Amish Four Grain Pale ale

by Phil Dodd
(Mechanicsburg, Pa)

Lancaster Brewing Amish Four Grain Pale ale: a better mouthful than the name

Amish Four Grain Pale ale

Built in the 1880s, the building that is now home to the Lancaster Brewing Co. at 302 North Plum Street has been utilized in a great variety of ways.

After an addition was added in 1900, the building served as a tobacco warehouse well into the 1930s. During World War II, it housed enemy prisoners and after the war was again used as a warehouse where scrap metal and other materials were stored.

Lancaster opened its doors in April of 1995 and since that time it has been continuously operating as a restaurant and brewery, although ownership changed hands in July of 2002. The restaurant is called the Walnut Street Grille.

Master Brewer Christian Heim has been with the brewery since it opened in 1995 and is largely responsible for the reputation its beers have built throughout the mid-Atlantic region. The beers are served at Camden Yards in Baltimore and are currently available at more than 60 restaurants and bars in Lancaster County, Harrisburg, Gettysburg and York.

I purchased a variety pack this last weekend because it was time for me to try this beer. I knew that it was time, because I was thirsty.

The beer I tried first is the Amish Four Grain Pale ale. This is an American Pale Ale, not ever to be mistaken for an India Pale Ale. IPAs have a huge hop taste to them, where and APA is more malty.

That being said, there is a pleasant hoppiness to an APA that even I can like. I am not a huge fan of IPAs. Sorry.

But back to Amish Four Grain Pale Ale. This is a multi-grain pale ale using two-row barley, rye, oats, wheat and caramel 40. Hops used are Willamette, fuggles and Saaz.

The mouth feel is more malty than, hoppy, but there is a pleasant hoppy back taste. That is due to using Willamette and Saaz hops. You will like this beer. It should be an addition to your Friday night TV watching.

Namaste.