Genesee 12 Horse Ale - Genesee Brewing Co. / Dundee Brewing Co.

yesyouam

New York

2.3/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 Horse Ale is a clear, sparkling, light golden ale with no head-- just a swirl of small bubbles. It has an aroma of sweet malt and corn. It's medium light bodied with a starchy finish. It tastes sweet and corny. There's a rubbery, sulfurous funk to it that identifies it as a Genny. There seems to be a slight nuttiness to it. It's funky and sweet, but I could have more than one in the ice-cold stubby format.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 01:23:56 | More by yesyouam

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Had a 20oz. pint at the Blue Tusk in Syracuse for $5. I was hoping this might resemble the decent English pale ale that the old 12 Horse Celebrated Ale had been described as. Really, it was just clean, macro blonde ale with a vague doughy barley character and no hops. I'd call it a step, maybe just a half-step, up from Genesee Cream Ale. But hey, if you're thirsty and feeling thrifty, it's a decent option.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2013 23:44:37 | More by tempest

hughesman

3.46/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Had 12 horse today for the first time in many years. It was more of a full flavor then i had remembered. Kind of carmel in color and better tasting then many cheap beers and at 8.99 for a case in bottles i thought it was a great value. At 5.1 percent stronger then most cheap beers. it didnt leave a bad after taste at all and have to say the 3 i had this afternoon i really enjoyed. seemed to have quite a bit of carbonation and a fruit type smell.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 20:44:56 | More by hughesman

atr2605

New York

3/5  rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-pours a clear golden color with a white head with better than expected retention
S-sweet malt
T-more sweet malt with a bit of creaminess to it, low hop bitterness
M-light bodied with high carbonation
O-I wouldnt say its the best representation of the style but its very drinkable and decent for the price. Admittedly I have a weakness for genny. If I'm going to drink cheap, it will be some form of genny

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 02:45:51 | More by atr2605

NedShakeshaft

Ontario (Canada)

1.75/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

This came in a 12-pack alond with the Red and the Fyfe and Drum. It was easily the worst of the three.

Poured a pretty golden color. The fluffy, white head died within seconds and could not be brought back to life.

Smelled of corn and alcohol grain. Sweet cream corn hung on my tongue while I forced down the carbonation. Not pleasant. Taste hung around for a bit, then came a grassy bitterness that wore out its welcome.

Drank the second one right out of the stubby. It's palatable if drank cold enough from the bottle but then, what isn't? The third and fourth will have to be tackled on a night when I'm even less discriminating.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 02:35:17 | More by NedShakeshaft

jifigz

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into a sweet old school PBR mug that I found.

A: The appearance is a darker golden color than most of the mainstream macro beers you will find out there. The carbonation level seems ridiculously high and no lacing was left on the glass during the process of drinking, but the color is quite nice and unusual. Oh...and the head disappeared very fast.

S: The aroma is extremely sweet. It is grainy and husky and....sweet.

T: The flavor is like the nose...it is very sweet. There is just a touch of bitterness that rides the tail end of some grainy flavor and the candy like sweetness.

MF: Light with heavier carbonation as expected.

O: Well, this is a pretty average macro offering. I tend to approve of Genesee for the price, but at $18 a case I should have either bought something much more expensive and drank good beer or bought something cheaper and drank beer that is this beer's equivalent. I do like the short and stout "hand grenade" style bottles though.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 15:29:22 | More by jifigz

oberon

North Carolina

2.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

My brother inlaw got me this as a birthday gift so I feel I need to drink at least one.Poured into a standard pint glass a clear medium golden with a nice looking white fluffy head that settled very slowly leaving a few globs behind.Alot of sweet corn in the nose with a little metallic quality,adjucts abound.The flavors were not awful wich I have to admit I was expecting,somewhat sweet with some caramel notes,a decent crisper toasted bread finish.It's not as bad as I thought it it would be but it's not anything to write home about either.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 16:38:05 | More by oberon

Petershib85

1.93/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

The first thing that through me off about this beer was the smell. Very yeasty. There are no notes of hops whatsoever. For the price, I was not expecting much more. I would only drink this if it were the only thing other than a lite beer to drink. It gets a 2 among cheaper beers.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 23:38:16 | More by Petershib85

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

2.58/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into rounded pint glass, color is gold with off white head that does not present much and dissipates, no lacing.

Smell neutral grains, crusty and some neutral hops - does not seem fresh.

Taste is pretty neutral, mild grain flavors, not much off flavor just not popping in freshness - hops are present for bitterness and maybe some grassy notes.

Mouthfeel is a bit crisp and over carbonated for me, but to style.

Overall, decent easy drinking brew from genesee - not the best in the barrel bottle variety pack.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 00:08:06 | More by mvanaskie13

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I love drinking these straight from the twist off cap from the short, stout bottle. Poured this one into a taster glass for review.

A: Pours very clear straw yellow with okay head that settles down to a thin lacing. Nice carbonation evident. I give the appearance a little extra strictly for the packaging.

S: Smells grainy with a sweet pilsner malt backbone. Not good as it warms. A fuzzy carpet-like smell seems to take note. Husky notes.

T: Not a lot going on here. Bland and husk-like malts. A tad sweet. No hops evident. This is a beer not meant to drink warm. Serve cold & drink straight out of the bottle.

M: Light to medium tasting. A tad sweeter than the bitterness. You can tell they added some hops but they give no noticeable aroma and/or taste. Hops must be used strictly for bitterness.

O: Average beer. For $10.99 per case, I'm not disappointed with the purchase. I was in the mood for some macro-like lager to watch during football season. This one is a solid beer by far above some of the other crap that's out in the market. This one is obviously not craft, but I dig nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 16:27:37 | More by jwhancher

CloudStrife

New York

2.98/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz stubby poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a super fizzy clear light golden color with a 1 finger white head that is gone in seconds. A ridiculous amount of visible carbonation.

S: Can actually pull some hop notes from this brew. Fairly standard aroma like most generic beers.

T: Slightly sweet with a light hop backing. Better than most macrobrews out there.

M: Light on the tounge, good carbonation. A little sticky.

Overall one of the tastier ones from Genesee but I dont think that says too much. A good deal considering it was much less than the big boys.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 20:12:35 | More by CloudStrife

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours bright golden body with a fizzy white head dwindling rather quick with even fine speckled lacing around the sides of my pint. Aroma has a dirty earthy notes with grain husk, mild cereal grains. Flavor has a light fruit base, with bread like malts, a bit of dirty husk quality, herbal hops yet very cohesive flavors come together.
Mouthfeel is light bodied a bit of harshness, yet refined smoothness in each sip an edgy brash light golden American ale from the brewers at Genesee. I'm guessing this is a classic recipe, carbonation is solid, mild hop burps. Overall another exciting light easy drinking beer going on.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 04:24:59 | More by WVbeergeek

soju6

Missouri

3.33/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Stubbie bottle from the Heritage Collection.

A: Pours a dark golden color with a decent head that fades to bits of lacing.

S: Aroma of malt sweetness bit of citrus and grain.

T: Taste is a bit tart with a mild malt sweetness. this continues to a mild bitterness and a clean finish.

F: Light body, crisp and quite smooth.

O: Easy drinker. Not bad for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 17:59:45 | More by soju6

Durge

Connecticut

3.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A clear yellow light amber color with a big white head that quickly shrinks to a dusting and modest lacing. The nose gets cereal grain alcohol with an accent on corn. The flavor is much the same with a lager-esque wheat and earthy yeast, some caramel sweetness in a medium-light bodied ale that goes down pretty easily with easy but refreshing carbonation. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 04:51:30 | More by Durge

Arithmeticus

Maryland

2.28/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Poured chilled in straight-edged glass.

A: clear, yellow; thin head evaporates quickly; carb beads cling to sides of glass
S: pale aroma of marshmallow and stalish yeast
T: mild, lackluster, but inoffensive beer; tonic-water effect, something like a slightly stale pilsner

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 03:33:58 | More by Arithmeticus

cpolking

Iowa

3.13/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer pours a dark honey golden, nearing a hint of copper or orange. There is a quarter-inch head of white foam.

The aroma is grain, honey sweet, herbal/floral.

The taste is sweet grain and herbal. There is almost a hint of root beer. There is a pleasant aftertaste.

The mouthfeel is light, but noticeable carbonation, along with a smooth, creamy element.

This is a very interesting, pleasant, but not great in any way.

Thanks to tone77 for this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 01:49:10 | More by cpolking

dacrza1

New Jersey

1.85/5  rDev -37.1%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Glassware: Kisatsky Tavern pint... Occasion: Spring break Thursday... Appearance: thin, sallow golden body that bubbled and crackled as it poured; the head is thick, chunky white and promises lacing...Aroma: all malt and hay...Palate: light to medium-bodied, with late carbonation and smoothness to the tongue...Taste: as exxpected, a stepping stone between the 40-ounces we pounded in college and the more mainstream fair that is served at backyard barbeques...light enough to pair with probably anything as a washdown, but too late to influence the palate while eating... Overall: no hatred or disappointment here, just what the retro bottle promised--and the dude who told me at the beer store that he couldn't see why the new package wasn't selling nearly paid for the purchase itself--as another old-school German brewery (a la Yuengling and Lord Chesterfield) does a nearly hopless ale. Pleasing in its blank canvas...

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 00:52:16 | More by dacrza1

rlee1390

Indiana

3.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-Clear pale yellow, some carbonation, not much head

S-Corn, Corn, some malt, not much else.

T-Corn, slight lemon notes, sweet for a Macro Lager, not bitterness at all.

M-Light and thin, almost no carbonation, crisper than I thought.

O-While cold the beer is decent as it warms the macro lagerness starts to take over. A decent go at it by Genesee.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 01:54:19 | More by rlee1390

Hoagie1973

New York

2.78/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

All the characteristics of an American adjunct with a bit of buttery fruitiness mixed in. Tastes almost as if a run of the mill English EPA and a cheap American Macro lager had a love child.
It's not undrinkable, but it's nothing I would ever seek out. Even among cheap beers there would be a half-dozen I would buy before this one.
Props to the local brewery for bringing it back, I'm just not a big fan.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 14:16:32 | More by Hoagie1973

aranheaney

New York

3.23/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Purchased as part of the same Heritage Case that my Cream Ale review came from. Not to be redundant, but 8 Genny, 8 Cream Ale and 8 12 Horse all in stubby retro bottles for $8.99, Weber City Deli in Yorkshire if you're interested.

A-Decent, darkish yellow with little head

S-Macro Hops with a bit of lemon

T-Interesting, almost a summer (Kolsch maybe) like hint

M-Decent, nothing unpleasant on the back end

O-another decent Genny product

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 09:38:47 | More by aranheaney

daliandragon

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Part of the Heritage twelve pack. I drank a lot of Genny back in college but I never heard of this one until tonight. A little darker in color than I expected, and almosr no head at all. Nose is lemon and a touch of honey but nothing to write home about.

Nice hop profile from the outset. Not a ton of malt but the hops and touch of lemon zest provide enough character that this can be pretty distinctive. High carbonation creates a pretty tight mouthfeel but you get used to it pretty quick. The stiffness does constrict the flavor but overall I find this pretty drinkable. for what it is of course.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 02:54:05 | More by daliandragon

Spikester

Oregon

3.65/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From a heritage variety pack. I finally located a 12 pack in a small Oregon town that shall remain nameless as I hope to buy a second 12 pack today on my way home from work.
Pours slightly richer gold than your average macro with a half inch of bright white head. Very good amount of lacing and a ring of head still intact at the bottom. Aroma is malty and bready. Taste is very nice malt profile with a minor amount of hops. Mouthfeel is fine for the style with plenty of carbonation. Nice rich and balanced flavor for a Blonde Ale with a light dry finish. This is one of the better Blondes I have had. Well done Genesee.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 15:08:11 | More by Spikester

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

3.73/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz stubby bottle purchased as part of a retro 12pack at Market Basket in Somersworth. Pours a light yellow crystal-clear body with nearly an inch of white head that dissipates rather quickly. Smells fruity with caramel notes. Tastes bready and fruity with caramel and cocoa notes. A little lemon on the finish. Light bodied with ample carbonation. A pleasant easy drinker with more going on that one would think at first. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 23:57:03 | More by MrHurmateeowish

loveingminor

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

poured into my salvation army purchased monographed mug:

appearance: looks like what i would imagine stereotypical beer to look like. has a transparent amber color, with a thin head that dissipates quickly. not unpleasant, but also not noteworthy

smell: smells kind of straw-like, no hop scent. not unpleasant, but also not noteworthy

taste: malty flavor, with little if any hop flavor. a little sweetness in the back of the mouth. not unpleasant, but also not noteworthy

mouthfeel: not a heavy beer. has just the right amount of carbonation. not unpleasant, but also not noteworthy

overall: not unpleasant, but also not noteworthy. as you can tell by the copy and pasting of "not unpleasant, but also not noteworthy" this is the perfect mediocre beer. not expensive, and comes in neato bottles (that will be used for my own homebrewing). if you find a better spacer beer, send me a message.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 01:56:28 | More by loveingminor

mndlssphlsphr

Washington

2.68/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Out of the stubby, from glass to glass. A transparent dehydrated-yellow, I did manage to see that color earlier today, but I forget where. Plenty of bubbles rising up into the white head above. The smell reminds me of cheap memories, as I can see through the haze. Hops and grains are in the taste and smell. There is a bit of staleness that makes me want to believe that I am living in the ‘80s. This would make a good drink for an evening after 12 hours at the industrial plant. Taste of America, I feel that it may be losing its luster. Stay strong Genesee, do not let society tell you what to do. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 06:13:05 | More by mndlssphlsphr