Brewery: | 4204 Main Street Brewing Company |
Location | Alton/Belleville, IL |
Style | California Common |
ABV | 5.2% |
IBUs | 25 |
Best Quote During Tasting
Jimmy Olsen is a hipster.
Justin:
Aroma - The aroma is very clean overall with the slightest of fruity esters and slight rye spiciness. The hops are woody and add a great layer. The malts are great, toasted bread and bread crust and are very pleasant. |
Score: 10/12 |
Appearance - This beer pours a beautifully clear light amber with a thin, off-white head that bubbles brightly before residing to a slick film that leaves lacing as the beer is consumed. |
Score: 3/3 |
Flavor - The beer is clean and crisp with a great balance between the bread crust flavored malts and the woody, earthy hops. The rye is subtle but there and the finish is semi-dry and smooth. |
Score: 17/20 |
Mouthfeel - The carbonation is medium+ and the body is low-medium. |
Score: 3/5 |
Overall Impression - I'm not the only one that thought this beer hit its marks on style. It got a silver medal at last year's 2015 US Open Beer Championship. This is a great twist on the Cal Common style because the rye mixed it up perfectly. I would love to drink this beer with some fried white fish because its carbonation would clean your palate from the grease while the bread crust flavors would go well with the batter. |
Score: 8/10 |
Blake:
Aroma - A bit of rye spiciness with toasty malt aromas. There is some sweet fruity esters that linger a bit, and an earthy hop aroma. |
Score: 9/12 |
Appearance - Amber with an off-white head that slowly dissipates. |
Score: 3/3 |
Flavor - The caramel malts and rye really blend together quite nicely. The malts also give a great toasted bread flavor in addition to the sweeter caramel flavor present. The woody earthy hops go really well with the rye. Really great addition to the style. |
Score: 16/20 |
Mouthfeel - Medium carbonation and body with a semi-dry finish. |
Score: 3/5 |
Overall Impression - A really great take on the California Common style. The addition of rye is perfect, and gives it more complexity than what is usually found in the style. |
Score: 8/10 |

Justin Phelps
Co-Founder at Saint Brewis
Justin Phelps is a Certified Cicerone® who was born and raised in St. Louis. His passion for beer goes beyond just drinking it as he is also an award-winning home brewer. While he may be a marketing professional by day, he's a blogger, brewery hopper, and beer enthusiast by night.

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