Antler Brown Ale from Barley Creek Brewing Company

72 Blade Chainsaw

I first tasted this beer at Barley Creek several years ago while my family and I were shopping for a new home in the Poconos. The flavors of this brew excited my senses and turned me on to the pleasures of finely crafted beer. After years of drinking watered down light beer to wash down cigarette smoke, I finally found a brew that satisfied my cravings for a more complex palate after quitting smoking.

Antler Brown Ale is what I would consider my crossover beer. Ordinarily, a crossover beer may start out closely in flavor and style to the one you're used to drinking. In my case it was light lagers of the highly recognisable brands. But this ale took me completely by surprise, and back in New Jersey the hunt for more interesting and complex beers began, and the search for the best beer buzz was born!

Onto The Method

1.5 - Appearance – Pours a handsome dark bronze/mahogany with minimal carbonation and a live yeasty tan head that leaves some moderate yet attractive lacing.

1.5 - Aroma – A deep and sweet malt fragrance meets the senses accompanied by an understated hop construction. 1.5 - Taste – Smooth and welcoming flavors from the caramel malt base compliments the subtle hop characters in a simple yet unique layer of flavor that is alive with freshness.

2.0 - Palate – A silky smooth body tops this beers personality. Simple and understated, Antler Brown Ale possesses an easy drinkability that goes great with Barley Creeks food offerings.

1.5 - Overall – Where it lacks in complexity, it more than makes up in pure pleasure and enjoyment. My tastes in beer have matured over the years, but it's no wonder I fell in love with this great brown ale.

4.0/10 Blades - The Knife – digestibility - Digestibility gets hurt mainly by the freshness of this ale and the live yeast cultures. But with some spicy food pairings, a couple of other beer selections and a round or two of hard liquor, the dullness of this blade is hardly noticed.

7.0/10 Blades - The Spider – the lift - A sweet rush comes on nicely, and by the end of the first you've gained some decent social lubrication to enjoy with your good company. By the end of the second you're laughing with friends, and the night gets a little blurry with additional selections and enjoyment.

8.0/10 Blades - The Motor –can you handle it? - It's easy to maintain composure and a good sense of form while enjoying a night out with friends. It's also easy to recognize when enough is enough and that you still have a car ride home, so take a six pack and your good friends back home to enjoy the rest of the night.

The Chainsaw

40.0/50 Blades - The Buzz – Antler Brown Ale continues to be an inspiring beverage and one that holds a special place in my heart. Being my crossover beer, it continues to drink well after years of expanding my palate. It isn't incredibly strong or complex, but it is flavorful, fun and is loaded with good memories and meaning in my life. Now that we've finally found a home in the Poconos, Barley Creek continues to be a place I frequent with my family and friends on festive and cheerful occasions. And on each visit, I always bring home a case of their bottled selections.

One evening my I took my family and some friends over to Barley Creek for a good meal and a couple of beers, then brought home a case to enjoy with the Dad of the family visiting from North Carolina. We split a six pack of Antler Brown Ale, had some shots of fine rum, then cracked open a six pack of Barley Creek Rescue IPA. We stayed late talking music, life challenges, direction and philosophy and had good friend to friend comparisons of where we are in life now in contrast to when we first met nine years earlier.

In the morning, he said to me, "those beers were good, but man they gave me gas!" Nothing like good ol' fresh beer and live yeast to get you bloated!

After Drinking Antler Brown Ale, try another American Ale

Or visit Barley Creek Brewing Company

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