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Long Trail Ale

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Brown bread, caramel and light toast lead the malt in Long Trail Ale, a German-style Altbier with spicy, floral and woodsy hops and flashes of dried fig and cherry from the ale yeast. The first batch went out in 1989 under the Mountain Brewers name. This amber flagship of the Vermont brewery in Bridgewater Corners comes in at 5.0% ABV and 28 IBU and runs year-round.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter28 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelfloralbready
caramel
floral
bready
spicy hop
toasty
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent caramel and bread notes, backed by subtle toasted malt character.
also:malty,clean
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Long Trail Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to light brown, with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. The color sits at 14 SRM, showing the balance between pale and darker malts typical of the Altbier style. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a refined visual presentation.

deep amberclearfine head lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent caramel and bread notes, backed by subtle toasted malt character. Floral and woodsy hop aromas emerge in the mid-ground, accompanied by delicate hints of dried fig and cherry that speak to the clean ale yeast fermentation. The overall impression is balanced and inviting, without aggressive hop dominance.

caramel maltbread crustfloral hopsdried stone fruit

◐ Taste

Entry reveals soft caramel sweetness and warm bread flavors, with a malty foundation that carries into the mid-palate. Spicy and floral hop character builds gradually, providing structure without overwhelming the delicate malt backbone. Bitterness emerges cleanly at 28 IBU, finishing crisp and dry with lingering toasted grain and subtle cherry notes.

smooth caramelspicy hopsclean bitter edgemalt-forward balance

◑ Finish

Medium finish with a gentle fade of toasted malt and restrained bitterness. The aftertaste is clean and refreshing, with faint woody and dried fruit echoes that gradually subside.

medium-drytoasted graincrisp
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
76
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Long Trail Ale

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About Altbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Altbier?

Altbier is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Altbier

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same caramel, floral, bready character as Long Trail Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Altbier beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →