Autumn Ale - Breckenridge Brewery

emerge077

Illinois

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

American Brown or Munich Dunkel? Hard to say...

Into a tulip it first appears jet black, though when held to the light you can see a glint of smoky dark ruby, that becomes fully crimson when backlit. Fluffy, sticky cap of foam, billowing above the rim of the glass, forming peaks and crags as it slowly settles. Excellent retention, with a sticky sheet of lace that adheres inside the glass.

Nutty malty aroma, dry roasted almonds, tobacco.

Malty and lightly sweet, finishing somewhat dry. Toasty with a bit of malt complexity, little to no bitterness. Fairly straightforward and tasty, though the body is a little thin, supporting the Munich Dunkel theory. Ok, would drink again. Not reinventing the wheel, but not every beer needs to.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 02:42:26 | More by emerge077

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A rich mahogany colored ale. On the pour it produced a small tan head, fades to surface lace inside a foam collor. Carbonation was about average.

Aroma is of roasted malts with some toffee .

Taste is rich, roasted malts. There are sutle notes of toffee and vanilla too. Also, towards the end some hops and biscuits pull through. At the end a slight molasses nuiance.

A rather full bodied brew thats smooth and sweet upfront and ends a bit dry.

Drinks well. At first I thought brown but I do believe this most resembles an old ale.
What ever it is its perfect for the fall.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 12:00:06 | More by micromaniac129

paperbackfoster

Missouri

3.65/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - A half finger head that was out the door before ever removing its coat. Color is a deep brown, opaque but not at all cloudy. Just deep.

S - Caramel malt and honey seem predominant, with perhaps a bit of fig or raisin.

T - Quite the warming brew. Dark bread notes carry in the sweeter caramel malt. The malt profile is toasty, with a subtle bit of wintery spices like nutmeg. Nothing about this beer is overpowering, which is nice. I’ve had a few malty flavor bombs when it comes to Oktoberfest and autumnal seasonals. This one has a bit of hop bitterness, but finishes sweet.

M - Perhaps on the thinner side, but it works. Breckenridge seems to aim for refreshing brews, nothing that could be in any regard “heavy.”

Overall - I purchased this in a mixed sixer, setting out on a search to find a good autumn beer. With so many pumpkin offerings and obnoxious orange labels, it can be overwhelming. This, though, is a good start. While perhaps not the best out there, it’s a very calm beer. It’s in no way gimmicky, nor is it reaching for a style outside the brewery’s comfort zone. A solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 02:43:52 | More by paperbackfoster

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.33/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Another pretty average beer from Breckenridge. I keep hoping one of their beers will hit the spot, but really I haven't found one yet with the possible exception of the 471 IPA. This one pours a very dark brown, but with just the faintest head. Fairly roasty in the nose with a hint of cocoa powder, and some gentle malt. A little thin in flavor, especially upfront, but the finish delivers some more of that same moderate roastiness and dusty cocoa. Not a lot of depth, but pleasant enough, I guess. Also relatively gentle in the mouth with a soft finish. Certainly drinkable, but not moreish.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 20:50:30 | More by Georgiabeer

sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle. There is a code stamped on the neck.

Pours a deep, garnet-brown. Tan head, looks nice. Smell is a smooth, malty excursion. Taste holds less promise. Roasted, but the malt falls & feels way too flat. The hops are almost an afterthought, laying low on the back end. Finishes watery. But a looker..

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 02:56:24 | More by sixerofelixir

MrDonQuixote

Colorado

2.9/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into an oversized wine glass:

A- Dark coffee brown with a slight head

S- Sweet malty aroma, with roasted coffee notes as well

T- very malty, with a roasty kick at the end. Most of the taste is the java roast that is very present. Quite bland in flavor to be honest.

M- Smooth mouthfeel. A tad watery, but it works for this beer

O- Breckenridge Brewery is definitely hit or miss with me. This was definitely a miss

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 14:40:56 | More by MrDonQuixote

gtermi

Texas

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

The appearance of this beer is amazing. It is a dark red/brown with a slight creamier head. I smell roastedness and not much else. The taste is watery at first. The beer is easy to drink and has a slight hoppiness on the finish. Over all this is a good fall beer, but not the best Breckenridge has done.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 21:48:48 | More by gtermi

samie85

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a very dark brown color with red edges when held to the night with two finger of light brown head.

S-Very clean, herbal notes off the bat with some faint dark fruit aromas.

T-Crisp herbal bitterness with some dark fruit and roasted notes and finishes cleanly bitter.

M-Light bodied with moderate carbonation and a dry finish.

D-Very easy drinking beer, but I wish the mouthfeel had a little more depth. I think that slight change would make this a go-to seasonal for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 02:52:19 | More by samie85

NStLincoln

Nebraska

3.68/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pint glass. Pours a really dark brown with a foamy white head. After sitting for a minute it looks like a dark brown Guinness.

Nose reminds me of malted chocolate, earth and figs.

Rich coffee on the palate. A bit of a metallic tinge. Heavy malt with some nutty tones. Interesting mouthfeel. Thinnish in the body and lightly carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 22:20:06 | More by NStLincoln

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.23/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Breckenridge Vanilla Porter balloon glass.

The beer is a rich dark coffee black with slight brown barely coming through the edges in the light. A nice light cream colored head recedes rather quickly leaving a cirrus cloud wisp on top. Very light lacing remains on the glass.

The aroma is subdued, but very clean. A nice sweet vanilla note comes through, as well as buttery biscuits and roasted malts.

The taste is warm up front. Dark roasted malts, sweet vanilla, a bit of oak with faint bitter coffee notes. A slightly tangy hop bite in the finish.

The mouthfeel is clean and dry.

Overall, a really nice sipper on a crisp autumn evening, yet very drinkable so that you can have a few and not be overwhelmed. I like the vanilla-oak notes I get in the body. Definitely a good brew to have after rakin', as the bottle suggests.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 16:02:22 | More by JuicesFlowing

teetotaler

Colorado

3.33/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

poured into my trusty thrift store snifter

pours an opaque molasses, i was expecting more of an amber for the season. 2 fingers of creamed coffee foam with little or no lacing.

subtle caramel and chocolate, with a mild roastiness.

taste follows aroma, with more of the malty sweetness coming through. roastiness lingers on the back of the throat. the malt and roast improve as the beer warms, but have to compete with the alcohol.

carbonation is average, but a bit much for the style. smooth mouthfeel until the bubbles begin to tickle the tip of the tongue; which is distracting.

i could see drinking this later in the season, as the weather cools; but i might as well just go for a stout..

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 05:20:31 | More by teetotaler

tito42

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle to an imperial pint. Bottled the first week of May, 2011.

A: Clear, dark cherry cola in color. Tan head dissipates quickly but sticks around and clings nicely to the glass.

S: Very malty nose, roasted with molasses and a touch of plum and cherry.

T: Again, very malt forward with molasses and a tart finish of hops, plum, and cherry. Enjoyable and well balanced.

M: Medium bodied with a full malt profile, balanced by a slightly tart, bitter, and dry hops finish.

O: Very 4.0 in my book. Nicely done, the first old ale I've tried, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 02:04:29 | More by tito42

PhillyStyle

Georgia

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The beer appeared to be dark brown in color with maybe a two finger, light brown head that was light and foamy that was not particularly well maintain and left to cap to speak of. Light lacing remained.

The beer's aroma was good, some dark fruits, but the aroma was mainly dominated by the roasted malted barley, which may have added a slight chocolate taste. Also noted some smokiness to it.

The taste was more or less dominated by the toasted malted barley, with hints of molasses, smoke and some spices. The flavor was good and well-rounded, but it really just did resonate all that well with me.

The beer felt lighter/thinner than expected. The beer was smooth, had good carbonation to it and was pretty easy to drink. Overall, not a bad beer, but one that I will probably only buy on limited occasions.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 18:09:37 | More by PhillyStyle

rlshep

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Not much in the aroma department. I'm picking up some chocolate.

Very dark brown in color. No head at all. Minimal lacing.

Flavor has some mild coffee roast. Milk chocolate carrys over from the aroma. Getting a woody kinda dirt like flavor, I'm assuming from the hops. Medium-low bitterness.

Smooth mouthfeel, but finishes dry. Very low carbonation. Little bit of a bite in alcohol.

A decent beer, kinda half way between a porter and a brown ale. Only complaint is alcohol is too in your face. I would drink this again if offered but wouldn't seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 03:25:34 | More by rlshep

FreshHawk

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Very dark garnet with a deep brownish hue. Small, foamy, bubbly, off-white/light beige color. Thin layer of speckled lace.

S - A strong aroma of fruit with overly ripe apple being strongest and touches of raisin. Slight tartness from the fruitiness. Also has a strong nutty aroma with toasted grain aroma and caramel. Some faint leafy hops and slightly herbal aroma. German and English malt/hop aroma.

T - Less fruity than the nose suggested. Still some fruitiness with overly ripe apple still being strongest. A very slight tartness. Nutty and very slightly toasted grainy malt with slight caramel malt taste. Finishes with a hint of leafy, herbal hop kick. Maybe a touch of cocoa maltiness.

M - Lightish body with average carbonation. A little thin feeling.

D - Pretty drinkable beer. Slight hoppy bite on the finish is nice. Easy drinking beer, and I could drink a couple no problem, but it isn't inspiring.

Notes: Definitely not an Old Ale, or at least not like any I have had. English Brown/Marzen with a slight Porter like flavor. Not a bad beer, but overall I see it as kind of a meh beer. Easy to forget and nothing worth seeking out, but for the right price definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 00:47:34 | More by FreshHawk

malarichm

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

a. dark amber red mahogany. Little head and medium lacing.
s. rich brown sugar, molasses and smoke
t. quite complex with molasses, roasted malt, smoke, brown sugar, cinnamon and clove in the front with a touch of hops in the back
m. surprisingly clean, with lingering malt behind medium carbonation
d. very drinkable for anyone who likes malt

I first tried this beer at a local liquor store's beer tasting. It was by far the best malt/fall seasonal beer there. I am finally drinking the final beer in the sixer and I have not become board with the flavor whatsoever. This is a great example of a fall seasonal for the relaxed craft drinker.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 22:00:10 | More by malarichm

atsprings

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a standard pint glass pours a deep dark brown with a thin diminishing head that leaves slight lacing on the glass. Aroma is slight dark malts and caramel. The taste is a nice amount of smooth dark malts, burnt caramel and a hint of cocoa. The beer is medium bodied with mild carbonation. This is a very smooth and easy drinking with well hidden alcohol. This is a very enjoyable Autumn beer, I may need to pick up a few six packs of this while I still can.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 17:00:51 | More by atsprings

lwootton

Texas

3.78/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured with a thick head and nice effervescing just below the surface. The head dissipated quickly to a thin layer of fine foam. The beer itself was a lovely deep brown with hints of red.

Aroma: Slight smell of malt with to detectable (to me) aroma of hops. A bit sweet and dark.

Taste: Lightly sweet malty beginning with a slightly hoppy finish.

Mouthfeel: Thin-bodied and lightly carbonated.

Overall: Not what I was expecting but still good. A relaxed, enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 23:40:36 | More by lwootton

hosehead83

Ohio

2.98/5  rDev -17%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Dark brown with reddish highlights-Very short off-white head of foam.
Aroma-Sweet malt, caramel
Taste-Toasted malt and caramel, faint hop bite. Rather flat and thin-bodied. Expecting a little more robust flavor. A bit of a letdown overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2010 22:26:07 | More by hosehead83

GDBEERMAN

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into snifter: from notes
A: A deep black body, pours a nice head that settles very quick to a small layer around the rim. The head that does retreat is
S: The medium intensity aroma, shows a slight roasted note, but does not denote a strong ale.
T/M: A smooth mouthfeel that is light in body, which is a surprise seeing that it is an old ale at the ABV and the appearance so dark. The nutty body, finishes with a smooth lingering taste of roasted malts.
D: This is a highly drinkable brew, for the style and the ABV this brew goes down very easy

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2010 13:44:01 | More by GDBEERMAN

schleprock

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle

This beer pours a very dark almost black color. Much darker than I'd expect for an autumn or Octoberfest. It has a rich cream colored head which quickly moves to a thin layer. There is some lacing on the glass for some time although not in traditional layers with each drink. This is a pretty drinkable beer and is more like a brown ale than anything else.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 04:47:55 | More by schleprock

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep amber to brown-ish color with a off white head. In the aroma, small roast and earthy notes. In the taste, dry, roasty coffee, and small hints of earth. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a semi dry coffee aftertaste. Nice coffee like presence, somewhere between a porter and oktoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 18:35:28 | More by OWSLEY069

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint. Bottled on notch available but left un-notched.

A - Pours a dark mahogany that's clear but becomes almost black in the glass. A frothy tan cream head rises up and lingers dropping to a sizeable layer with spots of lace adorning the glass.

S - Dusty cocoa and slightly burnt toast with a caramel-draped biscuit hint, Autumn Ale is very malty with slight hops to offset the sweetness. Earthy in nature. Smells like a good fall brew!

T - Very malty, this brew is strong with the caramel-like Munich malts and doughy with a dry, dusty cocoa finish. Hops are nearly absent from the flavor leaving this brew sweeter.

M - Medium-full-bodied and sweet with a smooth, rich feel and a lightly dry, acrid bitter finish from the malts.

D - One of Breckenridge's better beers, this is a very nice fall beverage with solid drinkablity even for it's rich mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 00:23:50 | More by BeerFMAndy

obireidkenobi

Georgia

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into snifter.

Appearance: Pours almost black with very little head.

Smell: Malty, subtle notes of coffee and nuts

Taste: Interesting. Sweet notes - caramel and some molasses. Nuts/almonds, with a bit of coffee malt flavor as it warms.

Mouthfeel: Thinner & lighter than expected.

Drinkabillity: Flavor shines as it warms & doesn't linger too long. Good fall offering.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2010 00:58:10 | More by obireidkenobi

Rayek

Colorado

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

Poured into a snifter.

A: Deep mahogany with a frothy cream-tinged head. The foam sticks for a bit before falling to a ring at the beer's edge. Leaves bits of lace.

S: Heavy with molasses and baking chocolate. A hint of lemon is out back.

T: The chocolate and molasses from the nose create most of this beer's flavor. Sweet molasses does the majority of the work. A lemony bitterness provides just enough oomph to offset the dark sugars.

M: The medium body is somewhat syrupy. Carbonation feels about right.

D: This is a nice autumn offering overall and one of the better Breckenridge beers I've had.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 23:33:36 | More by Rayek