New Albion Ale: Review

New Albion Brewing Company

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Actually, Boston Beer Company –

AKA: Samuel Adams

Interesting: Is Samuel Adams taking a page out of the big beer companies playbook.  Make up a company (Band of whatever – Third Shift aka Miller Beer) to look small. 

Style: American Pale Ale

6% abv

Appearance: rich golden crystal body with a one finger white foam head that leaves … well, nothing to speak of

The glass is a little misty from the humidity

Aroma: light toasted grains, little grassy, maybe herbal biscuit, really light overall, no wow this is a nice smelling ale factor, it is just okay

Flavors/Mouthfeel: grassy bitter note, toasted grains, dry light moderate bitterness on the back, nice lively carbonation, I have not had a Molson Golden in a long long time but this reminds me of that beer – I’ll have to buy a Molson Golden to find out how bad (I mean good) my memory  is. 

To the Point: a pretty good tasting ‘golden ale’, people see American Pale Ale as the style and think: big time citrus, pine needles, fruity stuff, big bitterness, - well, just calm down folks for this is a 30 year old recipe.  In the early 1980’s we did not think of big bold in your face flavors in beer.  Enjoy it for what it is – a retro beer.  This is how some Pale Ales or Golden Ales tasted back in the 1970’s and 80’s.  A fun retro beer to drink maybe for us older folks.  In today's beer world it is just average.  I do like.