I got home from the gym last night and found a package sitting on my porch. I assumed it contained the curtains my wife ordered from Overstock, so I was surprised when the label said, “Craft Brewers Alliance.” Inside the box was a press release for Copperhook and a pair of sample bottles.
Sure, I may be getting a little overexcited about a couple bottles of Copperhook, but this is the first freebie I’ve been sent. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a little harder to hang on the wall than a first dollar bill. Anyway, this prompted me to finish typing up a few reviews for beers I’ve tried recently. Since I am already talking about Copperhook, I’ll start with it. Here is the press info and stats.
“Copperhook is a refreshing beer. It’s brewed in a German Altbier style and offers a bit of a spicy citrus flavor with a clean malt profile. The beer pairs well with anything from smoked seafood to your favorite barbecued beef and we’re excited to open up distribution year-round.”
Style: Altbier
ABV: 5.8%
IBU: 25
Malts: Pale, Carapils, Caramel
Hops: Willamette, Saaz
True to its name, Copperhook poured a clean copper color. It had a large soapy white head that completely filled the glass and an aroma that consisted of sweet malts and faint spicy hops.
The beer had a lagerish quality, common with traditionally brewed Alts. It had a caramel sweet body and finished with a lingering spicy bitterness. Generally, I like my Alts a bit heavier, but for correctness of style, I give Copperhook a straight B. It is a very light, refreshing rendition of the style; somewhat like a crisper version of Alaskan Amber.
I also want to mention that Copperhook is a good beer to serve your BMC drinking friends. It is neither aggressively hoppy nor heavy-bodied; the two most common complaints from macro fans. My dad, a strict MGD man, put down his fair share of Copperhook while we watched a couple basketball games last March.
Like I mentioned above, I have several reviews to finish typing up. Over the next couple days, expect to see posts on Full Sail’s Ltd. 01, 10 Barrel’s S1NIST0R, Trader Joe’s ’09 Vintage Ale and Beer and Coding’s own Belgian IPA.
Cheers!
Kevin
(This review was based on a sample bottle provided by the brewery)
Things must be going pretty bad if your reviewing Gateway beers!
You give this crap a “B”? What’s a Michelob, a “B-.” Sorry to hear your Dad doesn’t appreciate good beer. You have my sympathy.
@Wort: At this point, breweries aren’t bombarding be with schwag, so I have time to review whatever I receive. Hell, it could have been Steven Seagal’s Asian Experience Lightning Bolt.
As for the B, that is a style rating using Jeff’s system. While light, Copperhook tastes like a thoroughly filtered Northern German Altbier. Like I said, I prefer Alts with a more substantial body, like Long Trail’s Double Bag or Ninkasi’s Sleigh’R.
Gateways are important. Imagine how much less public ire would be pointed your way if first people experienced Dr. Wort’s Slighty-Mad Gateway Beer Blog, then stepped up to the Buzz-erk rendition. Like slowly turning the heat up on a lobster and the poor creature not realizing what happened until it’s too late. Although the lack of immediate outrage would probably leave the good (?) doctor feeling a little hollow at the end of the day…
Don’t worry about my dad, my hobby is bringing him around to trying new brews. A couple weeks ago he put down both the Porter and Belgian IPA I brewed, a bottle of Kona Coffe Porter, part of a growler of Oakshire’s Smokin’ Bagpipes and BridgePort’s Hop Czar while we watched play-offs. Not bad for a MGD man.
Cheers!
Kevin
Looks kind of light for an Alt, no?
Ahh…. I knew you’d know it was me. Just Razzin’ the new kid on the block. At least you have a sense of humor for sarcasm. Most of the others take this shit way to serious or maybe that’s all they have in life?
Cheers!
@Bill: Yep, it’s damn light, but some traditional Alts are pretty light colored. Have you tried Uerige’s Classic Alt? It’s a Dusseldorf Alt, but it’s very light.
BJCP guidelines put Northern German Alts @ 13-19 SRM and Dusseldorfs @ 11-17, so Copperhook @ 10.7 is just below the general range.
@Wort: How can I take this too seriously? It’s MY opinion afterall. If I expected everyone to agree with me, I wouldn’t live in Eugene and be married to a Liberal.
Waits for wife to comment…
Cheers!