Although Otter Creek Copper Ale is only a little over a decade old, it’s already a classic. It’s one of those beers that are so darned good and unique that each time you sip it you recall the very first time you tried it. For me, that was back in the early nineties. I had picked some up while beer hunting in Massachusetts one day and was simply bowled over by the unique malt character of the brew when I drank it that night. Since then, I have enjoyed every beer I've sampled from Otter Creek, and I would easily rate them among the nation's finest brewers.

Of course, I don’t rate Otter Creek so highly solely because their beer is so good (it is, trust me.) Otter Creek also wins points by taking great pains to ensure the consumer receives fresh beer. I have yet to encounter a brewer so dedicated to giving the consumer fresh product. Consider the following. They ship to the distributor in small quantities, discouraging volume discounts. It is common practice in the beer business to offer retailers discounts when they buy in large quantities. While this may be ok for the big brands, it is not a practice that will help sell microbrewed beers in the long run. With so many craft brews for the consumer to choose from, large case lots will sit on the retailer’s floor for long periods of time and go bad. Thus, the consumer does not get his money’s worth and is often lift with a bad taste in his mouth (literally) when he thinks of the brewer in question.

On October 7th of 1997 I wrote the following about Otter Creek Copper Ale:

This beer is destined to be a classic. I recall the first time I tried it, I had picked some up while beerhunting earlier in the day and was bowled over by the malt character of this beer when I drank it that night. I have enjoyed every beer I've sampled from Otter Creek. I would easily rate them among the nation's finest brewers, and not soley because their beer is so good (it is, trust me.) Otter Creek takes great pains to ensure the consumer receive fresh beer. I have yet to encounter a brewer so dedicated to giving the consumer fresh product. They ship to the distributor in small qunatities, discourage volume discounts, and visit retail accounts to inspect their product. Otter Creek beers have been available here in Rhode Island for a few years now but I still have no problem buying it extremely fresh (the bottle I'm drinking and reviewing was packaged on 8/20/97), which is quite an accomplishment in today's here today, gone tomorrow beer business.

Otter Creek Copper Ale is, obviously, copper in color with minimal head and light carbonation. This is an extremely rich, nutty, chewey, malty brew, quite sweet with strong caramel notes. A friend once described it as having bit-o-honey like malt flavors, and that is the best assessment I could give this beer. I have never come across a beer with such a unique malt palate. It is simply fantastic. A grassy hop finish balances the beer perfectly, but doesn't intrude upon the delightful malt palate. Truly exquisite, and one of New England's finest and most unique beers.

Otter Creek stamps the bottling date on their beers so you can tell just how old they are. They also visit retail accounts to inspect their product. Otter Creek beers have been available in Rhode Island for many years now and I have never had a problem buying it extremely fresh, which is quite an accomplishment in today's here today, gone tomorrow beer business. Copper Ale is the flagship of the line, and it has a high draft presence throughout much of New England.

Otter Creek Brewing is located in beautiful Middlebury, Vermont where they established themselves in 1991. The company expanded its production line a few years ago to keep up with demand for its products, which include a pale ale, porter, hearty spring ale, wheat ale, Oktoberfest ale, smoked beer, and a winter seasonal.

According to the brewery, Otter Creek Copper Ale is based on a German style Altbier. It doesn’t really call forth that style to me, since Altbier is a bit cleaner and hoppier, with a reddish brown to brown color and a touch of dark sweet malt. Perhaps Copper ale is cold conditioned, as alt beers are. Otter Creek uses six malts and three types of hops in copper ale in addition to their signature yeast. The beer has an original gravity of 1050 with an alcohol content of 5.4% by volume and 21 IBUs.

Otter Creek Copper Ale pours to a deep copper color with a minimal head formation and light carbonation. The palate is extremely rich and full-bodied; a nutty, chewy, malty brew that is somewhat sweet and packed with strong caramel notes. A friend once described it as having bit-o-honey like malt flavors, and that is the best assessment I could give this beer. I have never come across a beer with such a unique malt palate. It is simply fantastic. A grassy hop finish balances the beer perfectly, but doesn't intrude upon the delightful malt. Truly exquisite, and one of New England's finest and most unique beers.

Update, August 21, 2009: Not too long ago I was surprised, quite pleasantly so I might add, to see Otter Creek beers on the market here in Atlanta. As might be expected, I snapped up a six-pack of Copper Ale posthaste, and once again I'm happy to say it's a staple in my beer fridge. My current sample tastes a lot like my notes above from seven years ago: the beer is very malty with nutty, chewy caramel notes and a grassy hop permeation. In fact, the beer might be a bit hoppier than in the past, but that signature bit-o-honey flavor is still there, and then some. A delicious and dangerously drinkable ale, for sure.

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