The Carhartt Woodsman

New Holland Brewing company based in Holland, Michigan is proud of hard working outdoorsman and they are super stoked about Michigan based outdoor clothing company Carhartt.

Carhartt is celebrating 125 years of providing the outdoorsman with bomber durable clothing for all around manliness and New Holland wanted to toast their longevity. This year New Holland has released a barrel aged pale ale that is both sweet and easy drinking, the hops for this ale are locally sourced Michigan Cascade hops and once the ale is brewed it gets a bit of time to sit and absorb some of the sweetness from the oak barrels it ages in.

What comes out is a mild amber hue with a delicate white head. The flavors are fairly complex with each second of the sip slowly flowering into another profile. The beer itself has a sweet aroma and a flavor to it that I can only figure is the sweetness of rotting wood, but this is mixed with muted hops, a bit of acidity and then a very, very dry caramel finish. To be honest for me it is "unique" kind of like the mix between pine and vanilla air fresheners…you don't like it, but you keep wanting to smell it again.  

Now to the average city slicker that description more than likely is revolting but to folks that have spent time in the woods this will take you away to a stand of old growth trees deep in a humid forest on a mild summer morning. And you will be stoked at the memories it will bring to the surface.

The 4.4% abv definitely hits the spot as a nice potentially session able ale, so long as you like the sweet malts and complex flavor.