Murky Woods - Kentucky Common

The beer was planned as a historically accurate recreation of the style, rather than a new, modern interpretation.

Corn, flaked grains and a hint of dark malt was the base that I wanted to add to the main part of the pale malt. I added caramel malt as well to give the desired maltiness more room. Single hop Cluster was the only choice for me, since it was THE hops in that region at that time.

The beer turned out exceptionally well, even surpassing my own expectations. Since historically that style was the beer of the working class, due to cheap ingredients and simple racking techniques, before the beer finished, I expected a "simple" beer, an easy sipper, a beer which only shines through its simplicity.
I was wrong.
The complexity was astonishing, the first thing that came to the nose was a dark, malty, almost toffee-like aroma, somewhere between a strong and complex Altbeer and a "dulled down" Barleywine. The hops gave a subtle herbaceous earthiness and a grassy freshness which first stood in stark contrast to the sweet and malty body but then started to really fuse with the sweeter tones. In it's depths it even had a really nice, smoky berriness, which I can't even explain where that might come from. The overall play of aromas gave the beer the aura of barrel-ageing.
The flavor reflected the aroma, toffee-like maltiness and a subtle herbaceous earthiness, the carbonation really hitting the sweetspot. At no time harsh, bitter or roasty and with a nice dark berry-like aftertaste.

Critique:
Can be a little bit brighter in color
Can have a little more body
Can have a longer lasting head

A beer-sommelier friend of mine rated the beer 4 out of 5 stars and claimed it was better than various commercial beers he had on tap. Most of his tasting notes are included in the description above.