Another quasi-macro brewery that is widely available without compromising their beers.
This one pours an almost completely opaque brown with reddish highlights and a good tan head for a lager.
Throws off a great sharp grassy smell as the head dies down, backed by a great bready malt that is substantial even for a bock.
Solid piney bitterness that lingers and fades to grassy, then to a solid malty grainy bitterness.
Great malt backbone with above average bitterness for a bock. Very good, best when colder.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's Unfiltered Wheat
I'm liking this brewery more and more. Unlike Sam Adams or New Belgium, Sierra Nevada has grown without compromise.
Their Unfiltered Wheat seems to be no exception. Pours a cloudy yellow with a great head and retention, especially for a wheat, and strong carbonation that will probably make it feel more crisp.
Great zippy smell that a wheat should have. Not really bitter, and not really bready, but kind of raw and grainy, a bit coarse but still light.
Excellent beer, just what the style calls for. An almost tart bitterness hits at first, followed by the grainy wheat and overall a crisp, zippy feel and taste that is substantial, but still fairly light like the style should be.
One of my favorite wheats. Crisp and clean, with good body and flavor, one of the strongest wheats out there while staying light.
Their Unfiltered Wheat seems to be no exception. Pours a cloudy yellow with a great head and retention, especially for a wheat, and strong carbonation that will probably make it feel more crisp.
Great zippy smell that a wheat should have. Not really bitter, and not really bready, but kind of raw and grainy, a bit coarse but still light.
Excellent beer, just what the style calls for. An almost tart bitterness hits at first, followed by the grainy wheat and overall a crisp, zippy feel and taste that is substantial, but still fairly light like the style should be.
One of my favorite wheats. Crisp and clean, with good body and flavor, one of the strongest wheats out there while staying light.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Lakefront Brewery's White Beer
I know I'm not going to like this beer. But it was free, and I'm a glutton for punishment.
Pours perfect for the style. Big fluffy white head with tiny cells and a hazy yellow color with moderate carbonation. Kind of an odd neon-like appearance. Slightly glowing.
Yeah, smells like a Belgian. It has the standard phenolic yeasty smell that many people call bananas and cloves, just because they think that's what they're supposed to say. It smells exactly like a Belgian wit should, but nothing like a banana and not even close to cloves.
Huh. You know what? It's OK. Still has a lot of the phenols I'm not fond of, but it's balanced by a twang that makes it work. Not bitterness from hops, really, but a citrus type of zip that evens out the odd dullness of the yeast.
I'd have it again. I'm not a huge fan of oranges even in Belgians, but I bet it would make this one even better.
Pours perfect for the style. Big fluffy white head with tiny cells and a hazy yellow color with moderate carbonation. Kind of an odd neon-like appearance. Slightly glowing.
Yeah, smells like a Belgian. It has the standard phenolic yeasty smell that many people call bananas and cloves, just because they think that's what they're supposed to say. It smells exactly like a Belgian wit should, but nothing like a banana and not even close to cloves.
Huh. You know what? It's OK. Still has a lot of the phenols I'm not fond of, but it's balanced by a twang that makes it work. Not bitterness from hops, really, but a citrus type of zip that evens out the odd dullness of the yeast.
I'd have it again. I'm not a huge fan of oranges even in Belgians, but I bet it would make this one even better.
Lakefront Brewery's Eastside Dark
This is probably my favorite Eastside beer, but I don't suppose that's saying much.
Pours a deep, opaque but obviously lighter bodied brown, like a bock or rauchbier. Very good light tan head for a lager, which gets pillowy and stays around for a while.
Standard starkbier smell. More crisp than ales this dark, but more substantial than most lagers. Not as heavy as a bock, but slightly roasted and slightly bready.
Good, clean taste like many lagers have as well. Still somewhat bready with a slight roasted flavor, but lighter in body and flavor than a brown, which woudl be the closest ale in all categories. Overall a good beer. Nothing too sexy, but it would be a better go-to beer than many standards available in Texas.
Pours a deep, opaque but obviously lighter bodied brown, like a bock or rauchbier. Very good light tan head for a lager, which gets pillowy and stays around for a while.
Standard starkbier smell. More crisp than ales this dark, but more substantial than most lagers. Not as heavy as a bock, but slightly roasted and slightly bready.
Good, clean taste like many lagers have as well. Still somewhat bready with a slight roasted flavor, but lighter in body and flavor than a brown, which woudl be the closest ale in all categories. Overall a good beer. Nothing too sexy, but it would be a better go-to beer than many standards available in Texas.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Atwater Brewery's Vanilla Java Porter
I'm skeptical of beer with vanilla in it. But it came with the pilsner of the same brewery, so I thought I'd try it out.
Pours a foggy, opaque brown with a medium tan head that's pretty good for a porter. The last of the pour is darker than the first, telling me that either the java or the vanilla settles, maybe both.
Vanilla. It's not too crazy, but it's the most prominent smell.
Ugh. Way too much vanilla with a slight coffee taste underneath. Not roasted, and slightly grainy like a porter should be. I can't get past the vanilla. It's just flat out too much. Tastes like a cream soda, with a slightly fizzy carbonation and a milky feel like a milk stout. Odd combination of smooth and crisp, but washing out all of it is the vanilla.
Pouring this one out.
Pours a foggy, opaque brown with a medium tan head that's pretty good for a porter. The last of the pour is darker than the first, telling me that either the java or the vanilla settles, maybe both.
Vanilla. It's not too crazy, but it's the most prominent smell.
Ugh. Way too much vanilla with a slight coffee taste underneath. Not roasted, and slightly grainy like a porter should be. I can't get past the vanilla. It's just flat out too much. Tastes like a cream soda, with a slightly fizzy carbonation and a milky feel like a milk stout. Odd combination of smooth and crisp, but washing out all of it is the vanilla.
Pouring this one out.
Laguinitas Brewery's IPA
I've heard a lot about this brewery and this beer, but it's fairly disappointing.
Pours a deep amber with a decent light tan head and moderate carbonation. Nothing fancy, nothing bad.
Smells slightly malty, kind of bitter. A bit grassy in the smell, but that disappears in the taste. Right up front you get a shorp bitterness, but it's just bitterness for bitternesses' sake. It's not grassy, or piney, or floral, just nondescript and bitter.
I'll admit that this one has been in the fridge and may not be very fresh, so I'll have to give this one another try. But it only gets one more strike.
Pours a deep amber with a decent light tan head and moderate carbonation. Nothing fancy, nothing bad.
Smells slightly malty, kind of bitter. A bit grassy in the smell, but that disappears in the taste. Right up front you get a shorp bitterness, but it's just bitterness for bitternesses' sake. It's not grassy, or piney, or floral, just nondescript and bitter.
I'll admit that this one has been in the fridge and may not be very fresh, so I'll have to give this one another try. But it only gets one more strike.
Atwater Brewery's Atwater Pilsner
As I've mentioned before, Pilsner is easily one of my most favorite styles. And although I prefer the Czech variant, German pilsners are very good too. But a beer from Detroit?
Pours a deep yellow to orange with a huge light tan head for a pils. Good carbonation means that the head stays for quite a while. Based on color and head retention, this one is shaping up to be very close to Scrimshaw Pilsner, which is a good thing.
Like a German pils should, it smells more malty and less skunky than a Czech. Solid light bread is secondary to to the pils funk that is as much bitterness as the skunk's ass smell that a pilsner must have. Basically more subdued than an in-your-face Czech, but that's appropriate for the style.
Reminds me just a tad of some of the Mexican Macro lagers, mostly Carta Blanca. The body is heavier, and this has more of the pils flavor, but its bitterness tastes a bit like wet cardboard. That's mostly as it warms though, so drink this one cold when it's more like Scrimshaw and less like sucking on a box. When cold it's a good beer, and is right in line with what a German pils should be like, but warmer it loses its character and is just indistinctly bitter.
Pours a deep yellow to orange with a huge light tan head for a pils. Good carbonation means that the head stays for quite a while. Based on color and head retention, this one is shaping up to be very close to Scrimshaw Pilsner, which is a good thing.
Like a German pils should, it smells more malty and less skunky than a Czech. Solid light bread is secondary to to the pils funk that is as much bitterness as the skunk's ass smell that a pilsner must have. Basically more subdued than an in-your-face Czech, but that's appropriate for the style.
Reminds me just a tad of some of the Mexican Macro lagers, mostly Carta Blanca. The body is heavier, and this has more of the pils flavor, but its bitterness tastes a bit like wet cardboard. That's mostly as it warms though, so drink this one cold when it's more like Scrimshaw and less like sucking on a box. When cold it's a good beer, and is right in line with what a German pils should be like, but warmer it loses its character and is just indistinctly bitter.
Atwater Brewery's Atwater Pilsner
As I've mentioned before, Pilsner is easily one of my most favorite styles. And although I prefer the Czech variant, German pilsners are very good too. But a beer from Detroit?
Pours a deep yellow to orange with a huge light tan head for a pils. Good carbonation means that the head stays for quite a while. Based on color and head retention, this one is shaping up to be very close to Scrimshaw Pilsner, which is a good thing.
Like a German pils should, it smells more malty and less skunky than a Czech. Solid light bread is secondary to to the pils funk that is as much bitterness as the skunk's ass smell that a pilsner must have. Basically more subdued than an in-your-face Czech, but that's appropriate for the style.
Reminds me just a tad of some of the Mexican Macro lagers, mostly Carta Blanca. The body is heavier, and this has more of the pils flavor, but its bitterness tastes a bit like wet cardboard. That's mostly as it warms though, so drink this one cold when it's more like Scrimshaw and less like sucking on a box.
Pours a deep yellow to orange with a huge light tan head for a pils. Good carbonation means that the head stays for quite a while. Based on color and head retention, this one is shaping up to be very close to Scrimshaw Pilsner, which is a good thing.
Like a German pils should, it smells more malty and less skunky than a Czech. Solid light bread is secondary to to the pils funk that is as much bitterness as the skunk's ass smell that a pilsner must have. Basically more subdued than an in-your-face Czech, but that's appropriate for the style.
Reminds me just a tad of some of the Mexican Macro lagers, mostly Carta Blanca. The body is heavier, and this has more of the pils flavor, but its bitterness tastes a bit like wet cardboard. That's mostly as it warms though, so drink this one cold when it's more like Scrimshaw and less like sucking on a box.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Saint Arnold Brewing Company's Christmas Ale
You know, I've always had this in a bottle. I'll be damned if it isn't a completely different beer in a glass.
Pours a coppery amber, a surprise to me because I always envisioned it as much lighter in color, although the brown bottle left no way of telling. Big, very light tan head that stays well and never completely goes away due to decent carbonation.
Initially, as it was throwing off that huge head, it was very vinous, and had a very strong acidic, tannic smell like a vineragy red wine. That faded to a great malty smell, slightly bready and slightly spicy. Very slightly though, which is a good thing because as I mention with other old ales or warmers, spices are easily overdone in beer.
In the past I always commented that this one tasted like a strong Coors. I've had it quite a bit, and it always seemed like that. This time, though, it's much closer to a winter warmer. But not overly spiced, like many of them are, and it relies on hops (even with only 35 IBU's), instead of the spices normally associated with warmers. So, it's right in line with the way an old ale should be. A non-descript bitterness lingers slightly in the aftertaste, but in general this one is more malty than bitter, slightly spicy.
Good beer. Not sure if I like it in a bottle or a glass more, but in a glass it's much truer to style.
Pours a coppery amber, a surprise to me because I always envisioned it as much lighter in color, although the brown bottle left no way of telling. Big, very light tan head that stays well and never completely goes away due to decent carbonation.
Initially, as it was throwing off that huge head, it was very vinous, and had a very strong acidic, tannic smell like a vineragy red wine. That faded to a great malty smell, slightly bready and slightly spicy. Very slightly though, which is a good thing because as I mention with other old ales or warmers, spices are easily overdone in beer.
In the past I always commented that this one tasted like a strong Coors. I've had it quite a bit, and it always seemed like that. This time, though, it's much closer to a winter warmer. But not overly spiced, like many of them are, and it relies on hops (even with only 35 IBU's), instead of the spices normally associated with warmers. So, it's right in line with the way an old ale should be. A non-descript bitterness lingers slightly in the aftertaste, but in general this one is more malty than bitter, slightly spicy.
Good beer. Not sure if I like it in a bottle or a glass more, but in a glass it's much truer to style.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Saint Arnold Brewing Company's Texas Wheat
This beer has a short, but interesting history. Not only was it mentioned as one of Michael Jackson's favorite American beers, but it's a great example of marketing in Texas. So, what do you do when you have a craft beer (or anything, for sale in Texas, really) that's not selling too well? Call it "Texas ________." Your sales will pretty much instantly double.
This one pours a light yellowish amber with a good white head for a wheat. Most of them fade pretty quickly, but this one sticks, in part due to decent carbonation but in general it just stays.
Smells zippy, exactly like a wheat should. Slightly sweet, very mildly bitter (with a barely perceptible 18 IBU's), but more than anything crisp, and uncluttered.
Same taste--clean and more tart than bitter. Grainy wheat taste that is more if a rough grain than refined bread taste. And of course, it's got the wheat zip that makes it finish dry and clean.
Drink it cold, because as it warms the taste gets a bit more dull, and isn't as clean.
This one pours a light yellowish amber with a good white head for a wheat. Most of them fade pretty quickly, but this one sticks, in part due to decent carbonation but in general it just stays.
Smells zippy, exactly like a wheat should. Slightly sweet, very mildly bitter (with a barely perceptible 18 IBU's), but more than anything crisp, and uncluttered.
Same taste--clean and more tart than bitter. Grainy wheat taste that is more if a rough grain than refined bread taste. And of course, it's got the wheat zip that makes it finish dry and clean.
Drink it cold, because as it warms the taste gets a bit more dull, and isn't as clean.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Great Divide Brewing Company's Hibernation Ale
I was cleaning out the last of the winter seasonals today, and thank God all of that Shiner Cheer is gone, because I found this one sitting in the back. This is the second Old Ale I've posted about, although Lancaster's winter warmer is a bit better.
This slightly-bigger-than-your-average-winter-ale, without the spices that are associated with a warmer or many winter seasonals, pours a great ruby-ish amber with a strong light tan head that stays forever. Smells malty, bready, with a slightly nutty hint to it and a bit of alcohol common to winter seasonals.
A bit more hoppy than many winters, with no spices. Still very nutty though, more as it warms. Not quite as strong as Rogue's Hazelnut Brown, but it's pronounced. It's fairly dry as well, with a medium body that combined with the nutty taste makes this one feel and taste like a nut brown ale. Very good, but I prefer it colder to keep the nut taste down.
This slightly-bigger-than-your-average-winter-ale, without the spices that are associated with a warmer or many winter seasonals, pours a great ruby-ish amber with a strong light tan head that stays forever. Smells malty, bready, with a slightly nutty hint to it and a bit of alcohol common to winter seasonals.
A bit more hoppy than many winters, with no spices. Still very nutty though, more as it warms. Not quite as strong as Rogue's Hazelnut Brown, but it's pronounced. It's fairly dry as well, with a medium body that combined with the nutty taste makes this one feel and taste like a nut brown ale. Very good, but I prefer it colder to keep the nut taste down.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Great Divide Brewing Company's Denver Pale Ale
Although I like this beer, it's just not even close to some of my favorite Great Divide Beers. It's a damn sight better than most pales, but it's not even close to their own Yeti, Fresh Hop, or a few others.
Pours an almost amber yellow, with an enormous tan head. The head actually gets in the way, kind of like pouring a Duvel too fast. It gets pillowy and develops large cells, but takes forever to recede and allow you to finish pouring, even in an imperial pint glass.
Slightly grassy bitterness hits you right off the bat, backed by a sweetness from the malt that seems to indicate it will have a bit of body.
Unfortunately, after such aggressive carbonation, it seems like the body suffered a bit, like it gave up too much as a result of the over-carbonation. That's the only real weakness in this beer though, as it has a solid bitterness that seems well balances by the grassy hops and although the body feels weaker than it should it still has a decent malt backbone to even everything out.
Good beer, I'll have to judge it a second time and see if other bottles are so heavily carbonated. If that slowed down, this would be one that I'd keep handy at all times.
Pours an almost amber yellow, with an enormous tan head. The head actually gets in the way, kind of like pouring a Duvel too fast. It gets pillowy and develops large cells, but takes forever to recede and allow you to finish pouring, even in an imperial pint glass.
Slightly grassy bitterness hits you right off the bat, backed by a sweetness from the malt that seems to indicate it will have a bit of body.
Unfortunately, after such aggressive carbonation, it seems like the body suffered a bit, like it gave up too much as a result of the over-carbonation. That's the only real weakness in this beer though, as it has a solid bitterness that seems well balances by the grassy hops and although the body feels weaker than it should it still has a decent malt backbone to even everything out.
Good beer, I'll have to judge it a second time and see if other bottles are so heavily carbonated. If that slowed down, this would be one that I'd keep handy at all times.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Beer Trading
You can always find someone who says that a certain way of doing things is the best way to go about whatever it is that needs doing, and I know people who trade beer with people over the internet that say exactly that. They love to fenagle a deal and get surprised if the guy they're trading with sends extra beer for some reason. Personally, I just don't get it.
First of all, you have to have access to beers to which other people don't have easy acces. In Texas, that's pretty difficult. While we get quite a few beers here nowadays, so does everyone else and our local Texas beer isn't in huge demand in other states. There may be the odd west coast beer that we get that someone on the east coast can't, but not too many, and it's a pain in the ass to find something others need, as a general rule. Add to that the fact that shipping costs can be high, and amassing a cellar just for trades sucks when your wife won't even let you amass one with your favorites to drink.
But unfortunately for some folks, beer cannot be legally shipped to you. That's what you get for living in a state where religion drives liquor laws, I guess, and unless you travel frequently just about the only way to get many of those hard to find beers is to trade. While it's not "legal" without a shipper's license even to states with reciprocal trading agreements, and definitely not legal to states with no shipping agreements, there are many folks who join any one of various websites that collect information related to all things beer and trade with folks around the country. Trades are usually for hard to find beers, such as exotic Belgians or limited release craft beers, or for locals--beers that aren't necessarily limited, but aren't widely or nationally distributed either. If you find yourself trading, never-ever-ever use the United States Postal Service. They WILL fine and/or prosecute you if they find out, and I don't know anyone who is confident enough in their packing skills to take the chance. Even FedEx and UPS have policies against shipping alcohol, so tell them you're shipping food, or water samples, or glassware if they ask. And don't worry about insurance, because what you're doing violates shipping policy and they won't replace it. They will drink it though. Rarely will a package make its way back to you if they find out what's in it, although I hear stories of supervisors that are pretty cool and will let the package either come back to you if it's still in town or complete the trip if it's close to its destination. Some folks require the signature of someone over 21, some don't. Regardless, try to do everything you can to make sure you're not trading with some kid on the other end, or their parents may get cross ways with you.
All in all, if you can get beer shipped from a store, I recommend you do it that way instead. You don't have to just-so happen to have what someone is looking for, haggle out a deal, pack it, and go send it. All you have to do is click on a few things, and it gets sent right to you. You can often buy it online cheaper than you can at the store (and can usually buy singles instead of a full four or six pack, adding even more to your savings), and shipping is cheaper than trading too. Still, trading can be the only way to get some limited releases, but for locals it's hard to beat a quick internet search for stores near the brewery you're looking for that will ship to you.
Besides, you never know what the jackass on the other end of the trade is doing, and if he doesn't send you're pretty much screwed. So, trade, if you must, but avoid doing so, if you can.
First of all, you have to have access to beers to which other people don't have easy acces. In Texas, that's pretty difficult. While we get quite a few beers here nowadays, so does everyone else and our local Texas beer isn't in huge demand in other states. There may be the odd west coast beer that we get that someone on the east coast can't, but not too many, and it's a pain in the ass to find something others need, as a general rule. Add to that the fact that shipping costs can be high, and amassing a cellar just for trades sucks when your wife won't even let you amass one with your favorites to drink.
But unfortunately for some folks, beer cannot be legally shipped to you. That's what you get for living in a state where religion drives liquor laws, I guess, and unless you travel frequently just about the only way to get many of those hard to find beers is to trade. While it's not "legal" without a shipper's license even to states with reciprocal trading agreements, and definitely not legal to states with no shipping agreements, there are many folks who join any one of various websites that collect information related to all things beer and trade with folks around the country. Trades are usually for hard to find beers, such as exotic Belgians or limited release craft beers, or for locals--beers that aren't necessarily limited, but aren't widely or nationally distributed either. If you find yourself trading, never-ever-ever use the United States Postal Service. They WILL fine and/or prosecute you if they find out, and I don't know anyone who is confident enough in their packing skills to take the chance. Even FedEx and UPS have policies against shipping alcohol, so tell them you're shipping food, or water samples, or glassware if they ask. And don't worry about insurance, because what you're doing violates shipping policy and they won't replace it. They will drink it though. Rarely will a package make its way back to you if they find out what's in it, although I hear stories of supervisors that are pretty cool and will let the package either come back to you if it's still in town or complete the trip if it's close to its destination. Some folks require the signature of someone over 21, some don't. Regardless, try to do everything you can to make sure you're not trading with some kid on the other end, or their parents may get cross ways with you.
All in all, if you can get beer shipped from a store, I recommend you do it that way instead. You don't have to just-so happen to have what someone is looking for, haggle out a deal, pack it, and go send it. All you have to do is click on a few things, and it gets sent right to you. You can often buy it online cheaper than you can at the store (and can usually buy singles instead of a full four or six pack, adding even more to your savings), and shipping is cheaper than trading too. Still, trading can be the only way to get some limited releases, but for locals it's hard to beat a quick internet search for stores near the brewery you're looking for that will ship to you.
Besides, you never know what the jackass on the other end of the trade is doing, and if he doesn't send you're pretty much screwed. So, trade, if you must, but avoid doing so, if you can.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Spoetzel Brewery's Shiner 100
Yeah, I know, this is a fairly lame beer to post about, but what the hell, I'm drinking it.
Shiner 100 is probably the worst of their anniversary series. Dopplebock? Hell, it's lighter in color than their standard bock. Pours a clear copper with a light tan head and good carbonation. Slightly bready, smells like a lighter, less malty version of Shiner Bock. Many of their beers taste like a variant of their mainstay, and this is no different. Although I would have expected a dopplebock to be maltier, some would even say twice as malty, the truth is that it doesn't look or smell like it will be.
I will say that it's heavier in the feel than their bock is, so that's good. It just tastes like a Shiner beer though. It's slightly more malty, with more twang than bitterness. Slight orangey citrus hiding under the Shiner yeast taste, and the slightly bigger malt that somehow still lets some alcohol sneak through. At under 7% ABV, that means it's pretty weak for any alcohol to creep out at all. The higher malt adds more body than anything else, it doesn't really contribute to the flavor as much as you'd expect.
Meh. OK beer. Nothing offensive, I just don't think they're ever going to beat their bock, a Texas institution that someone has to grow up with to truly understand. If you haven't had Shiner Bock while floating in an inner tube down some central Texas river, you're missing out. As for this one, you're not missing much.
Shiner 100 is probably the worst of their anniversary series. Dopplebock? Hell, it's lighter in color than their standard bock. Pours a clear copper with a light tan head and good carbonation. Slightly bready, smells like a lighter, less malty version of Shiner Bock. Many of their beers taste like a variant of their mainstay, and this is no different. Although I would have expected a dopplebock to be maltier, some would even say twice as malty, the truth is that it doesn't look or smell like it will be.
I will say that it's heavier in the feel than their bock is, so that's good. It just tastes like a Shiner beer though. It's slightly more malty, with more twang than bitterness. Slight orangey citrus hiding under the Shiner yeast taste, and the slightly bigger malt that somehow still lets some alcohol sneak through. At under 7% ABV, that means it's pretty weak for any alcohol to creep out at all. The higher malt adds more body than anything else, it doesn't really contribute to the flavor as much as you'd expect.
Meh. OK beer. Nothing offensive, I just don't think they're ever going to beat their bock, a Texas institution that someone has to grow up with to truly understand. If you haven't had Shiner Bock while floating in an inner tube down some central Texas river, you're missing out. As for this one, you're not missing much.
Saint Arnold's Amber
If you're in Texas, you'd be heard pressed to find a better regular go-to beer than this one.
Saint Arnold's Amber pours a clear and fairly light amber. Nothing that looks substantial, but it's not trying to be on the extreme end of the style, it just wants to reach a broader market than many small brewers so it's bigger and better than the usual macro lagers while not being too heavy for most beer drinkers. It just so happened to be my gateway beer, too. Good, light tan head that slowly recedes with moderate carbonation.
Good bready smell. Slightly grainy, with a moderate hops smell for an amber. Again, it's not intended to be big, just bigger.
Moderate bitterness hits right up front. It's lighter bodied than many ambers, but because it's also moderately hopped it's well balanced. No specific hops bitterness, it's not grassy or piney, it's just bitter.
All in all his is not a big sexy amber, but many ambers in the craft beer market are really closer to pales anyway, so I'd say this was more on style than those. This is just a well-balanced light amber that is good for any time of year. Hoppy enough for colder weather, light enough for a lawnmower beer--if you're used to drinking impy stouts, anyway. Good beer, and a local, so it's always in the fridge.
Saint Arnold's Amber pours a clear and fairly light amber. Nothing that looks substantial, but it's not trying to be on the extreme end of the style, it just wants to reach a broader market than many small brewers so it's bigger and better than the usual macro lagers while not being too heavy for most beer drinkers. It just so happened to be my gateway beer, too. Good, light tan head that slowly recedes with moderate carbonation.
Good bready smell. Slightly grainy, with a moderate hops smell for an amber. Again, it's not intended to be big, just bigger.
Moderate bitterness hits right up front. It's lighter bodied than many ambers, but because it's also moderately hopped it's well balanced. No specific hops bitterness, it's not grassy or piney, it's just bitter.
All in all his is not a big sexy amber, but many ambers in the craft beer market are really closer to pales anyway, so I'd say this was more on style than those. This is just a well-balanced light amber that is good for any time of year. Hoppy enough for colder weather, light enough for a lawnmower beer--if you're used to drinking impy stouts, anyway. Good beer, and a local, so it's always in the fridge.
Friday, February 6, 2009
North Coast Brewing Company's Ruedrich's Red Seal Ale
This beer is another example of why this is a great brewery. Whatever they do, it's done well.
Pours a perfect deep amber with a huge tan head and good carbonation. It's the way this type should look.
Smells great as well. Great balance between a slightly sweet bready malt and slightly grassy and bitter hops. The malt is slightly more prominent.
The taste is reversed, with the bitterness taking the lead. Not grassy, just bitter, with a dry feel to it. The dryness lightens the body a bit, but it's still fairly substantial for an amber. Lingering bitterness stays in the aftertaste. Slight tartness as well, to supplement the bitterness.
Great hoppy amber.
Pours a perfect deep amber with a huge tan head and good carbonation. It's the way this type should look.
Smells great as well. Great balance between a slightly sweet bready malt and slightly grassy and bitter hops. The malt is slightly more prominent.
The taste is reversed, with the bitterness taking the lead. Not grassy, just bitter, with a dry feel to it. The dryness lightens the body a bit, but it's still fairly substantial for an amber. Lingering bitterness stays in the aftertaste. Slight tartness as well, to supplement the bitterness.
Great hoppy amber.
Pinkus Muller's Organic Munster Alt
I hope you speak German, because I have no idea what that says about this beer. What I do know, however, is that this is a pretty good beer.
Pours a hazy yellow with a barely off-white tan head that gets pillowly and slowly fades to a sheet. Minimal carbonation.
Smells a bit zingy and citrusy (lemon more than orange), with an underlying yeasty slowness.
Pretty crisp in the taste and feel, with plenty of citrus and that German yeast flavor that keeps the zing in check. Very balanced and smooth, with moderate hops bitterness that plays second to the rest of the beer.
Pours a hazy yellow with a barely off-white tan head that gets pillowly and slowly fades to a sheet. Minimal carbonation.
Smells a bit zingy and citrusy (lemon more than orange), with an underlying yeasty slowness.
Pretty crisp in the taste and feel, with plenty of citrus and that German yeast flavor that keeps the zing in check. Very balanced and smooth, with moderate hops bitterness that plays second to the rest of the beer.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Brasserie Dupont's Saison Dupont
Goddamnit. I have got to stop trying to like Belgians again.
Pours a hazy orangish amber with a huge head kept huge by strong carbonation.
Another Belgian in the smell--phenolic and medicinal. Damn I have to quit trying.
Tastes like a wet band-aid. Nuff said.
Pours a hazy orangish amber with a huge head kept huge by strong carbonation.
Another Belgian in the smell--phenolic and medicinal. Damn I have to quit trying.
Tastes like a wet band-aid. Nuff said.
De Proefbrouwerij's Reinaert Flemish Wild Ale
Says Wild Ale on the label, which is why I bought it. Turns out it's a Belgian Strong Ale, which is why I don't like it.
Pours a hazy, oddly neon-glow amberish yellow, with a crisp white head that never really forms--and a Belgian Strong Ale is supposed to have a huge head, like Duvel.
Smells slightly peppery, slightly spicy. Slight Belgian yeasty character to it, but that's minimal compared to most.
Blah. I knew it. The Belgian phenols come out much more strongly in the taste and it finishes with a warming alcohol taste and a lingering band aid aftertaste.
It doesn't look right because the head is absent, but it smells and tastes right on type. I'm not going to finish it, but you probably would if you like Belgians.
Pours a hazy, oddly neon-glow amberish yellow, with a crisp white head that never really forms--and a Belgian Strong Ale is supposed to have a huge head, like Duvel.
Smells slightly peppery, slightly spicy. Slight Belgian yeasty character to it, but that's minimal compared to most.
Blah. I knew it. The Belgian phenols come out much more strongly in the taste and it finishes with a warming alcohol taste and a lingering band aid aftertaste.
It doesn't look right because the head is absent, but it smells and tastes right on type. I'm not going to finish it, but you probably would if you like Belgians.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Indian Wells Brewing Company's Lobotomy Bock
I was pacing the floor at Spec's looking for something different, and this label stuck right out at me, like the cover art for Anatomy of a Murder.
Pours a bit weak-looking for a dopplebock, but I was giving it a tall pour to see if it would get a head unlike many dopplebocks so maybe that stretched it a bit thin. Even on a hard pour the head was kind of thin, but it was kind of pillowy and stayed due to decent carbonation that you could see at the rim. It's a solid brownish mahogany, but not as opaque as a beer with this much alcohol would indicate because it would have to have a huge amount of malt to support it.
Smells great. Solid malt with a dark bread feel to it. Alcohol is imperceptible, almost, which is amazing for 10.5% ABV.
Tastes right on type too, but the feel follows the lighter than expected appearance. It just seems like it should be a bigger beer, but feels like a Shiner Bock in body. Which is OK, I'm a Shiner fan, but this is a dopplebock so it should be heavier. Still, great taste and again the alcohol is well hidden. It shows up really only in the warming finish.
Interesting beer. Light enough to drink more of than you'd expect for the type. That may seem like a negative to some, but I like it because it's just a lager version of a high ABV beer. A good mix of big beer with a lighter feel.
Pours a bit weak-looking for a dopplebock, but I was giving it a tall pour to see if it would get a head unlike many dopplebocks so maybe that stretched it a bit thin. Even on a hard pour the head was kind of thin, but it was kind of pillowy and stayed due to decent carbonation that you could see at the rim. It's a solid brownish mahogany, but not as opaque as a beer with this much alcohol would indicate because it would have to have a huge amount of malt to support it.
Smells great. Solid malt with a dark bread feel to it. Alcohol is imperceptible, almost, which is amazing for 10.5% ABV.
Tastes right on type too, but the feel follows the lighter than expected appearance. It just seems like it should be a bigger beer, but feels like a Shiner Bock in body. Which is OK, I'm a Shiner fan, but this is a dopplebock so it should be heavier. Still, great taste and again the alcohol is well hidden. It shows up really only in the warming finish.
Interesting beer. Light enough to drink more of than you'd expect for the type. That may seem like a negative to some, but I like it because it's just a lager version of a high ABV beer. A good mix of big beer with a lighter feel.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Sierra Nevada's 2009 Bigfoot Barleywine
This was the first barley wine I ever had. Well, not this year's, but in previous years. And I have to admit, I have yet to find another one that I like as much. Old Foghorn is too sweet. Old Ruffian is a bit more raw. Divine Reserve 6? Blech.
Bigfoot pours a solid coppery amber with a great tan head that throws off a huge bready and hoppy smell as the head thins. Slightly sweet smelling simply because of the huge malt, but every aspect of this beer is balanced.
Great hoppy bitterness hits you right up front, followed by the sweet wheat bread malty flavor. Alcohol is basically imperceptable, which is saying something for a beer that has 9.6% ABV.
Big beer flavor with great balance and flavor. One of the standards for the style.
Bigfoot pours a solid coppery amber with a great tan head that throws off a huge bready and hoppy smell as the head thins. Slightly sweet smelling simply because of the huge malt, but every aspect of this beer is balanced.
Great hoppy bitterness hits you right up front, followed by the sweet wheat bread malty flavor. Alcohol is basically imperceptable, which is saying something for a beer that has 9.6% ABV.
Big beer flavor with great balance and flavor. One of the standards for the style.
Southern Tier's Oat Imperial Oatmeal Stout
This is another Southern Tier seasonal that I've had to wait too long to get because I can't get it in Texas.
Pours an inky black with a good medium to dark tan head that is very good for an impy stout. Reddish highlights that look a little oily as it warms, which as it turns out is the only reason imperfection in this beer.
The smell is dominated by the roasted malt, with the sharpness that an oatmeal stout should have. Fades to a roasted coffee as it warms.
One of the smoothest impy stouts I've ever had. The 11% ABV in any other beer is in your face, but in this one it's damn near imperceptible except in the warming aftertaste. Excellent sweet roasted malt flavor hits you first, and at all times goes down amazingly smooth. More vinous in feel and taste as it warms, but always with the slightly sharp/grainy oatmeal flavor and always perfectly smooth.
Great beer.
Pours an inky black with a good medium to dark tan head that is very good for an impy stout. Reddish highlights that look a little oily as it warms, which as it turns out is the only reason imperfection in this beer.
The smell is dominated by the roasted malt, with the sharpness that an oatmeal stout should have. Fades to a roasted coffee as it warms.
One of the smoothest impy stouts I've ever had. The 11% ABV in any other beer is in your face, but in this one it's damn near imperceptible except in the warming aftertaste. Excellent sweet roasted malt flavor hits you first, and at all times goes down amazingly smooth. More vinous in feel and taste as it warms, but always with the slightly sharp/grainy oatmeal flavor and always perfectly smooth.
Great beer.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Brewery Craigmill's Froach Heather Ale
Just as a note, the internet hasn't made it to Scotland yet so I have no link for you on this one... I've heard quite a bit about the style, so I'm looking forward to this one.
Pours a deep orangish amber, unfiltered in appearance and with a great pillowy light tan head that slowly recedes.
Smells like a solid pale. There are no hops, but it has a grassy twang from the herbs it does use. As the head is forming it throws off a huge sweet bready and lavender smell.
Interesting. Very mild in every aspect. Mild bitterness that isn't as though it came from hops. Mild bready taste that isn't truly malty, with an overlying floral perfume that isn't easy to pin down. Not as simple as 'heather' or 'lavender,' but it is, with a slightly soapy residual feel.
Interesting beer, and I'm glad I had one of this style. I probably won't be looking for another one unless I can get it fresh and local.
Pours a deep orangish amber, unfiltered in appearance and with a great pillowy light tan head that slowly recedes.
Smells like a solid pale. There are no hops, but it has a grassy twang from the herbs it does use. As the head is forming it throws off a huge sweet bready and lavender smell.
Interesting. Very mild in every aspect. Mild bitterness that isn't as though it came from hops. Mild bready taste that isn't truly malty, with an overlying floral perfume that isn't easy to pin down. Not as simple as 'heather' or 'lavender,' but it is, with a slightly soapy residual feel.
Interesting beer, and I'm glad I had one of this style. I probably won't be looking for another one unless I can get it fresh and local.
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