Beer of the Week (Vol. XXXVIII)

Another edition of Beer of the Week once again brought to you by the bon amis at Glen Lake Wine & Spirits who can help bring joie to your vivre.

Anyone with the least bit of familiarity with modern European history no doubt recognizes the name Alsace-Lorraine. The region is nestled between France, Germany, and a little bit of Belgium and while it's now part of France, ownership of the area has been much contested. By 1798, it had officially become part of the French Republic. After the 1870 Franco-Prussian War, the German Empire annexed the region. It reverted to French control after the German defeat in World War One. In 1940, the Germans once again goose-stepped their way into Alsace-Lorraine and it became part of the Third Reich. Five years later, the Nazis were defeated and it once again became part of France and remains so to this day. At least until the Germans get feisty again.

Like France itself, when you think about the Alsace-Lorraine region and drinking, beer is not the first thing that comes to mind. But France is more than just wine, champagne, and cognac. This week's beer of the week is the second in the series to hail from the land of the Franks. It's Fischer Amber Ale which is now brewed in Schiltigheim, which despite its German-sounding name is indeed in France and is in fact a suburb of Strasbourg.

The bottle is brown, squarish, and weighty with the beer name and brewery etched on it. It has a nice hefty, old-style feel to it. There's really not much to the yellow label which wraps around the neck other than a church steeple and coat of arms.

Beer Style: Amber Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 6.0%

COLOR (0-2): Amber, very clear. 2

AROMA (0-2): Skunky in a good way. 2

HEAD (0-2): Light volume, off-white color, not much retention or lacing. 1

TASTE (0-5): Bitter but not overly sharp with slight hop flavor and some sweetness. Light body and thin mouth feel. 2

AFTERTASTE (0-2): Crisp, but a bit hollow. 1

OVERALL (0-6): This is a decent beer. Probably wouldn't pair that great with most food, but would make for a good party beer (especially at 6% ABV). Very drinkable and quite refreshing it goes down easy yet also satisfies the palate just enough to make you want to have another. 3

TOTAL SCORE (0-19): 11

Next week's Beer of the Week will feature a very special, limited release brew that already has me drooling in anticipation.