Saturday, November 26, 2011

Coney Island Freaktoberfest

This is from the Schmaltz Brewing Company of Saratoga Springs, New York.  Proceeds from the Coney Island beers help Coney Island USA in its mission to "defend the honor of lost forms of popular American arts and culture..."

http://www.schmaltzbrewing.com/

This 6.66% ABV beer is brewed with six malts and six hops.  It pours red in color, like a vampire's drink in an old technicolor movie, with a large head of light red/pink foam.  The aroma is very malty, some sweet potato.  The taste follows the aroma and has a bitter finish.  Cute concept, blah beer.


Northern Reserve Ice Lager

This is from the Northern Brewing Company, part of Cold Springs Brewery in Cold Springs, Minnesota.

This 5.8% ABV beer pours a very yellow honey golden in color with a cyclone of carbonation in the glass.  There is a short head of white foam that leaves sticky lacing down the glass.  The aroma is malty, sweet potato, and a hint of banana.  The taste is like sweet banana bread.  I can't say this is a bad beer, but I can't really say what it is, other than strange.  That being said, I would not seek it out again, it doesn't bear repeating for me.





Saturday, November 19, 2011

Boulder Beer Company Cold Hop

The Boulder Beer Company is in, surprise, Boulder, Colorado.

Cold Hop - This is a British-style ale that was the 7th release in their Looking Glass series.  The beer pours a glowing burnt orange in color.  There is a quarter-inch of creamy off-white head.  The aroma is citrus and stone fruits over a malty base, with a light touch of caramel.  The taste is an explosion of both malt and hops, following the aromas, but the malt is sweeter in the taste.  There is creamy maltiness, aromatic fruitiness, strong iced tea with lemon.  This beer is an explosion of flavors, teeteringly balanced between hop and malt.


Copper Bell Lager - Copper Bell Light

These beers are store brands for Whole Foods and are brewed by Brewmaster's Choice of Rochester, New York (contract brewed by Genesee).

http://www.copperbellbeer.com/

Lager - This 4.5% ABV beer pours a very clear yellow golden in color.  There is a half-inch of white head.  The aroma is grain, sourdough bread and light apple.  The taste follows the aroma directly.  The aftertaste is true to the original flavor.  The beer is well-carbonated, but has a creamy malt sensation on the finish as well.  Not great, but not bad for what it is.

Light- This 3.9% ABV beer pours a pale, yellow golden in color.  There is an inch of pure white fizzy foam that leaves layers of medium density lacing down the glass.  The aroma is somewhat grassy and herbal, a bit of straw.  The taste is fairly mild, grain with some fruit and spice.  It drinks like a lightly flavored apple-cinnamon scone.  There is a malty creaminess on the finish that is nice.  It actually has a pretty good aftertaste.  Not a great light beer, but not bad for a store brand.



Crow Peak Brewing Co. - 11th Hour IPA; Pile-O-Dirt Porter

The Crow Peak Brewing Company is in Spearfish, South Dakota, in the Black Hills.

www.crowpeakbrewing.com

11th Hour IPA - This 6.5% ABV beer pours a glowing burnt orange, deep amber, light brown in color.  There is a quarter-inch of creamy and foamy head, off-white in color.  The aroma is piney, resinous, some cantaloupe and tropical fruit.  The taste is extremely, mouth-puckeringly bitter, obliterating most flavors.  Some of the aroma is in the aftertaste.  This beer smells better than it tastes.  I don't mind a very bitter IPA if it follows after the flavors, but here it overwhelms everything.

Pile-O-Dirt Porter -  This 6.0% ABV beer pours very dark brown to black.  There is very little carbonation or head.  The aroma is dark roasted malt, some coffee, and a tart note.  The taste is extremely dark roasted malt, coffee grounds, with a tart note that ends in a dry finish.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Imperial Jack Double IPA; Thumper American IPA; Mystical Jack Traditional Ale

From the Rhinelander Brewing Company of Monroe, Wisconsin (Minhas Craft Brewery).

http://www.rhinelanderbrewery.com/

Imperial Jack - This 8.5% ABV beer pours a glowing amber-orange in color, somewhat hazy.  There is a quarter-inch of thick off-white foamy head.  The aroma is zesty, floral, some stone fruit, and a burnt caramel maltiness.  The taste is malty and fruity, with an herbal zestiness.  Not a hop forward IPA, drinkable, but not great.


Thumper American IPA - This 6.8% ABV beer pours a very dark copper and burnt orange in color.  There is a tall half-inch of thick and creamy foam, off-white in color.  The aroma is somewhat spicy, pungent old orange peels, and a touch of over-ripe tropical fruit.  The taste is caramel and old orange peels.  Somewhat bitter on the finish.  Not a good example of an American IPA.

Mystical Jack Traditional Ale - This 7.0% ABV beer is inspired by the Jackalope.  According to the bottle, "is this beer for real?"  Well, let's see.  The beer pours extremely dark brown to black in color.  There is a quarter inch of light brown head.  The aroma is sweet, dark caramel and raisins.  The taste is dark roasted malt, burnt caramel, sweet, but relatively light drinking.

Four In Hand - IPA; Winter Brew

The Four In Hand beers are brewed by World Beers of Rochester, New York.  I am guessing this means contract brewed by Genesee.  They are available at Whole Foods.

http://www.fourinhandbeer.com/

IPA - This 6.3% ABV beer pours copper-amber-orange in color.  There is a short head of off-white foam.  The aroma is spicy, malty, and half-vomity.  The taste is malty, a bit of fruit, bitter.  Not a good beer at all.

Winter Brew - This seasonal ale brewed with spices is 6.2% ABV and pours a deep brown with orange tones, just shy of transparent.  There is a short half-inch of thick and creamy head that is off-white in color and leaves layers of lacing of medium density down the glass.  The aroma is malty, a touch of caramel, grassy, some light fruit, and light spices, mostly cloves.  The taste is richly malty, caramel, a touch of tartness, the spices very mild.  The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy.  This is a nice winter ale on the light and drinkable end of the spectrum.

Pyramid Brewing Co. - Thunderhead IPA; Snow Cap Winter Warmer

Pyramid Brewing Co. brews in Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Berkeley, California. 

http://www.pyramidbrew.com/

Thunderhead IPA - This 6.7% ABV beer pours a light, bright amber and copper in color.  There is a very small head.  The aroma is fairly light, some zestiness and malt.  The taste is lightly fruity, zesty, and light caramel malt.  I was expecting a hop forward West Coast style IPA, the bottle calls it a "hop heaping India Pale Ale."  Afraid not.

Snow Cap Winter Warmer - This 7.0% ABV seasonal ale pours a medium-brown, dark ruby in color.  There is a quarter-inch of light brown creamy foam.  The aroma is sweet caramel, malt, light fruit, a bit like a caramel apple right before you bite into it.  The taste is deep roasted malt, dark caramel, some light fruit on the end.  This is a good winter warmer.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Cable Car Brewing Company - Pale Ale; Winter Brew

The Cable Car Brewing Company is in Rochester, New York.  I believe this line is a store exclusive to Whole Foods and I am guessing it is contract brewed by Genesee.

Pale Ale - This 5.3% ABV beer pours a glowing light copper in color with a half-inch of just off-white head.  The aroma is fairly light, grassy and light citrus over malt.  The taste follows the aroma, some sun tea with lemon, drinks light and refreshing.  This has a nice flavor and is refreshing, but very light.

Winter Brew - This seasonal ale brewed with spices is 6.3% ABV and pours a very dark copper-amber, burnt orange in color.  There is a quarter inch of creamy off-white head.  The aroma is malty, almost burnt caramel, a touch of dark fruit, the spice is there but not discernible as individual spices.  The taste is almost burnt caramel, dark fruit juice, slightly sweet, spices not very apparent.  The fruit comes to the fore as it warms, cherries and dark berries.  The finish is somewhat bitter.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Epic Brewing Company - Pfeifferhorn Lager; Spiral Jetty IPA; Mid Mountain Mild Ale; Capt'n Crompton's Pale Ale; Copper Cone Pale Ale

This is the Epic Brewing Company of Salt Lake City, Utah (not the Epic brewing from New Zealand).

http://www.epicbrewing.com/

Pfeifferhorn Lager - This 5.3% ABV beer is part of their Classic Series and pours a golden yellow in color with a tall half-inch of thick and foamy white head that leaves sticky lacing of medium density down the glass.  The aroma is strong: grain, straw, and freshly broken stems of tall grass.  The taste follows the aromas, it drinks very flavorful, but still drinks easy.  The finish is dry, but not heavily bitter.  This is a really excellent American lager.

Spiral Jetty IPA - This 6.6% ABV beer pours dark golden-orange in color with a short white head.  The aroma is citrusy, fruity, zesty, with some maltiness.  The taste is fresh grass, zesty, a bit of citrus, over a grainy malt base, with a very bitter and dry finish.  Not super hop forward, but an interesting and refreshing take on an IPA.

Mid Mountain Mild Ale - This 5.0% ABV beer is release #6 from their Exponential Series.  The beer pours light brown and orange, slightly hazy, with a negligible off-white head.  The aroma is malt, caramel and plum fruit.  The taste follows the aroma, like a biscuit with jelly, and just a bit of bitterness on the finish.


Capt'n Crompton's Pale Ale - This 5.8% ABV beer is dry-hopped with Cascade hops.  The beer pours a glowing orange-amber in color with a short head of thick, creamy foam.  The aroma is hoppy, floral, somewhat grassy and bitter.  The taste is malty and floral, with an apricot jamminess.  The finish is moderately bitter, the mouthfeel is creamy.  This is a damn fine pale ale.

Copper Cone Pale Ale - This is release number 13 in their Elevated Series and clocks in at 6.0% ABV.  The beer pours a dark copper-amber-burnt orange in color, and somewhat hazy.  There is a short head of creamy off-white foam.  The aroma is malty and yeasty with a light fruitiness.  The taste is malty, slightly sweet, caramel, with a moderately bitter finish.  There is a creamy mouthfeel and an aftertaste of sweet dark tea with a touch of lemon.


Thursday, November 10, 2011

Rahr & Sons Brewing - Ugly Pug; Gravel Road

Rahr & Sons Brewing is in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Ugly Pug Black Lager - A schwarzbier or black lager, this beer pours black in appearance, ruby and dark brown around the edges if held to the light.  There is an inch of off-white to light brown foamy head.  The aroma is roasted, toasted malt, just a hint of smoke, nutty.  The taste is dark roasted malt, some coffee and dark chocolate, with a tart note on the end, followed by a bone dry and bitter finish.  A very flavorful and tasty black lager. 

Gravel Road German-style Altbier - This beer pours a very dark brown, with ruby tints, translucent but not transparent.  There is a large billowing head of off-white to light brown foam.  The aroma is  malty, caramel, and slightly yeasty.  The taste follows the aroma with enough bitterness and dryness in the finish to prevent being overly sweet.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Sloeber Ale

Sloeber is brewed by the Brouwerij Roman in Oudenaarde, Belgium.

This 7.5% ABV beer pours an orange-yellow golden, slightly hazy, with a tall half-inch of white foam that dissipates fairly rapidly.  The aroma is grain, flowers, a hint of yam, and a whiff of whiskey sour.  The taste is malty grain, floral, again the hint of whiskey sour, with a lightly bitter finish.  It is very drinkable, but yet also drinks as if its alcohol were much higher than 7.5%.  This is a very nice light Belgian ale.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Belhaven Scottish Stout

The Belhaven Brewery is in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland. 

http://www.belhaven.co.uk/

This is brewed from a traditional Scottish recipe from the 1800's.  This 7.0% ABV beer pours pitch black, with a quarter-inch of light brown head that is thick and creamy.  The aroma is dark roasted malt, cocoa, a touch of smoke and whiskey, with a tart note.  The taste is deep, dark, rich roasted malt, dark chocolate, dry with a tart note.  An intensely flavored, yet still drinkable, stout.

Hub City Paradise Ale

The Hub City Brewing Company is in Stanley, Iowa.

I tried several of their beers when they first came out.  They had quality and consistency issues at that time and I have not tried any of their beers in a few years.  However, they are still around, so have they gotten better?

This beer pours a dark yellow honey golden in color with just a tint of orange.  There is a large inch high thick and foamy white head.  The aroma is malty grain, floral, and yeast.  The taste is very yeasty over a malty, wheaty (not sure if it actually has wheat) base.  This is not really to my taste (I dont' favor yeasty beers), but it is very drinkable nonetheless, and in fact very good for its style.