Otter Creek Russian Imperial Stout

I was very curious to try the Otter Creek Russian Imperial Stout (I love the label!) and I ordered a glass on tap at the new Federal Taphouse. The beer pours a black color with a frothy tan colored head. The aroma is big on toasted malts with chocolate and vanilla mixing in as well. The taste is dry with dark chocolate and lots of toasted malt flavors. A dry finish arrives that leaves behind hints of pepper and vanilla with a bubbly and carbonated mouthfeel. The alcohol content is 10.0% ABV. This beer exceeded my expectations and was a quality beverage. I think it represents the style was and had a robust and bold flavor.

Otter Creek Alpine Black IPA

While out in downtown Harrisburg at Anthony’s Micro Pub, I ordered a glass of Otter Creek Alpine Black IPA. The beer pours a black color with a thin filmy beige colored head. The aroma consists of pine, chocolate, lemon, and spruce. The taste starts out with a heavy dose of spruce before chocolate and toasted malts come in to play. The finish is dry with lots of lemon citrus flavors trying to smooth out the toasted malt flavors. The alcohol content is 6.0% ABV. I’d say this was an enjoyable Black IPA with a healthy offering of evergreen flavoring, which makes the beer piny and bitter.

Otter Creek Twentieth Anniversary Ale

I split a four-pack of Otter Creek Twentieth Anniversary Ale with my buddy Matt. The beer pours a cranberry-tinted amber color with a frothy off-white colored head. The aroma consists of caramel, apple, raisin, molasses, fig, and dates. The taste is lightly dry and bitter with an alcohol and toasted toffee front end. There is a plenty of caramel, fig, date, and raisin that makes the backbone of this beer giving it a big sweetness. To balance the sweetness, the finish brings out some spruce and pepper. The alcohol content is 12.0% ABV. I enjoyed this strong ale and all of its boozy goodness with plenty of sweetness coming out as well. Dark fruits really add another dimension, and the hops bring it all down to earth.

Otter Creek Imperial IPA

When I was at McKenzie Brew House, they had Otter Creek Imperial IPA as a guest beer. The beer pours a copper color with a thin white bubbly head. The aroma is strong with caramel and lemon. The taste is sweet and caramel and a strong alcohol bite. There are some light lemon accents mixed in there as well, but not overpowering. The beer has a slightly dry finish with a light pepper bite. The alcohol content is 11.0% ABV. I was extremely impressed with this beer, especially with the strong caramel presence and the ever-present alcohol bite.

Otter Creek Oktoberfest

Another bottle I piked up at Barley's and Hop's was the Otter Creek Oktoberfest. The beer has an orange amber color and pours with no head. There is a slight malt aroma. The taste is a little spicy at first, but does not finish with too much flavor. The alcohol content is 4.8% ABV. This beer was not bad, but I did not think that it was a great beer either. I've had plenty of better oktoberfests, and I would recommend you bypass this one and try another.