Atwater Block Brewery
(short notes)

Detroit, Michigan

All beers reviewed were sampled at the brewpub in Detroit, Michigan, on September 12, 1999.

 

Pilsner

Pilsner

A hint of sulphur is in the aroma of this bright, golden beer. A soft maltiness opens the flavor, which frames a hint of diacetyl in the middle. The beer finishes with a lingering, but not rude, bitterness.

 

Hefeweizen

Bavarian Weizen

Typical Bavarian interpretation of the style: pale, cloudy, huge banana with hints of clove. I've noticed that most US brewers get the esters and phenols out of balance; there is usually too much banana and only a hint of clove in these beers. This one is no exception.

 

Helles

Helles Lager

Crystal clear (like the Pils), some sulphur in the aorma. Delicate maltiness, appropriate balance, nice session beer, but it doesn't stand out.

 

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest Lager

Huge caramel aroma, not a deep maltiness that one would get in a true example of the style. The flavor is a bit thin, perhaps my expectations were raised by the aroma. I'd rather have thin than a gummy caramelly blob, though. Crisp, like all the Atwater Block lagers.

 

Pale Ale

English Pale

There is a slight fruitiness in the aroma of this copper colored beer. The earthy hoppiness in the aroma suggests Fuggles or Willamette, and the delicate balance of malt, crystal, and a subtle, English-inspired hopping makes for a nice pint.

This past September, I visited the midwest for a week, as is my wont. Although I hang out in Chicago annually, I've never been to Detroit. With the closing of Tiger Stadium, this year would prove the exception.  Following the game, a 5-3 Blue Jay victory if memory serves, a consensus was reached that it was time for a beer.  I had received suggestions to find the Atwater Block brewery; Jamie Jurado even told me that it was on the corner of this and that, near such-n-such. When we got to our car, we search for this, that or such-n-such.  After looking around the area east of downtown for about 30 minutes, my buddy doing the driving spied a warehouse to loft conversion project. "Where there are yuppies, there will be a brewpub" was his stated logic for turning right. Brilliant logic indeed, as we found ourselves right in front of the Atwater Block Brewery.  Overall, nice beers from a place open since 1997. It looked as though a ton of money went into opening the place; I hope that the neighborhood gentrifies enough to support it.