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...and Don't PISS in it!
By Beer Belly Brew Master Rob Lieblein
Every beer tells a story. I consider myself a beer lover, and by that I mean I really appreciate the flavor and character of a good beer (and at times a bad beer too). But just as important to me are various memories associated with different brews. So when I picked up a six-pack of Otter Creek Copper Ale and began drinking, memories more than 10 years old came flooding back.
Stowe, Vermont, 1993. My good buddy John is getting married to a native Vermonter, and most guests are staying at the Stowehof lodge. It’s been a while since many of us have seen each other, and we waste no time getting into a party groove. The rehearsal dinner is that first night, and the beer flows liberally. Our friend Tom Kender is the wedding party, big smile, red hair and face to match. Nobody ever has a better time at a party than TK. Not even Brian the Belly.
After dinner we wind up at a bar that has any number of local Vermont craft brews, and we go for the Otter Creek because we like the name. On our second round, TK places the order. He has a huge smile on his face as he says "Give me an Otter Creek…" then wags his finger at the bartender and for some reason feels it’s appropriate to add "…AND DON’T PISS IN IT!" I’m not sure how he pulled it off, but we didn’t get thrown out.
The merriment continued when we returned to Stowehof and went to the rec room to play some ping-pong—Tom vs. me. Neither of us could see straight, but the game was like something out of the movie Forrest Gump. We were both on fire, and though nobody remembers who won (we probably couldn’t count to 15!), all witnesses said it was a profound moment in sport.
Frankly, I remembered little about how the beer tasted, but when I saw it at my local distributor, the memories started coming back and I was inspired to try it with a sober palate.
Copper Ale itself is quite lovely in appearance—it really does look a little darker than a new penny. The head is light but stable. The first thing I noticed was bitterness. Upon first taste, it was almost as if someone ground up Tylenol in the beer. I stuck with it though, and as the beer warmed slightly more of its complexity and true flavor came out. Copper Ale is brewed in the tradition of the German Altbiers, so a number of different malts and hops are used. While the beer is indeed hop-heavy, the malt shows up in the background to nicely balance the bitterness. The taste of Otter Creek Copper Ale grows on you as well, so each beer tastes better than the previous (and I mean this before drunkenness sets in).
Otter Creek brews several different beers, but as their website says, Copper Ale is their flagship year-round brew. I picked up a six-pack for $7.99, but I suspect you can find it for less. Otter Creek Brewery is located in Middlebury, Vermont, where they have been brewing Copper Ale since 1991.
So whether you’re looking to improve your ping-pong skills, insult your bartender, or just chill on the porch during a blackout (that’s how I finished my last Otter Creeks), take a dip in the Creek and grab yourself a Copper Ale. Cheers!
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Every beer tells a story. I consider myself a beer lover, and by that I mean I really appreciate the flavor and character of a good beer (and at times a bad beer too). But just as important to me are various memories associated with different brews. So when I picked up a six-pack of Otter Creek Copper Ale and began drinking, memories more than 10 years old came flooding back.
Copper Ale itself is quite lovely in appearance—it really does look a little darker than a new penny. The head is light but stable. The first thing I noticed was bitterness. Upon first taste, it was almost as if someone ground up Tylenol in the beer. I stuck with it though, and as the beer warmed slightly more of its complexity and true flavor came out. Copper Ale is brewed in the tradition of the German Altbiers, so a number of different malts and hops are used. While the beer is indeed hop-heavy, the malt shows up in the background to nicely balance the bitterness. The taste of Otter Creek Copper Ale grows on you as well, so each beer tastes better than the previous (and I mean this before drunkenness sets in).
