I’ve
been slacking on updates for a while, and was hoping to find the perfect beer
to lead in to more posts. Fortunately I
was able to find a beer from what I believe is one of the better breweries in
the country, Peak Organic. I spoke with Jon
Cadoux, one of the founders of Peak Organic last year, and I was impressed by
his strong desire to foster the local economy quickly became apparent. As a foodie and localvore, he has a strong
commitment to find high quality, local ingredients for all of his beers. Espresso Amber is no exception, utilizing organic,
fair-trade coffee beans that are locally roasted coffee beans from Coffee By
Design.
I have
had a few Peak Organic beers so far, and have come to associate Peak Organic
with high quality craft beer but I haven’t had many coffee Amber ales prior to
this, so I was a curious to find out how
Peak Organic Espresso
Amber Ale would stack up. The bottle
mentions that “substantial amounts of Munich Malt” were used (Munich malt
contributes a rich malty flavor), which should stand up well with the addition
of espresso. With that said, on to the
review
Over at
Beeradvocate,
Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale has a score of 85. Over at ratebeer,
it has a score of 91 overall with a 98 for style.
They Say:
A
robust amber ale brewed with locally roasted, organic fair trade espresso with
help from our friends down the street at Coffee by Design. This malty amber ale
is brewed with substantial amounts of Munich Malt, providing a perfect backbone
for the rich, roasty flavor imparted by the espresso.
Our Espresso Amber Ale is a
celebration of tasty, local ingredients and organic, fair trade practices,”
said Jon Cadoux from Peak, a passionate craft beer brewer. “As foodies, we’ve
always appreciated hand-crafted coffee roasters, so we jumped at the
opportunity to work with our friends down the street at Coffee By Design, who
craft amazing coffee. We feel like this is more than just a delicious craft beer,
but also a positive experience from start to finish, farm to glass” said Geoff
Masland from Peak.
The Espresso Amber Ale is brewed
with Maine-roasted, organic fair trade espresso in collaboration with Coffee ByDesign. The beer is in partnership with Transfair, a
non-profit that works to ensure that farmers and farm workers behind Fair TradeCertified™ goods are paid fair, above-market prices, helping to support a
better life for farming families, community development and environmental
stewardship. Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale is
the first Fair Trade Certified™ beer brewed in the United States.
ABV: 7%
IBUs: 22
Suggested Food Pairing: Brunch
items, BBQ, vanilla ice cream, chocolate cake
I Say:
Peak
Organic Espresso Amber Ale pours a moderately clear reddish amber with a 1-inch
thick creamy tan head that holds good retention, lasting about 3 minutes before
fading into the glass. Coffee is
dominant in the aroma, and it is very apparent that high quality espresso beans
were used in this beer rather than just your average run of the mill espresso
bean. The coffee is supported with an
ample amount caramel, sweet malts, and a hint of chocolate.
Much
like the aroma, the espresso takes center stage in the flavor, hitting the
palate early. Caramel, toasted nutty
notes, and hints of toffee balance the espresso character. There is a moderate level of perceived
bitterness, some from the hops and undoubtedly a little from the coffee
addition as well. There is also a slight
bit of coffee astringency, but for the most part the Espresso Amber Ale is very
smooth and refreshing. It is medium
bodied with a moderate level of carbonation.
Over
all, the Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale is a very good beer. As an espresso beer, I went into it expecting
the coffee notes to shine and they definitely did. I would highly recommend this beer to any
coffee drinkers out there, or anyone looking or a good beer to pair with either
breakfast or dessert.
To read
my earlier posts on Peak Organic Brewing Company, check out the tag at the
bottom of this post.
That’s all
for tonight, have a great night and check back soon for another post!
Happy
Drinking!
