Third Street Lost Trout Brown Ale

Third Street Lost Trout Brown Ale. Third Street Brewhouse, Cold Springs, MN. Alc. 4.9% by Vol.

Rich brown coloration, impenetrable haze, small head.

Aroma: big ol' sweet malt, notes of brown sugar and molasses, with plenty of cocoa.

Taste: More malt sweetness on the tongue, with a fresh blast of hops here and thee. Just enough bitterness to keep everything fairly balanced. Medium-boded. Long, malty finish.

I'm trying to figure what this beer has to do with trout, though. Let's look at the gobbledygook. "The Story: Lost Trout Brown Ale. Lost Trout. It's a real problem in these parts. Legend has it this species flowed aplenty in the brewery creek, while others say the trout left town years ago. Where have all the trout gone? Maybe to those fancy creeks in the city. Maybe to the local fish fry. Or maybe--just maybe--they're living a life of crime on the streets. The legend of the abundant trout in the creek seems a bit fishy. But you know what isn't? Lost Trout Brown Ale: Truthfully Delicious. Malts: Pale, Caramunich Barley, Hops: German and US (Magnum, Golding, Tettnanger.)

I know it's supposed to be "funny", but that pointless bit of poorly written drivel has to go down as one of the biggest wastes of ink on a beer label. Until the next time I look at a Stone label, that is.

The beer? Not bad, a bit too much with the cocoa and so forth, but I won't turn one down.