Brothers Craft Brewing - American Amber Ale

Pouring a medium amber color with crystal clarity and a cap of khaki foam, this brew begins drawing us in with its appearance and its nice balance between malty and hoppy aromas. Look for a strong undercurrent of caramel, toffee, and mildly toasty breadiness, overlaid by floral hops with secondary citric and herbal tones. Amber/red ales are a broad style and a bit of a mixed bag, with some decidedly favoring the malt contribution and others opting for a hoppier approach. We’re digging this interpretation, which offers a good balance between malty and hoppy elements. That caramelized malt backbone comes through with plenty of flavor, while the hops deliver floral and herbal-spicy notes, a touch of citrus zest, and enough bitterness to easily counter a touch of residual malt sweetness without going overboard. Fairly light on the palate and with a restrained ABV, this amber ale makes for a delicious, easy-drinking brew that’s also extremely food-friendly. Many things can be on the table here, literally, including roasted chicken, creamy risottos, barbecued meats of all kinds, chili, enchiladas, and cheeses including aged Cheddar and Asiago.

Situated in the Shenandoah Valley, Brothers Craft Brewing began business in December of 2012, the realization of a dream of three brothers: Adam, Jason, and Tyler Shifflett. Originally named Three Brothers Brewing, the brewery rebranded in April of 2015 to avoid potential conflicts with other marks, and to better represent the sense of brotherhood and camaraderie among the entire staff of the company – why limit the brotherhood to three, after all? The roots of the business go back to when Adam, the eldest brother, started homebrewing while still in the Navy, where he had worked as a nuclear powered submarine engineer. After leaving the Navy and developing his skill as a brewer, he and his brothers joined up and started a production brewery to serve the Harrisonburg area and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley, which the brothers had always called home.

Today, the brothers are still as focused as ever on producing the highest quality and freshest beer for their local community. But, their community focus doesn't end with the beer; the brewery supports numerous charitable initiatives including a gift drive each December for Mercy House, the Souper Bowl Food Drive in February, the United Way's Stuff the Bus campaign each summer, and, one Friday per month, Cask for a Cause, which features a beer brewed specifically to support a local nonprofit. Currently the brewery produces six year-round beers, multiple seasonals, and a growing list of literally dozens of limited and one-off brews including barrel-aged, wild, sour, and experimental beers. For more info on the brewery, their Taproom, or their Horizon Society club featuring limited production brews in 750-ml bottles, visit www.brotherscraftbrewing.com.