Tippecanoe Common Ale - Lafayette Brewing Co., Lafayette

I, like most people, have only ever had one "Common Ale" before and it's Anchor Steam. California Common isn't a style of beer many brewers do, in fact, you could say it's ...uncommon. Lame jokes aside, I don't know why California Commons aren't more readily available. Perhaps it has something to do with the popularity of Anchor Steam, it's a nice beer and one that has definitely defined it's style. If someone sells you a Common Ale and it doesn't taste like Anchor Steam you might not get many repeat customers. That being said, I'm anxious to try this Tippecanoe Common Ale from Indiana. Will it taste like Anchor Steam? Will it matter?

This bottle of Tippecanoe Common Ale pours a hazy copper color and kicks up a thick foamy white head. The head settles to about the thickness of your pinkie and leaves behind a ton of lacing. This beer's aroma is mild but there is a vague bitterness, light roast and caramel scent to it.

Tippecanoe Common Ale isn't an Anchor Steam clone by any means. There are some similarities between the two beers, but the Tippecanoe is much more bold. There's a sweet maltiness to this beer right up front but it turns bitter and dry as it fizzes over your palate. This beer is somewhere between a Pale Ale and Anchor Steam, definitely leaning more toward a darker bodied Pale Ale.

I found myself liking this beer by the end, but I don't see myself ordering this over an Anchor Steam beer any time soon. I could see myself drinking this on a warm day instead of a lighter Pale Ale though...