Heritage Alt - Erie Brewing Co.

brucepia

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Poured a very dark walnut. Has a heavy malt and caramel nose, very nice. A very smoth drinkable beer. This is a tasty treat and you will want to drink more that one.

I would like to try this beer on draft at about 55º to see all of the other flavors that would come out.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2008 20:13:22 | More by brucepia

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.74/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served on tap in a pint glass

Appearance –Served a deep mahogany color with some ruby red highlights shining through. Upon serving there is a small tannish head that fades relatively quickly to leave a light film on the brew.

Smell – The aroma has a nice dark fruit aroma of cherry and some chocolate as well as a little bit of a bready aroma. Mixed with this is a bit of nut as well as some light coffee rounding out the smell nicely.

Taste – the taste begins with some roasted malt as well a bit of chocolate up front. There is a moderate sweetness present as well, consisting mainly of a dark fruit taste with a bit of almost milky sweetness. The flavors present upfront remain largely throughout the taste and are joined by a light coffee and nut flavor which biter the brew slightly. In the end a roasted sweet, but lightly bittered flavor is left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfel- The body of the beer is on the average to above average side for a brew of only 5.4 % with a carbonation level that is rather average. Both are rather good for the style and create a slightly heavier feel with the creamier body but yet maintain a good drinkability due to the moderate carbonation.

Overall – A decent drinking brew with nice cocoa and roasted flavors and a thicker body then would have been expected for a brew of only 5.4 % abv Overall a nice drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2013 00:03:57 | More by Darkmagus82

nstroup

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.1%

02-26-2013 06:48:25 | More by nstroup

Mojo

Alabama

3.63/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours black with a tint of red. The head is a beautiful creamy caramel color about 2 1/2 fingers tall that takes a few minutes to dissipate. There is minimal lacing. The smell is not very strong (in a good way.) Mouthfeel is about average. Not thin, but not thick either. The taste is a near perfect blend of malt and hops with a hint of toffee and mocha. A pleasant offering that I would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 03:29:44 | More by Mojo

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz.

Pours a deep brown color, off-white head dissipates relatively quickly.

Smells like chocolate and oak.

Figs, cocoa, slight oak notes, hints of clove.

Medium to light body with a light carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

Pretty tasty dark ale with some nice flavors. Good flavor without being too strong. Enjoyable and I would certainly have this again.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 21:57:15 | More by Cylinsier

jaybags

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

06-11-2012 17:21:02 | More by jaybags

clickyourfingers

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

05-19-2012 15:35:45 | More by clickyourfingers

dugly2ugly

Virginia

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-07-2012 01:22:31 | More by dugly2ugly

weaselchew

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +16%

04-14-2012 20:09:24 | More by weaselchew

Buggies

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

04-12-2012 01:57:36 | More by Buggies

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -22.7%

04-09-2012 02:14:39 | More by ejimhof

TheNightwatchman

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.1%

02-19-2012 23:20:32 | More by TheNightwatchman

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Trying a Heritage Alt from Erie from my boss who brought a bottle back from his Xmas trip home to PA. The beer pours a deep clear ruby amber with virtually no head and no lace. The smell is a very nice sweet malt aroma. The taste is a good malt base with caramel tones and slight hop finish. The mouthfeel is a light to medium body with good carbonation. Overall it is a decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 03:30:46 | More by WoodBrew

DWolf

Pennsylvania

1.75/5  rDev -54.9%

01-08-2012 22:03:03 | More by DWolf

tclapper

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.1%

12-05-2011 02:42:04 | More by tclapper

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

11-22-2011 02:20:01 | More by PittBeerGirl

atr2605

New York

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-pours near black with a tan head with average retention
S-malty, slight olive and wet hay aroma, a little sweet, and fairly low hop profile
T-roasted malt, hop bitterness is just enough to keep the malt in check, and lasts through the finish
M- medium bodied
O- A nice somewhat unique style. I haven't had many of these and it is malty and almost earthy at the same time. Interesting.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 23:33:47 | More by atr2605

StBoisterous

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A. Pours dark brown, slight amber color when held to light.

S. Slightly hoppy with a subtle hint of chocolate.

T. Very well balanced flavor, very noticeable chocolate malt taste, but not overpowering.

M. No bitter aftertaste, slightly sweet. A smooth chocolate flavor lingers.

D. Extremely smooth for a darker style Alt ale.

Serving type: bottle (poured into glass)

- One of my favorite ales from Erie Brewing.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 14:38:48 | More by StBoisterous

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Modest head that settles to a single layer of bubbles. Light spotty lace on the glass. The color is dark, dark brown where a minimum of light passes through.

Dark chocolatey malt aromas, reminds me of powder cocoa. Could pass as a porter.

Smooth dark crystal malt start on the tongue. Less cocoa taste than the smell indicates. The finish has some mild hop to it. It's quite spritzy while it is quite rich bodied. The aftertaste has a touch cafe latte.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 02:43:45 | More by smcolw

Morey

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours darker than advertised. Opaque black with some brownish hues around the edges when held up to the light. Nice goldish-tan head which is starting to settle after a few minutes. Some decent head retention though.

The aromas of roasted malts, molasses, and brown sugar fill the nose.

The taste is both roasty and nutty. Pretty smooth beer, but there are definitely some hops thrown in this brew to help balance it out.

Medium silky smooth mouthfeel with a subtle hop bitterness.

I could definitely put a few back during the fall months.

Morey's Bottom Line: Simple beer done well. Everything about this beer is good. Nothing really jumps out and wows you, but it doesn't always have to be that way. One of the better beers by the EBC.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2010 20:00:25 | More by Morey

mdfb79

New York

3.73/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 09/15/10 notes. Had at a small tasting.

a - Pours a dark brown color with 1 inch of tan head and light carbonation and lacing.

s - Smells of roasted malts, nuts, and lactic.

t - Tastes of chocolate, roasted malts, nuts, and milk/lactic.

m - Medium body and low carbonation; smooth and easy to drink.

d - A decent alt. Very drinkable session beer; would try again.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 02:23:59 | More by mdfb79

brentk56

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: The darkest Alt I have ever seen, this beer pours a fudge brown color with a rocky tan head that leaves a decent amount of lace

Smell: Roasty brown bread with a chocolate dusting; also has a sweet character that is almost minty

Taste: Opens with a brown bread and chocolate flavor that adds the sweet minty element by mid-palate; after the swallow, the malt turns a bit fruity, though the early flavor profile also persists into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: More like a porter than an alt, this is still a very enjoyable beer

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2010 01:28:12 | More by brentk56

marvin213

North Carolina

2.88/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

So I was thinking that altbiers were a little on the lighter side--maybe I was confusing ABV with color. This one is as black as an imperial stout. Only its very surface offers a brownish tint. It looks too dark to be 5.40%! Head and lacing are underwhelming (again, my experience with the style is limited), but there's not too much appealing about this beer given my (perhaps misguided) expectations.

The nose is heavily roasted malt. It smells almost like a smoked beer. I think of barbecue and spicy breakfast burritos. The latter comes from a peppery, spicy-kinda vibe from the nose--like a chipolte influence or something! The smell piques my interest more than the look, but I truly have no idea what to expect....

It tastes like the smell: lightly smoked, roasted malts. The feel is thin and borderline watery. The nose is more distinguished than the taste, certainly. Though it looks and even smells as if it might pack a punch, the taste is distinctly on the lighter side. Though the nose influences are subtlely present on the palate, the feel is essentially nothingness. I'd actually like more of the ingredients on top of more carbonation! Though the light fluffiness of the taste, feel, and ABV make it a potentially drinkable brew, I'm looking for something more substantive.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2010 19:06:47 | More by marvin213

irish

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thin brown lace on a dark, dark beer. Virtually opaque unless you hold up a bright light on the other side. Did I mention it was dark?

Awesome rich, farmlike smell. One of the few beers where the nose impressed me, and one of the few where the rating proportion should reach 20% of the total, IMHO.

Very good taste--extremely balanced without being over the edge on sweetness, hops, or malt, although the style and brand clearly emphasizes malt as a "first among equals".

I liked the mouthfeel even if it is a bit thin--just adds to the drinkability. And the drinkability is quite nice. In fact, so nice that I will finish it right now....

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2010 02:05:58 | More by irish

mgbickel

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Decided to purchase a growler of this after visiting the brewery. Tired a number of their beers and really liked this one.

Pours dark brown...what you would expect from a nice porter. Has a thin, fizzy tan head.

Smells of toasted bread and malt.

Has a very nice coffee/cocoa undertone. Finishes with a slightly bitter nut splash.

Thin mouth feel...goes down smooth and easy.

A very drinkable beer in my opinion. Would highly recommend this beer...especially this time of the year!

Serving type: growler

11-24-2009 19:43:38 | More by mgbickel