%

11-27-2012 12:25:16 | More by Aeroscorp

BeerNDoggerel

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5%

11-15-2012 02:34:51 | More by BeerNDoggerel

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

t0rin0

California

2.5/5  rDev -34.4%

10-28-2012 17:05:59 | More by t0rin0

mkennedy119

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

10-25-2012 04:09:28 | More by mkennedy119