Beer Review - Breckenridge Autumn Ale

Brewery: Breckenridge

Beer: Autumn Ale

Style: Oktoberfest/Ole Ale

ABV:  6.7%

Bitterness: 21 IBU's

Happy Halloween.  We are sneaking in another Oktoberfest Fall Seasonal beer in before the end of the October.  Almost time to bring out the Winter and Christmas ales.  Our selection is from Breckenridge Brewing, here is what they had to say about their Autumn Ale: 

Looking for a fresh take on Oktoberfest beer?  Breckenridge Brewery's fall seasonal combines the malty goodnesss of a German lager with the clean crispness of an American ale.  Brewed with Munich malts and a delicate blend of Bavatian hops, our Autumn Ale is a full-bodied treat with a nutty-sweet middle, a warming alcohol level and notes of toasted grains.  A pre-winter winner.

Here is what we thought:

Appearance:  Very dark, rich mahogony.  Almost black in color.  Very dense head, 3 fingers-tall.  Bright-white in color.

Smell:  The malt is the first smell that we noticed.  Also wet leaves, dirt, earthy notes.  Sweet smokey smell, like a roasted marshmallow that has been caught on fire briefly and then blown out. 

Taste:  Rich chocoloate syrup.  Dark roasted coffee covered in chocolate.  Sweet and complex.  

Mouthfeel:  Nitro type of effervescence.  Very smooth.  

Drinkability:  Full-bodied and thick so this is a sipping beer that you can chew on for a while, but not so much that folks new to dark beers should avoid it.  

Verdict:  Rich, flavorful and wonderfully complex. 

Grade: A-

Cheers!