Fisherman's Ale - Cape Ann Brewing Company

BuckSpin

Maine

3.85/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12oz bottle in a Pilsener glass

Poured with some life, faint crackle. Light nose, delicate, semi-sweet with old honey, malts resonate straw & hay, echoes of nature (rocks on the coastline, a summer field of corn stalks, crisp morning air in the mountains) abound. Hops elicit a light citrus rind quality. With some air the malts become stronger, more pronounced, bread & grains now rising.

A pencil's worth of small, compact, antique white foam faded quickly to a thin sheen of a floater with an edge ring that is subtly lacing in splotches. Hazy & slightly cloudy, its a subtle apricot orange, bright, warm, more golden near the base & warmer near the head.

Crisp yet soft, semi-dry with an up-front yet muted crunchiness, its nice bittersweet, actually more towards the bitter side of the road of that address. Hops are like a citric (lemon rind) butter knife - sharp enough to cut through most but no where near sharp enough to cut through all. A noticeable mineral/rocky quality, somewhat filmy (reminiscent of that feeling you would get in your mouth when washing chalk off a slate blackboard) only furthers this abrasive, dry bitter taste. Don't get me wrong, its not a bad thing at all.

Growing even drier on the palate, it takes on a leathery quality. Malts grow earthy, a little dirty even. The bitterness is more subdued and even becomes somewhat sweeter with more lemon rind & pith. The finish is nicely bittersweet (now crossing the road from bitter to sweet) and leaves a dry, leathery, coated mouth-feel, a little sour, somewhat filmy & rocky.

This was nice & definitely a joy ride for those who like their beers bitter & dry. I am craving a big deli sandwich, fries, a pickle wedge. I could see this being a KILLER lobster paring, as well as various whitefish done simply, some dry cheddar or Cotswold, maybe anything with spinach (bitter), simple potatoes, artisan bread. While not something I would want to drink every day, it was a nice change of pace and was rather nice. Recommended, especially if you like dry & bitter. Give it a shot.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2007 22:50:04 | More by BuckSpin

FroggieG

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

05-08-2013 04:58:57 | More by FroggieG

msondel

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

02-03-2013 20:41:21 | More by msondel

EvanWilliams

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -13.1%

01-09-2013 01:18:51 | More by EvanWilliams

C-Dog

3.25/5  rDev -13.1%

11-27-2012 06:08:44 | More by C-Dog

imperialking

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

11-13-2012 19:06:13 | More by imperialking

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

10-21-2012 17:06:20 | More by RblWthACoz

anewlanguage

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -19.8%

10-12-2012 23:45:24 | More by anewlanguage

lozz123

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

09-03-2012 21:12:23 | More by lozz123

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.15/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From the 12 fl. oz bottle. Sampled July 7, 2012. The pour is a hazy pale yellow with a quick fizzy white head that fades immediately. The aroma is of grains with a crisp hop note but the bottle I got must have been skunked because I also got a of that on the nose. Light body. The taste has all the right characteristics of a Kolsch with grains and a moderate bitterness but the skunked character distorted my judgement.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 16:39:31 | More by puboflyons

Trent

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

06-16-2012 13:43:42 | More by Trent

WreckingBrew

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

06-14-2012 05:16:57 | More by WreckingBrew

asafarc2

Rhode Island

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

06-11-2012 05:39:28 | More by asafarc2

mbs11

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

03-29-2012 03:47:45 | More by mbs11

Aexoonge

California

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

03-19-2012 17:32:54 | More by Aexoonge

seanh99

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7%

03-02-2012 16:57:57 | More by seanh99

SHCC

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

02-29-2012 04:32:31 | More by SHCC

codon2004

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

02-16-2012 23:50:33 | More by codon2004

AndrewMichael

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

01-27-2012 23:50:54 | More by AndrewMichael

wdarcy77

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

01-17-2012 13:10:32 | More by wdarcy77

mingo1968

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +33.7%

12-10-2011 16:31:37 | More by mingo1968

Bilco

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

11-28-2011 23:14:00 | More by Bilco

AJD1201

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7%

11-22-2011 14:35:29 | More by AJD1201

Burt

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +7%

11-22-2011 02:17:18 | More by Burt

PEIhop

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7%

11-21-2011 01:00:29 | More by PEIhop