Posted By: Melissa Ward
When people ask me where I’m from, I tend to be a smartass and say “the entire East Coast.” It’s not completely hyperbolic, seeing that I’ve lived in 5 different states up and down the coast. But while I might proudly call the Philly metro area my home, there will always be a special place in my heart for Upstate NY.
And in Upstate there’s a fantastic city called Ithaca, bordering the beautiful Finger Lakes Wine Region. Ithaca has a green reputation, Cornell University (Go Big Red!), and a growing brewery: Ithaca Beer Co., nicknamed “The Spirit of the Finger Lakes.”
I know my Uncle Larry—Cornell alum and Ithaca native for at least 30+ years (probably more)—favors Ithaca’s Nut Brown Ale; a lot of folks in NY do. For me though, I have to hand it to Ithaca’s seasonal offerings and its Excelsior! series. The other day, while perusing the cold case at my local Wegmans (yet another jewel of Upstate NY), I heard a six-pack of Ithaca’s Cold Front, a Belgian Amber Ale, calling my name.
According to Ithaca’s website, “Cold Front is our Belgian-style Amber Ale brewed in autumn to keep us inspired as the days grow shorter and the nights colder. It’s brewed with European Malts and hops and fermented with a legendary Belgian ‘Farmhouse’ yeast.”
Cold Front stands at 7.2% ABV, technically outside the prescribed limits of a “session beer,” but it’s extremely drinkable as a pint or two. The beer pours a deep amber brown with a fluffy white head. A spicy, Belgian yeast aroma erupted from the glass as I poured—I knew this would be good.
Taking a whiff, the nose is chock-full of spice. Taking my first sip, I’m greeted with a deep caramely sweetness with just the hint of dark stone fruit. Cold Front finishes slightly dry, demanding the drinker to take sip after sip.
What I find particularly clever is that Ithaca’s spring seasonal is called Ground Break. It’s a hoppy American Saison that celebrates spring and the waning of winter. As someone who spent five winters in NY, I can appreciate the care Ithaca’s brewers take to remind us that there are good (and warmer!) things around the bend.
Originally posted 2010-10-19 09:05:30.
Sounds like the perfect autumn ale! In light of The Beer Goddess’s recent post about seeing winter seasonals on the shelves already, you have to act fast to get autumn brews.
http://beergoddess.com/articles/2010/10/15/tis-already-the-season-for-winter-beers—-but-why/
I am also jealous of your dorky pint glass. Love it!
Interesting…I haven’t seen too many winter seasonals hit the shelves. My local liquor store is awash in pumpkin ales, and I know I spotted some sixers of Sierra Nevada’s Tumbler (soooo good). I guess it just depends on location.
As for the pint glasses, they were a wedding gift
They come from ThinkGeek. We also have a pair of hefe glasses with the html code: This is what happens when you marry a software developer/indie game developer 