Creemore Springs Collaboration Altbier - Creemore Springs Brewery Limited

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

473 mL can from the LCBO. Never had an altbier before, but at this point I'm fairly confident in Creemore's ability to brew solid beer. Trying this one out was a no-brainer.

Pours a clear copper-amber colour, topped with just over one finger of smooth, foamy eggshell white-coloured head. It lasts for a few minutes before subsiding into a thin cap, with a coat of lacing smeared onto the sides of the glass. The aroma is pleasant, with toasted biscuity malts being a prominent feature, along with some caramel, grains, hay and a faint hint of nuts. Fairly enticing so far.

The flavour isn't all that complex, but it's undeniably pleasant, with enough nuances to raise my eyebrow. Bready malts, brown sugar and toasted biscuits form the backbone, with a distinct nuttiness to the flavour. This is balanced toward the finish by a robust hop profile, which is grassy, floral and slightly earthy in nature, with just a hint of baker's chocolate. Bittersweet aftertaste that doesn't stick to the palate long. Light-bodied, with mild carbonation that gives this stuff a silky-smooth mouthfeel, and contributes strongly to the absurdly high drinkability.

Extraordinarily smooth-tasting, with a superb balance between the malt and hops - this is easily one of Creemore's top offerings. Certainly gives their kellerbier (my personal favourite from this brewer) a run for its money. It wasn't surprising to find out that this collaboration involved one of the most renowned altbier brewers in Deutschland, because it's absolutely phenomenal stuff.

Final Grade: 3.93, an excellent B+. Creemore Springs' Altbier makes for yet another fantastic offering to add to their portfolio. Despite their acquisition by one of the nation's macro giants, this brewery keeps chugging along and producing some of Ontario's most widely-available, consistently solid beer. This is well worth adding to their seasonal lineup, assuming it doesn't displace their (also excellent) kellerbier. This is a great summer/autumn refresher that is well worth sampling.

Serving type: can

08-26-2012 05:12:46 | More by thehyperduck

phirleh

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +12.4%

04-04-2013 13:19:13 | More by phirleh

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

02-13-2013 03:57:18 | More by DaPan

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to korguy123 for this can.

A - Medium amber with a big orange glow and one finger of dirty white head.

S/T - A good sweetness with bready and caramel notes present. There is also a light hop presence and some floral notes.

M - Light body. Slightly creamy. Moderate carbonation.

O - This was a nice easy drinker. Thanks again Matt!

Serving type: can

12-27-2012 01:32:39 | More by TheSevenDuffs

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Creemore Altbier is a glossy toffee-amber colour and retains little head. My finger on the other side is easily discernible but hopelessly distorted due to the deep tone. Still, the beer manages impressive and highly aesthetic highlights. Swirling hastens head production but retention, unfortunately, is hopeless.

The aroma of rich, nutty, softly roasted malt is every bit as denotative of German culture as accordion-led polkas and sausages. This is a Canadian beer, of course, but it clearly utilizes top-notch German variety malts and, as the name reveals, came about with a little help from a German expert (Zum Schlüssel).

The beer gains high marks for purity of expression; the flavour features chewy, biscuity maltiness - and plenty of it - plain and simple. While there are some soft, bittersweet, herbal flower petal-like notes, the taste is characterized by its rich nutty-sweet graininess. It is highly approachable but still substantial.

Nutty, biscuity malts not only start the flavour but also conclude it; the aftertaste rides that sweetish, caramel malt wave for some time. The finish, however, is also where bitterness suddenly becomes a more concrete notion as earthy hops mount a silent takeover. Until then that bitterness is masked by the rich malt character.

I look forward to the day when a glass of Altbier is as popular as a latte and traditional brewhouses are as plentiful as Starbucks. That's the norm in Germany, though it is still a long way off here in Canada. Creemore Springs Altbier, however, is a step in the right direction. Here's hoping more breweries follow.

Serving type: can

12-09-2012 16:55:21 | More by biegaman

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Can: Poured a clear brown color alt with a large foamy head with good retention and some alight lacing. Aroma of dry caramel malt with chewy biscuit malt is quite great. Taste is a great mix between some dry caramel malt with light roasted nuts and chewy gain. Body is about average with medium carbonation. Pretty bang on to style, great drinkability and very enjoyable.

Serving type: can

11-22-2012 21:28:02 | More by Phyl21ca

RomanticLung

1.75/5  rDev -50.8%

11-08-2012 22:06:00 | More by RomanticLung

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -15.7%

11-06-2012 16:45:29 | More by cfalovo97

mjacquard

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

11-05-2012 23:34:50 | More by mjacquard

djcreepshow

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -8.7%

11-05-2012 04:10:22 | More by djcreepshow

drinkininthewood

Ontario (Canada)

3.2/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served from a 473ml can into a pint glass. No freshness date.

A- Dark copper color with a finger thick head that diminishes to a small ring of lace around the glass.
S- Malt sweetness, candied nuts, mild aromas of grassy hops are present also.
T- Caramel malt, fresh raisin bread, nuts, touch of dark fruit, hops are light and grassy but balance the malt backbone effectively. The finish is dry and lingers somewhat.
M- German altbiers and altbiers in general are a style im not too familiar with but i would say the body is below medium and a touch on the watery side, carbonation was ok.
D- A beer with enough flavor to keep you interested beyond one or two.

Overall a decent beer but not my favorite from Creemore. I like the UrBock better. Still a highly drinkable beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 00:23:01 | More by drinkininthewood

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +12.4%

10-21-2012 22:18:53 | More by Molson2000

TheHammer

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Poured with nearly two fingers of head that retained at half a finger for some time and produced a solid amount of lace. The body of the beer is a dark amber/brown that boasts ample carbonation. A bit more lacing would have earned the five.

Smell: This is my first Altbier and I guess they aren't kidding when they say this is a balanced beer. Dry apple and pepper yeast is battling it out with equally dry citrus hops and a sold wet sweet caramel malt. This battle while interested however seems subdue itself, although warming helps, mainly the side of the yeast though.

Taste: Starts with a peppery and nutty taste that doesn't really accent the sweet molasses malt very well, however it does appear to pull back a bit and allow fruity apple and nut touch forward a slight bit before it fights on equal terms with dry floral and earthy hops.

Mouthfeel: Not a big fan here, the transistioning seems abrupt and seems to linger on the end for far too long, on far too much of a dry note. The carbonation doesn't appear to help out the middle of the beer either, although it is ample. The aftertaste is dry, peppery and cloys a bit too much.

Drinkability: Out the gate it did very well, it was interested, balanced and flavourful but as the beer went on it became drier and drier and that really hamstrung the experience. It was medium bodied, and sat down well.

Final Thoughts: I don't think Altbier is my cup of tea. As with my love for english brown ales, my preference for brown beer is malt over nuttiness and certainly over dryness. If you like a dry beer, but don't like the high bitterness of excessive hops, this beer is for you. I hate to say it, but it's my first disappointment from Creemore Springs, but I can't really hold it against them as at the very least, they continue to push the envelope by brewing this under represented style.

Serving type: can

10-16-2012 03:57:16 | More by TheHammer

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Clear, dark copper colour. (colour of medium maple sirup) Poors a nice 1/2 inch head then settles to about 1/4 inch. Lacing is medium on the glace.

S: Rich malt/caramel scent. hops are low yet present enough. Hints of pepper are present in the hops yet the malt balances it with sweetness

T: Caramel flavours are present in the malt with a quick bitterness and dryness. Some bread is present, almost like a french toast.

M: Dryness beginning to end with a well balance bitterness to malt. (higher bitterness to malt as per style). Medium bodies and well carbonated.

O: This is an amazing collaboration beer and a great beer. The Germans should be proud that Canadians have brewed a great Altbier.

Serving type: can

10-14-2012 00:55:30 | More by Kremlock

BGDrock

Ontario (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: clear; maple syrup brown/red; good frothy head

Aroma: toasted malt, caramel; very light

Taste & Mouthfeel: toffee, burnt caramel (not too sweet) , but overall flavour is mild; dry finish is of resin; body is medium-light, almost thin; description mentions nutty flavour, and can get a sense of that - chestnuts

Overall: resin flavour begins to dominate over time but that prevents it from getting tired; dry rustic flavour is great, but too light

Serving type: can

10-13-2012 01:50:52 | More by BGDrock

FEUO

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -15.7%

10-08-2012 20:29:29 | More by FEUO

KrisDLSmith

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

10-02-2012 03:33:17 | More by KrisDLSmith

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

09-25-2012 23:06:48 | More by beerhunter13

heebes

Ontario (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Can.

Pours a clear dark brown with large foamy bubbly head, cream coloured. Nose is very nondescript. I literally almost get nothing out of it. With deep breaths through the nose, the faintest malt, grain, perhaps creamy. Taste is actually quite similar; next to nothing. Just malty: bread, bland caramel, some grain, water. Mouthfeel is light.
Overall a highly unimpressive beer, leaves a malty aftertaste and drinks like a macro (seeing as its Molson owned). Disapointed, let down.

Serving type: can

09-16-2012 20:48:49 | More by heebes

dwxr

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

09-09-2012 02:27:37 | More by dwxr

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

473ml can. Nice to see Creemore Springs releasing more (a relative term) exotic offerings, to help combat those who would usurp their throne as Ontario's, if not Canada's finest purveyor of tasty all-malt lagers (and now, one ale). Thanks to the rep for leaving (forgetting?) a scout sample for me to stumble (figuratively) across.

This beer pours a clear, dark bronzed amber hue, with two fingers of silken, puffy foamy off-white head, which leaves some random scattered tendril lace around the glass as it evenly sinks away.

It smells of softly sweet biscuit and caramel malts, a mild nuttiness, and floral, musty hops. The taste is fairly reflective of the promise of the aroma with a grainy, somewhat bready malt, subtle earthy nut character, a bit of understated orchard fruitiness, and dusty, leafy hops.

The carbonation is a wee bit fizzy, but generally behaves itself, the body on the low side of medium weight, and smooth enough, as a slight metallic edges takes something away from that. It finishes mostly dry, the grainy, biscuit character mostly spent of sweetness, and the zingy leafy hops pulling up their socks well enough.

A hoppy altbier? Sure, why the hell not - and thankfully not very adherent to west coast 'standards' in that regard. Anyway, a decent, balanced tipple, and a nice sideshow for this brewery, very helpful in showing we far flung customers that they haven't lost their old-world Deutsche moxie since, well, you know.

Serving type: can

09-07-2012 04:10:26 | More by biboergosum

mintjellie

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +11%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep copper colour, brilliant clarity. Poorly retained beige head doesn't lace. Malty aroma of bread, toasted grain, and nuts with floral hop notes. Flavour is malt forward toasted biscuit and nutty notes, followed by a firm leafy bitterness in the finish. Flavourful but but very balanced. Medium-bodied with low carbonation and a smooth, rich mouthfeel. Creemore have stuck to their roots making European-inspired beers while doing something fairly different for the Ontario market. They've also made a delicious beer. Prost!

Serving type: can

09-05-2012 22:12:47 | More by mintjellie

allergictomacros

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Clear copper with a half inch of creamy foam on a gentle pour.

S - Nose is malty-sweet, hints of lemon, husky grain. hint of cocoa.

T - Dry and grainy with a bit of lemon hop. Light toastiness

M - Smooth with a moderate zip.

D - Very easy drinking, dry balanced brew. Good patio sipper. Unlikely to find this on the average patio though.

Serving type: can

09-03-2012 19:46:07 | More by allergictomacros

Jdante

1/5  rDev -71.9%

09-03-2012 04:18:31 | More by Jdante

irishkyle21

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +12.4%

09-02-2012 04:21:40 | More by irishkyle21