East Village Amber - Alameda Brewhouse

Thrasher

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer on draft last year at the Horse Brass and it was problematic. However, this year's batch seems thankfully bereft of the off-flavors that plagued earlier editions. In fact, it's downright good! It's touted as a German-style altbier, which is one of the harder beer-styles for this American to evaluate, since I've really only had a couple authentic German alts (Frankenheim -- the "Bud" of German alts; Diebels -- of which I have little memory; and Uerige -- which was tragically spoiled rotten). All the rest have been New World recreations. I'll treat this the same: an American amber ale. For that, it's very good, slotting nicely in the crack between hoppy and malty, with a velvety mouthfeel and clean, appetizing "more-ish" finish. There's an intimation of complexity, which seems in keeping with the alts I have tried. However, it's truly a session beer: the grace notes of restraint and subtlety easily allow a casual imbiber to ignore any thought-provoking flavors that might materialize. Despite this, it is not ordinary in any way. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2006 05:46:49 | More by Thrasher

RBorsato

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +21.4%

11-19-2012 00:20:41 | More by RBorsato

msubulldog25

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Alameda in Portland.$2.60 Happy Hour pint. 2006 Summer Release. None of the problems found with the 2005 were apparent here...

A: Rich coppery brown & clear. A tiny white head that fades to an almost non-existant film.

S: A sharp bitterness with maltiness, like toasted nuts. Also a clean spiciness, though I also sniffed a bit of something metallic. Not quite as mellow or thick as a typical amber; I guess that's why the literature states this is in "the style of German altbier". An "ale-lager hybrid". Hmmm.

T: Characteristic hop bitterness upfront, mellow nuttier transformation then back to the lingering bitterness. Generally a slight sweetness but mostly bitter.

M: A very nice creaminess in texture gives a rather full mouthfeel. There's a definitely clean bite in the finish and a twangy bitterness.

D: A good beer, nicely balance - though leaning more on the hop side of the fence. Low abv, pleasant taste, different from the typical amber. Sure, I'd have this one again sometime.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2006 01:48:00 | More by msubulldog25

RedDiamond

Oregon

1.78/5  rDev -49.1%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I first saw this beer in a 22 oz. bottle at John’s Market and was pleased to see Alameda deliver another bottled beer. That night I drank the bomber and was absolutely stunned at how spoiled the beer was. How could a beer have gone so bad, so quickly? Even old beers of modest potency that originate from Europe and sit on a shelf for a year don’t end up as toxic as this amber ale brewed just across town.

Not wanting to rely on an isolated bad bottle for my review, I went to Alameda later in the week to try a pint of East Village on draught. From this vantage it was not hard to figure out how things went awry, for even on draught this beer was seriously problematic. Phenolic off-notes dominated every dimension of what might otherwise have been a mellow, English-style bitter, and this beer was simply a challenge to drink. I’m surprised they opted to serve such a spoiled beer to the public.

A regrettable blemish on Alameda’s roster of otherwise enjoyable beers.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2005 20:22:58 | More by RedDiamond