Otter Creek Brewing Company - Copper Ale

Otter Creek's Copper Ale is inspired by the Altbiers of Northern Germany. It's a medium-bodied, amber ale brewed with a proprietary house yeast strain. Look for a sweetbread nose balanced nicely by a pleasant, citrusy hop spiciness. Expect similar notes in the flavor, focusing on lightly sweet malts, with a flourish of apricot as it warms, capped by a balancing, mild bitterness. Overall, a very balanced ale that's easy to drink yet packed with flavor. Try it with wiener schnitzel and dumplings.

The Otter Creek Brewing Company is located in the beautiful little college town of Middlebury, Vermont. They shipped their first keg of beer back in 1991, which has us wondering… are the kegs at local college parties filled with Otter Creek brews; and, if so, is it too late to go back to college? Their original brewery was conceived of in 1989 by Lawrence Miller, an avid homebrewer. Middlebury was chosen as the brewery site as much for its quality of life as for its excellent water obtained from the pristine Otter Creek River (hence their name). Larry knew from extensive travels and studies throughout Europe that good quality water would be critical as he developed his brand of beers, each brewed with a focus on old-world brewing methods. In a move that made them the largest producer of certified organic beers in the nation, Otter Creek began a partnership with the Panorama Brewing Company in 1998 by producing Wolaver's Certified Organic Ales. The Panorama Brewing Company was founded by Morgan and Robert Wolaver in 1997. For nearly 100 years the Wolaver family has cultivated a harmony with nature and embraced qualities such as hard work, pride and respect for the earth, which explains their drive to engage in sustainable farming and brewing. In May of 2002, the Wolaver family purchased the Otter Creek Brewing Company, but Otter Creek remains a family-owned Vermont company and produces all Otter Creek and Wolaver's brands with artisanal craftsmanship. For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (800) 473-0727 or check out their web site at www.ottercreekbrewing.com.