6.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Draught at the brewery, 11/7/15.
Dark maple with some brighter cherry-auburn tints. Good clarity with a beige head that shows modest retention.
Graham cracker, cherry, strawberry and light sourdough in the nose are all coated by a light layer of toffee/buttercream. Peppery hop notes break up the malt dominance with an earthy, somewhat hay-like finish. No alcohol or flaw.
Sweet up front, with a toffee and caramel character that in turn gains a bit of toasted flavor, drying things out as spicy hops add moderate bitterness. Texturally there are some pleasant bready-grainy notes to break up the crystal malt hardness and it’s amply carbonated with good overall attenuation and cleanness. Well-made beer, as seems to be the norm at Populuxe, but I really don’t care for these slightly stronger, medium malt-focused beers (which is what Autumn ales generally seem to be).