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Impression
Admittedly, I went to City Steam mid-afternoon on a weekday, but the place looked tired to me, and the beer was not very flavorful. City Steam is a historic place, and one of the first craft breweries in Connecticut, located in the center of Hartford. It recently closed; I was sorry to see this landmark shut down, but unfortunately, I was not surprised.
Beers Tasted
Beer 1: Pasquale's Pils (5.3% abv) Fresh, good carbonation, light bodied. Low flavor, though. Perhaps a decent quaffing beer, it has a slight bitterness on end. But not very inspiring. (Tasted at City Steam 8/13/19.)
Beer 2: White Wedding Witbier (5.4% abv). Very little taste, much less of wit. An awkward beer. (Tasted at City Steam 8/13/19.)
Beer 5: Moonlit Shwarzbier (4.5% abv) This style of beer should be firm and announce itself confidently on the palate. City Steam's version had good body and carbonation, but it was not full all the way through the taste experience, and it ended watery on the back palate. Coffee is a typical element of the Schwarzbier flavor profile, but the C.S. version was espresso-strength. (Tasted at City Steam 8/13/19.)
Beer 6: Naughty Nurse American Amber / Red Ale (5.2% abv) FIRST TASTING: City Steam's flagship beer. Good carbonation, good body, with a hint of caramel. But not very refreshing. (Tasted at City Steam 8/13/19.). SECOND TASTING: Amber color. Good in all regards, but flavor tapers off. (Tasted at the Connecticut Brewfest, Oakdale theater, 10/9/21.)
Beer 3: (Dortmunder) Export Lager (5.6% abv) Good flavor, good carbonation, but not that full malt I am used to in a Dortmunder. (Tasted at City Steam 8/13/19.)
Beer 7: Brass Bonanza Hazy NEIPA (6.5% abv) Average. Nothing bad, but nothing amazing. Good typicity. (Tasted at the Connecticut Brewfest, Oakdale theater, 10/9/21.)
Beer 4: Underground Flavor Farmhouse Ale/Saison (5.9% abv). The best beer I had at City Steam. Elements of a witbier. Perfect structure, and perhaps even too strong a flavor! (Tasted at City Steam 8/13/19.)
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