Ad Astra Ale - Free State Brewing Co.

WunderLlama

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle poured into a Sam Adams pint glass

A: Pours a reddish brown caramel with a small foamy cap that quickly settles down. Faint lacings on the glass

S: Fresh beer with a nice scent of hops. Very appealing.

T: Fresh smooth start with a hint of spice finish.

M: Medium to medium light body with small bit of carbonation

O: A nice , drinkable beer that would be great on a hot day. A nice well crafted beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 03:41:44 | More by WunderLlama

acelin

Kansas

3.48/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a glass.

Pours a nut brown with no lacing, and barely a head. Nothing amazing here, but doesn't look nasty.

Smells of malt, molasses slightly, nutty tones.

The malts make a good display here, with rich nutty sugary flavors. Maybe a little light roast coffee. Slightly bitter from the hops.

Mouthfeel is average. Drinkability is wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 03:13:50 | More by acelin

UnkleFester

Kansas

3.88/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A: Pours a deep amber, a little over a fingers worth of off-white head that doesn't stay not much lacing with this one.

S: Biscuit malt, earthy hops and molasses on the nose.

T: Much like the nose with a hint of spice towards the finish.

M: Light to medium body with a light amount of carbonation, has a smooth and creamy finish.

O: Another solid beer from Free State this one doesn't do anything mind-blowing but is still a very well crafted beer and a good representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 03:26:54 | More by UnkleFester

drabmuh

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Beer shared by my cousin in his man cave, served in appropriate glassware even. Thanks. At the time of this review, this is #34 on the "Top Beers - Altbier" list on beeradvocate.com.

Beer is dark brown, hazy, tan head, small and medium bubbles. Some lacing. Looks good.

Aroma is very malty and sweet with a nice yeastiness.

Beer is medium in body and strong. It has a nice finish to it but not my favorite alt I've had. A little roasty on the back end. Eh. I might have it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 15:46:16 | More by drabmuh

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.2/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a standard pint glass. The beer is a mahogany/ruby color. A cream colored head dissipates quickly but leaves decent lacing. The beer smells toasty, nutty, and malty. The taste is an exercise in thinking. It tastes malty in a nut brown way, but there is a touch of cherry tartness. Maybe a faint hop finish. The beer is medium bodied.

Overall, I like it. I just may not have this one very often. It's an easy-drinking beer, and well crafted from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 23:53:20 | More by JuicesFlowing

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a beautiful deep amber pour with a half inch of head. smells of floral hops, caramel sweetness and honey. tastes of chocolate, cherry, caramel.. really sweet! light body crossing over to medium body with moderate carbonation. very easy to go down, very tasty, and very enjoyable overall.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 22:12:43 | More by facundoCNB

Dope

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: A fairly dark brown pour with a very light tan head. Head is dense and retains very well. Lots of thick lacing on the glass.

S: Sweet caramel, toasted malt and some earthtones. A touch of dark fruit? Chocolate as it warms.

T: Toasted malt mixed with some caramel and chocolate. Earthy aftertaste.

M: Pretty light, to be expected for a 5.6% ABV beer.

O: Honestly not bad, a pretty simple and malty beer. Drinkable and inoffensive.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 03:58:04 | More by Dope

Tone

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, brown color. 6/4 inch head of an off-tan color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of slight earthy malt, slight caramel malt, hops, slight sweet malt, and a hint of citrus. Fits the style of an Altbier. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, hint of citrus, hint of grass, slight earthy malt, hint of caramel, and a hint of honey. Overall, good appearance, aroma, feel, and blend.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 02:47:48 | More by Tone

tronester

Oklahoma

3.55/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A deep dark brownish red with a creamy tan head. Smell is a bit of dark fruit and freshly cut hay. Taste is initially some munich malt sweetness, followed by a cinnamony, rye bread middle, and a slightly tart, earthy finish. Mouthfeel is rich, cask like carbonation. Overall a good beer. Not too often you find an altbier in the USA.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 23:51:43 | More by tronester

FosterJM

California

3.6/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

907th Review on BA
Bottle to Pint
12 oz

Purchased from: On the Rocks, Lawrence, KS

App- A dark dark amber with a 1-1/2 finger head. A bit of an off white color with some good cling all the way down the glass. Falls to a ring of pond bubbles.

Smell- A bit thick malts and a touch of heavy cream on the nose. A bit earthy with some grainy notes as well.

Taste- Much like the nose but has some coffee and more grain taste to it. It's tasty but more spicy malty than would be expected.

Mouth- A medium body and a medium carbonation level. A bit of malty caramel with a touch of that heavy cream and spice.

Drink- It's good. I liked it, but needs to even out with some pop behind it.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 16:07:50 | More by FosterJM

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.3/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes,

Pours an effervescent amber with brown/tan head. Good head retention & lacing

S: Toasty malt, leafy hops & pears

T: Follows the nose, along with grassy & peppery notes up front. Pear note dominate as this warms. Finishes crisp & fruitty

MF: Light/medium body with firm carbonation, decent balance

Drinks easy enough, but nothing special as Alts go

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 01:45:49 | More by russpowell

merc7186

New York

3.9/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I had this beer poured from a 12oz bottles poured into a chilled pint glass.

The beer poured great with a nice dark amber color that passes very little light through it, a nice tan colored one finger head and good lacing on the glass. The beer has a great blend a caramel sweetness, some roasted malt, and mild chocolate scents that come together nicely. The taste is much the same with a sweet caramel taste up front that blends into a roasted malt and mild chocolate follow up, it works well together. The mouthfeel is average with good carbonation but a mild flavor from the chocolate. Overall, a great Altbier from a brewer I have never had before. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 01:21:38 | More by merc7186

jmbranum

Oklahoma

4.45/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bought at The Library in Manhattan, Kansas, enjoyed at home in Oklahoma City.

Pours a brown liquid with a huge, huge, super-smooth fluffy tan head. Excellent bready-aroma.

Flavor is interesting. Lots of roasted notes, some brown bread, a tiny bit of caramel but that is offset by the bitterness and a little bit of acidic prickle. Some coffee. Lingering bitterness with some slight hint of chocolate.

Very smooth. Reminds me just a little bit of a nitro-can Guinness, but this is much better.

Yet another superior Kansas beer. I'm becoming quite the fan of KS beers I must admit.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 21:51:31 | More by jmbranum

sulldaddy

Connecticut

3.18/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sampling a cellar temp bottle poured into a pint glass. A gift from my friend Ragingbull.
The beer pours a clear beautiful mahogany color with ruby highlights and a 1 cm creamy beige head. The foam receds slowly to a sturdy surface layer with very tight lattice on the sides of the glass. Very appealing looks.
Aroma is caramel and some grainy malt with a bit of spicy and grassy hops in the background, but this is a malt driven nose.
First sip reveals an average bodied beer with very fine yet tingly carbonation.
Flavor is grainy and husky malt with a touch of toffee. I also get a little bit of grassy hop but the beer finishes with an almost tangy malt hit, more like a wheat twang than caramel. The finishing flavor is a little weird as it is out of balance with the rest of the beer.
No hint of any booze on this one and the beer drinks very smooth and easy.
I like the beer overall but the flavor on the finish is a little strange.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 04:25:49 | More by sulldaddy

mdcrouser

Missouri

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Copper-tinted brown pour, with a faint light white head, lacy fingers scratching their way down the glass.

Bready malt dominates, leaving little else to the imagination. Smells alot like a brewery, actually.

Highly bready - caramel, woodsy, pumpernickel, with only an allusion of citrus - grapefruit, orange.

Crisp and hearty, with ample carbonation.

Not a great beer, but I certainly could drink a lot of them.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 03:47:46 | More by mdcrouser

emmasdad

Colorado

2.98/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Thanks Dan (and Ratman) for sharing this one last night. Although I sincerly appreciate it, I did not enjoy it. Poured a dark amber color with a little bit of head on top. Aromas of cardboard, nuts and caramel. Medium bodied, with flavors of cardboard, roasted nuts and caramel malt. Kind of sad, maybe this one sat for a while.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 23:16:20 | More by emmasdad

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a pint glass. This is from a selection of Free State Brewing beers send to me by JeepCop. Thanks Dale!

Pours a clear coppery amber, with a ½ finger of off-white head. This retains with a thin creamy film that stays frothy when swirled leaving back some nice looking foamy swathes of lacing. The aroma is floral and leafy smelling, with some green citrus flavors that mingle with sticky caramel malts and a fairly prominent deep roasted feel that fills the back of the nose. This is decent, if maybe a little too heavy on the roast at times.

The taste is similar to the nose, with a mix of caramel, toast, and bitter citric fruit that gives the overall profile a bit of a green tangy feel. There is some darkness to the flavors but they seem less pronounced than in they were in the aroma. Leftover hops linger on the tail-end with some lingering dryness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a smooth easy crispness in the mouth that definitely helps keeps this quite drinkable.

This was quite an interesting beer, with some characteristics keeping this closer to traditional Amber Ale and then others finding their over more over to the Altbier category. It never really seems to find it's footing in the middle of the two. That being said though, this is by no means a bad beer in any way and just seems a little confused. There is still more than enough flavor and drinkibility for you to take a chance on it. Worth a look.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 20:27:31 | More by Kegatron

jmvecchio1

Missouri

3.65/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a deep rusty copper with a rocky white head. The head dissipates to leave a sticky lace on the sides of the glass. The smell of the beer is pure malty sweetness. The beer tastes of sweet roasty malts with a good balance of hop bitterness on the back end of the drink. The beer finishes relative clean, with just a slight malty sweetness. This is one of those great sessionable beers. Well worth picking up a six pack of.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 00:55:45 | More by jmvecchio1

nicdub

Kansas

3.88/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- dark amber in color, like coke with cherry in it. noticeable carbonation. 1 finger off-white head that quickly recedes. no lacing. translucent.

S - Biscuit malt, caramel, molasses, medium to rich on the nose

T - Biscuit malt again, not too robust, but just right. medium body. aftertaste is more of the original taste and the smell. a nice well balanced brew. masked hops and alcohol add depth.

M - Nice carbonation, medium body, not quite "fluffy" but well balanced nonetheless. Really crisp and smooth.

D - Not a true session beer for me. 3 would be about right. CAn't knock it too much though.

O- This is a nice fall/winter beer. I really like this and it would be good as a dinner pairing as well, with a burger or steak, or BBQ. A nice example of the "altbier" style.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 07:04:15 | More by nicdub

midwestbrewers

Kansas

3.3/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours kind of copperish with a 2 finger head. Nice and frothy head with little lacing though.

S: Immediately your nose is rushed with sweet malts. Not much if any hop characteristics.

T: The taste is very malty and sort of sweet. Maybe a little hop bite on the back but very lack-luster.

This is an OK beer. Too sweet and malty for me. The lack of any hop character is a downer for me. Great beer but not in the category for me. Very smooth and goes down easy is a plus though. Great beer Free State Brewing!!!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 04:50:54 | More by midwestbrewers

dbossman

Nebraska

4.1/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Ruby brown; clear and bubbly with a thin quickly dissipating head; leaves a faint film with nice lacing

S: Sweet caramel malts; tea leaves and lemon juice linger on the back end

T: Nice subtly sweet maltiness rich with caramel and wet grains; backed by lemon and tea; lingering pleasant aftertaste

F: Good even mouth feel; even a bit of sediment left on tongue that is pleasant

D: Very nice, drinkable beer; first beer from Free State but hopefully not the last

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 02:41:49 | More by dbossman

zhanson88

Montana

3.88/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a dark copper color, almost brown, with ruby highlights. About a finger of light caramel head forms, reducing down to a fine film of lacing.

Smell: a lot of caramel malts and earthiness is present with slight piney and floral hops.

Taste: lots of caramel malts up front, with floral and piney hops. Maybe a hint of a coffee on the back end. This is a pretty balanced beer, lots of earthy tones with slight hops. Not the most flavorful beer overall, but still a nice offering.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: in between light and medium bodied and pretty smooth drinking overall. This is definitely a beer that I could drink a few of, pretty nice. Looking forward to trying more from Free State.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 22:30:08 | More by zhanson88

Soonami

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ad Astra Ale is a beer I got from a Reddit Secret Santa gift. It is a nice looking reddish brown beer with just a little lace of rocky head. The beer smells darkly toasty like pumpernickel bread and also a little sweet caramel malt. The beer is a little fruity, very nicely malty and accented with good german hoppy bittering. This is a good beer with a nice aftertaste that I definitely enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 05:52:07 | More by Soonami

jaycount

Kansas

4.08/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Golden appearance. Clean fresh looking white head. Good ale. Not alot of extra flavors thrown in, but a good taste of hops. Earthy, hoppy, malty taste. Average mouthfeel, not alot of carbonation. Very sessionable.

Will be in my normal rotation as long as I can keep getting it around town.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 02:50:19 | More by jaycount

BeerIsArTT

Kansas

3.98/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I enjoyed this 12 oz. bottle from my Stella Artois glass that I got from a bar in Chicago on my 21st Birthday.

A: Deep red, almost blood red color, translucent with a yellow/creme colored head that sets nicely upon medium thick lacing, with creamy appearance. Gorgeous looking beer.

S: Medium roasted malt with a hint of hop resin, mild floral aroma punctuated by a slight smell of alcohol, pleasant and satisfying aroma.

T: Light, airy maltiness with a slight tinge of alcohol dryness, finishes with a nice hint of floral hoppiness and a clean hay zest.

M: Rich malty texture with a crisp/dry finish. Starts strong and full bodied, finishes with a nice smoothness, but the alcohol leaves my mouth slightly dry and wanting more to quench my thirst.

D: Very drinkable, for the smooth and fine quality of the malt, a good medium bodied ale with a hefty malt flavor and a light balance of floral hops. This is one of the most popular beers in Lawrence, and it is obvious why. I can only hope Freestate goes national soon.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2010 22:36:09 | More by BeerIsArTT