True story! Eric Clapton walks into an Atlanta bar, in the mood for a beer. “What’ll you have?” asks the bartender, a bit amazed that a rock star of such renown has walked into his establishment. “Give me something local,’ Clapton replies. Obligingly, the bartender pours from one of the many Jailhouse Brewery taps and places a foamy mug before Clapton, who takes a sip, gets up and walks for the door. Flabbergasted, the bartender asks what’s wrong. “Don’t give me no Alibis,” belts out the aging rocker in perfect rhythm as he makes his departure.

Like I said, true story! I think. I mean, it could be true, right? OK, I admit it, I made the whole thing up. What is true, though, is that Jailhouse Alibi was one of the beers of the month for August of 2015 at Taco Mac. Maybe Eric Clapton passed on it, but I surely didn’t, enjoying it a few times that month. My daughter Jessica liked it as well, as you can probably tell from her picture embedded in my review.

Alibi is a cream ale, an original American style of beer that is fermented at ale temperatures but then cold conditioned like a lager. In this respect they are similar to a German Kolsch, except that cream ales generally include an adjunct like corn-the Germans would never dream of that. In the case of Jailhouse Alibi, that adjunct is stone milled corn grits to impart that distinctive Southern flair. Hops used are Mosaics to add a distinct fruity character.

Jailhouse does not bottle Alibi, it is a draft only specialty beer done up for Taco Mac for Beer of the Month. It has an alcohol content of 4.5% by volume and I paid $6 for a full 20-ounce mug. I got a free Reformation glass with that, too, as they were also a featured brewery this month. I got an Alibi glass a few weeks later.

Jailhouse Alibi Cream Ale pours to a pale golden color with a very light creamy head and notes of soft fruity peach in the nose. Taking a sip, I get gentle caramel malt up front with subtle but distinct hints of creamy grits and soft passion fruit. The beer is soft and creamy and very drinkable overall and ends with a gentle bitter finish.

I enjoyed this beer, it’s on the lighter side absolutely speaking, but judged against style it’s very good indeed. If you like cream ales and have the chance to try this beer I encourage you to do so. Even if you don’t, give it a chance. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. And if you hurry, I hear there’s a bar in Atlanta with a mug still sitting untouched.

Update 11/3/2016: Jailhouse Alibi Cream Ale is now available in cans, and at the reasonable price of $9.99 a six-pack there's no reason to ever again be caught without an Alibi.



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