Thursday, February 4, 2010

Beers I like (lately)

Absolutely Tasty!
Backwoods Bastard

alt

Backwoods Bastard 10.2% ABV 50 IBU’S

Big and delicious for your ‘perty mouth. Expect lovely, warm smells of single malt scotch, oaky bourbon barrels, smoke, sweet caramel and roasted malts, a bit of earthy spice and a scintilla of dark cherries. It’s a kick-back sipper made to excite the pallet.




















Secondly, I have recently discovered Affligem Dubbel. Very delicious beer..good mouthfeel 7% ABV

http://www.de-roestelberg.nl/cms/images/stories/affligem_dubbel.jpg

Recently, I had a new beer from Minneapolis' newest brewery, Fulton. Sweet Child O' Vine.
I consider it a session beer. Very drinkable with a little hop aftertaste. Normally, I prefer beers that are 60 IBU or lower but this is very tasty!

Sweet Child of Vine

Sweet Child of Vine

Move over grapes. We’re celebrating
the world’s most glorious vine.

At Fulton, we love hops. That star in our logo is made out of hops, in case you hadn’t noticed. Of course, the hops plant contributes to the character of all of our beers, but sometimes we just want more. That’s why we decided to brew the Sweet Child of Vine. Generous quantities of Simcoe and Glacier hops are added throughout the boil. Then, late in the fermentation process, we infuse the Sweet Child with another dose of Glaciers, imparting a bouquet of hop aroma that veritably bursts forth upon serving. But don’t let all this talk of hops mislead you. The Sweet Child has a serious malt backbone to stand up to all those hops, creating a delightful balance that will keep you coming back for more. It’s an IPA, Fulton-style.

6.4% ABV
69 IBUs
15.8 Plato
12.5 SRM



Saturday, January 30, 2010

Beers to Try!
New Holland Cabin Fever--a brown ale
A - Pours dark brown with ruby highlights. A thin, light tan head doesn't last, settling to a thick ring of foam with minimal lacing.
S - Light caramel, toffee, molasses, and bread. Slight earthiness, and a hint of alcohol as the beer warms.
T - Nice toasted malt characteristics - toffee, caramel, nuts, chocolate. Finishes dry with a balancing hint of hops, a smack of dark fruit, and a grazing of alcohol. In fact, the whole flavor seems to have a slight boozy nature like a much heavier brew would.
M - Medium-bodied, medium-light carbonation. Slight alcohol warmth.

D - Pretty well done. Too many brown ales are one-dimensional, so I always love finding takes that add some depth to the style. This one has some nice complexity while still retaining the high level of drinkability that a brown should have.

Rush River Winter Warmer
Based on one of our favorite Scotch Ale recipes, this beer is both robust and extremely smooth. With the emphasis on its maltiness, this ale has a very well rounded and full flavor which is delicately balanced by the addition of old world hops. Furthermore, at 6.5% ABV this dark brown ale is guaranteed to keep you warm during the cold winter months!

Summit Unchained Series-- 90/- Scottish Style Ale
Aroma: Toasted pumpernickel bread with caramel sweetness. Light coffee roast. Notes of brown sugar and raisins.
Appearance: Moderate and creamy off-white head with good persistence. Maintained a film on the surface. Deep ruby/mahogany and crystal clear.
Flavor: Slanted to sweet malt, but balanced with more bitterness than I expected. The hops have a spicy/herbal character that melds with and accentuates the intense herbal flavors of the heather. Together with the sweet caramel and brown sugar malt it reminds me of spiced molasses cookies or maybe the horehound stick candy that I ate as a kid. The same toasted bread flavors from the aroma carry over to the flavor. Hints of dark fruits and orange. The finish is crisp and lingers on roasted malt and molasses.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium carbonation. Smooth creaminess.
Overall Impression: The folks at Summit are stepping up their game with these Unchained Series Beers. Like the Kölsch, this one is really well made. The bready, roasted, and caramel malt flavors are all well articulated. It’s on the sweet side, as it should be for the style, but the level of bittering balances it nicely, keeping it from becoming cloying. The heather gives it additional layers of interest. Not overly strong, but still works as a snifter sipper.

Anchor Bock
Had this at the Beer Dabbler tasting at Mears Park. Tasty and "only" 5.5ABV!
Anchor Bock Beer, released in celebration of the coming of spring, is an ancient and mysterious part of the brewing tradition. Over time, the term “bock” has come to mean a beer darker and stronger than the brewery's “regular” brew. We hope you will find Anchor Bock to be a rich and flavorful addition to our other offerings.
San Francisco's Anchor Bock Beer is virtually handmade by the brewers of Anchor Steam® Beer, in one of the most traditional small breweries in the world. It is brewed from a complex blend of the finest barley malts, wheat malts, and fresh, whole hops.

Avery Samael's
From Avery Brewing – Samael’s Ale is a super-caramelly, oak aged English-style strong ale. Perhaps the least hoppy (sacrilege here at Avery!!) beer we’ve brewed, to accentuate the malt. The oak is very apparent in this rich and high gravity ale, adding additional depth and complexity with a woody and cask-like nose and a pronounced vanilla flavor on the palate. Notes for 2007 – With the addition of an additional roasted malt, Samael’s now delivers subtle bitterness to add balance to the natural sweetness.

Avery Brewing – Samael’s Oak-aged Ale – 12 oz. bottle poured into a goblet. 14.5% abv. Purchased at Whole Foods Market – Arroyo – Pasadena, CA.
Appearance: Pours a dark amber with a small gathering of froth at the top. Fairly translucent with visible rising bubbles in the body.
Aroma: Whifs of banana creme pie, vanilla, tobacco, raisin and other dark dried fruits, and fruity children’s cough medicine. I find a little freshly split oak as I get my nose closer to the beer.
Taste: Dark cherry, banana, turbinado sugar syrup, astringent woodiness, alcohol warmth (dark rum or bourbon), and a spicy hop finish.
Mouthfeel: Really warm and sticky. Almost like biting into a sticky bun soaked in rum or something.
Overall: An amazing first class sipper. This beer is way to complex and strong to drink any faster than that. Whoooo!

Orkney Dark Island
Dark Island is an iconic beer: a standard-bearer for traditional Scottish ales. In cask, this beer has twice won CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Scotland. On the nose, this dark beer offers bitter chocolate, figs, toffee and hints of fruit. On the palate, this resolves into beautiful, silky-smooth, coffee-and-chocolate flavours, followed by figs, dates and dried fruits, with a very appealing, lingering aftertaste of fruits and hop bitterness. Appearance A very dark beer with a deep ruby tint, displaying a tight, smooth, almost white head Aroma Chocolate, winter fruits and dried fruits, with hints of smooth roasted malt, coffee, nuts and toffee Palate Chocolate, coffee and roast malt flavours, giving way to warm winter fruits and a balanced, more-ish aftertaste Key Ingredients Chocolate malt, crystal malt and wheat give this beer its smooth, full-bodied, maltiness and sweetness; First Gold and Goldings hops combine with the malt flavours to deliver the winter fruits and dried fruits aspects

Ommegang-3 Philosophers

Three Philosophers Quadrupel
Cynics can't believe it, Epicures hail it a sensation, and Pythagoreans just can't add up what makes this luscious blend of rich malty ale and cherry lambic so delightful. It might be the flavor of dark chocolate and cherry cordials; it could be the way it acquires wisdom and grace in the cellar. Maybe it's a conundrum. What's your theory? The essence of wonder is a unique and masterful blend of strong malty ale and authentic Belgian Kriek. Our philosophers deduce that this powerful marriage of cherries, roasted malts, and dark chocolate will only achieve more wisdom and coherence as it broods in the dark recesses of your cellar.
Try Three Philosophers as:
a delightful accompaniment for roasted meats, rich cheeses, desserts, and for after dinner sipping as with a fine port.
Reviews:
"A rare international blend of dark and malty quadrupel from Ommegang, and cherry-infused lambic from Lindemans in Belgium. It is a masterful blend that is greater than the sum of its parts - a rich, ruby brew that weaves a port-like subtle fruit into a creamy elixir of chocolaty caramel effervescence."-THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Full Sail--Top Sail Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter
the longest name ever!
Hood River, Or – The waiting list is growing and so is the anticipation. It is almost time for the annual and very limited release of Full Sail’s bourbon barrel beer. Top Sail Bourbon Barrel Porter rested in oak bourbon barrels for close to one year will finally be ready to pour early this February.
“Our barrel aged beers have been a Full Sail tradition since 1998 when we discovered the magic that happens when you pair vintage barrels, dedication, and patience. Brewed back in February 2009, this imperial style porter was reserved and aged for almost a year in casks from Maker’s Mark, Stranahan’s and Four Roses. After a year we created a blend that is 100% barrel aged beer to craft our Bourbon Barrel Top Sail. This extended aging presents aromas of oak, coconut and bourbon. Deep chocolate flavors warm to a full-bodied beer. Oak, toast and caramel flavors are rounded by the bourbon fire and sweetness. Deep black in color, Top Sail Bourbon Aged Imperial Porter has a roasty malt flavor that is immensely drinkable and smooth. It cellars well, if you store a few bottles in a dark, cool place and be patient – you will be rewarded for your effort and restraint,” said Jamie Emmerson, Full Sail’s Executive Brewmaster. To help the beer aficionados that have the self-discipline to cellar this beer, Full Sail marks the bottle label with the reserve year. Top Sail will be available in 22 oz bottles and limited draught. (ABV 9.85%, IBU 65)
“We love the concept of the bourbon barrel aging (though we confess we love the beer even more). Whiskey begins life as beer–or at least a beer-like concoction. It’s made from malted grain and water, which is then distilled and barrel-aged, so barrel aging beer in whiskey casks is a natural. Wood and barrel aging is an art form that takes dedication, patience and care. When done right, it’s a wonderful thing. It’s still distinctly beer, but with added depth and flavor. We brew this special beer in small batches, that’s why it is available in very limited quantities. You should get some while you can,” added Emmerson.

Cold Spring Brewery--John Henry 3 Lick Spiker Ale
also had this at the Mears Park Beer Dabbler, my favorite of the day!

In recognition of the men who built railroads across this country we dedicate this ale. These skilled railroad men could swing a nine pound spike mall and drive an iron spike into the railroad tie in three swings. That is the basis of the term “3 lick spiker”. Named after the mystical folk hero, John Henry, who competed and beat the automatic machine spiker.John Henry Three Lick Spiker Ale is an imperial stout brew style that has been bourbon oak aged. This beer is brewed with three different dark roasted malts creating chocolate flavors and a dark appearance. Oats are also added for additional body and flavor. Combined with the pale and caramel malts, there are over 12,000 lbs. of barley in the brew. Cascade, Willamette, and Alsace Hops are the three hops added for a hoppy tasty and full aroma. After fermentation has been completed with our top fermenting ale yeast, conditioning starts and the fun begins. We condition our brew with bourbon oak and let the extended aging process take over. Hints of bourbon and vanilla from the oak come through in the aroma and flavor. This is a big beer that you can not pass up.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009