SIERRA NEVADA - Harvest Series - Southern Hemisphere Review

SIERRA NEVADA - Southern Hemispere - Harvest

Type: American IPA

ABV: 6.8%

Color: Translucent amber-brown with a tinge of red to add a little uniqueness. The head poured thick, creamy, tan, and lasting.

Aroma: Nicely Hoppy...Alot of hop nose, but not too much as too make you turn your head like with some other beers. A slight hint of spice tingles the back of the throat.

Taste: Tingly and bitter with a nice amount of dryness, i take it that, that is from the earthy hops the beer was focused on. A note of citrus rings through(most like lemon). The dryness holds the tongue firmly, not letting go til the next swig. The end finishes buttery and again helps the dryness hold on for some time.

Overall: It pours nice and has what i like...Bitter, and Dry. There is a little off-balance action going on, nothing to pull your attention, but it is there. I mean there is Bitter, and Dry, but I really don't get much malt action at all. I actually enjoy that this time around and that might be what makes this brew different. It could be over-enjoyed if not paying attention, that is how easy it goes down. Another fine product from Sierra Nevada.

Score: 8.8/10

"Brew at the Zoo" Brewfest Quick thoughts and observations

Coming back from the Maryland Zoo's "Brew at the Zoo" brewfest this Memorial Day weekend, I figured I post some observations I noticed while there.

First, the collection of Microbrewers in attendance was of quality brewers such as Stone, Ommegang, Magic Hat, and Dogfish Head, and a favorite of mine Oliver Ales. But it also didn't include such notable local Baltimore area brewers, and one of my overall favorites Heavy Seas(Clipper City) and Duclaw. They did make their way to a different fest in Frederick, Md though. It's ashame, and no offense to the Springfest, but alot of the proceeds to the Brew at the Zoo go directly to the Zoo(which is in need of the funding), so I think they deserved a representation from those two breweries specifically.

When arriving to the fest, we were quickly throught the gates to get our glass and age verification. After that the walk started with a kids play zone and some retail dealers selling fake pandora beads and personalized wooden barrels for home brewing(they were both overpriced). Up the hill were food stands, and more food retail dealers with sauces and such. Finally we headed down to the tasting area.

At the tasting area we skipped through the breweries and tried one type from each of them. Most of the beers there have already been tried and even reviewed by myself. I was a little disappointed with most of the offerings with regards to selection not quality. I would expect these breweries to bring at least one each of a unique or harder to find beer to the public to try out. Don't get me wrong, a few did bring some specials:

Oliver Breweries Ltd.(Baltimore, Maryland) -  "Iron Man IPA" - Which I'm gonna get a Growler of this week to review. This is a fresh brew that was finished just a week before the fest.

Evolution Craft Brewing(DelMar, Delaware) - "Summer Session" - This I have tried at the brewery, and reviewed. Good choice because they made it in limited quantity and it wasn't getting bottled for regional distribution.

Ommegang(Cooperstown,NY) - "RARE VOS Amber Ale" - I haven't heard of this one nor have I seen it anywhere in the region, so it was a good addition as well as a good beer.

We went through the 12 or so breweries in attendance then proceeded to the "Grilled Cheese Co." a new upstart "idea"...BCT - Bacon Cheese and Tomato(was so, so) & Crabby Melt - Crab meat and cheese(so so also). Nice niche concept but i don't think it will survive. I could an do make better Grilled Cheeses at home.

After some grub went back for a second round of brew and to cast my votes for best of fest. I gladly added six of my eight vote tickets to Evolution Craft Brewery booth.  All of the beers are top quality, but the "Summer Session" is worth the drive to Delmar, Delaware. Light, refreshing, with citrus and rye popping through. If you can check it out, it is worth the drive. My review is here: EVOLUTION CRAFT BREWING - "SUMMER SESSION"

I also put two votes in for Stone Brewing Co. - "Oak-Aged Arrogant Bastard" & Dogfish Head -"Aprihop".

The crowd was very docile and polite...not a total surprise, but with (unlimited)drinking, you never know what to expect. After the second tour of the beer booths we went out to see the animals of the zoo. Also a nice experience as always.

So all in all, it was a good fest. Great weather, good brews and good people. 

Score: 9.2/10

Germany's KOSTRITZER SCHWARZBIER Review

KOSTRITZER SCHWARZBIER

Type: Schwarzbier

ABV: 4.8%

Color: As the name would imply...It is black with a thin white head

Aroma: Sweet maltiness with very little to almost no floral or hoppy tones

Taste: Definitely a roasted malt kick to it up front. Then some dryness that is nearly overwhelming. Alcohol is there but not to a ridiculous degree.

Overall: The look and taste are very close to a stout. It has the overall complexity of a lager, with the texture of the stouts. It isn't bad at all. I could drink it regularaly, but not more than maybe 2 at one sitting.

Score: 7.6/10

Belgiums BAVIK Pils Review

BAVIK PILS

Type: Pilsner

ABV: 5.2%

Color: Bright white-yellow with a very thin white head that is gone way to quickly as it leaves trailed lacing.

Aroma: Floral sweet with an aromatic refreshing overall nose

Taste: Mildly sweet and almost buttery. Light bitter that finishes with a mellow sour aftertaste

Overall: Not bad a all. When first poured it looked like a white beer...very very light in yellow color. Not as much of an aftertaste as i wanted. That is what would have seperated this Pils from alot of others. A good beer but not distinctly memorable.

Score: 7.8/10

New Zealand's Monteith's Pilsner Beer Review

MONTEITH'S PILSNER

Type: Pilsner

ABV: 5%

Color: A deep Golden Yellow with a thin white head that dies off quickly

Aroma: Floral hints along with a touch of sour. Clean subtle hop presence that is fresh and crisp.

Taste: A tad bit of lemon along with a nice bitter bite start it off. The light to medium dryness comes next and it finishes off leaving a tongue coating sour that hangs for a while.

Overall: Nothing special about this pils...you can't really go wrong when you follow traditional methods. I would drink this pilsner than any other of the big brewers offerings. This will lead me to trying other Monteiths beers in the future.

Score: 7.8/10

ALTON BROWN'S Good Eats Episode on Brewing Beer

Hey there everybody, I remember seening this episode of the every informative Good Eats show The Food Network. So when I came across it on the net I figured I'd post the show here for my friends and such to enjoy. So here it is - Good Eats: BREWING 101

DuClaw Brewing Company - Sawtooth Review

DuClaw Brewing - Sawtooth

Type: Belgian White Ale

ABV: 4.8%

Color: Cloudy wheaty-gold with a nice full white head that is gone almost as fast as it appeared. It leaves a thin white film on the top of the beer.

Aroma: Citrus, wheat and subtle malt sweetness. Something else I can't really place. A very inviting scent.

Taste: Orange with a medium to full citrus bitter are prominent. There is a nice tingle on the tongue from the alcohol. The ending stays bitter to almost sour to the lingering aftertaste.

Overall: Full filling body that has a nice sweet. The aftertaste is a nice compliment to the beginning.

Score: 8.2/10

Brewers Art Brewing Company - La Petroleuse Ale Review

The Brewer's Art

Type: Belgian Ale

ABV: 7.8%

Color: Cloudy deep orangish-brown with nice golden hues at the bottom. The head is full and creamy, but disappears quickly.

Aroma: In order of dominance: Alcohol, Citrusy-orange, and malt sweetness.

Taste. Alcohol also mildly dominates the taste, but the citrus does come through, lightly mixing with some mild hints of malt. The finish is uneventful and leaves an alcohol taste on the tongue.

Overall: I was so anticipating this beer, but when i finally took a drink, the excitement vanished. I didn't get malt or the citrus that much, and that was disappointing. I don't hate it, but I think the expectations my be making me bias in the rating I am given. The Belgian influences are there, and are why i give it some extra respect.

Score: 7.8/10

Brewers Alley Brewing Company - India Pale Ale Review

Brewer's Alley Brewery

Type: IPA

ABV: 5.4%

Color: Cloudy orange with golden touches on the top and bottom. A one finger thick white head that dies almost immmdiately after the pour.

Aroma: Very clean and strong orange nose with some bite from the hops. Other citrus notes pop as well, grapefruit and lemon mostly.

Taste: Nice bitter and orange rind are the first tingles on the tastebuds. Medium body that is a little pleasant, with a finish that is simple and dry.

Overall: Like it alot. The nose really brings you in and has you wanting to drink this badly. Fisrt sip is intriguing, but after that not much to elaborate on.

Score: 8.3/10

Brewers Alley Brewing Company - 1634 Ale

Brewer's Alley Brewery

Type: Rye Beer

ABV: 5.8%

Color: Dark iced-tea brown with red tones...No head formed at all(and I poured it sloppily too boot).

Aroma: Sweet, and a little spicy with malt coming though. Alcohol is abundant in the breath with little to no hop presence.

Taste: The initial taste of alcohol is strong and almost overwhelming. Some malt and possible caramel does cover the alcohol taste. It finishes as uneventful as it began, with little aftertaste.

Overall: Mellow in everything but the taste of alcohol. It almost makes me not want to finish it. I did and got used to the taste and it grew a tad on me. Not completely terrible, but not really all that good either.

Score: 6.2/10

Abita Brewing Company - Jockamo IPA

Preface: I am now up to 50 reviews on the blog in the short amount of time I've been doing reviews. So I was thinking what beer should I review to mark the occasion...Well I was gonna do a hard to find original from my neck of the woods. Then I thought,  how about the best Belgian Beer out there..."Orval"...Neither of those hit me good, so i figured I'd do the highest rated brew that i have submitted for review so far.

ABITA Brewing Company

Type: India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.5%

Color: Very attractive orange-brown with a lighter hue on the bottom. It pours with a very nice and creamy head that hangs on nicely

Aroma: An overwhelming orange on first inhale then get some light florals in the nose also...Completely enjoyable and intoxicating.

Taste: Orange is dominant, but there is definitely grapefruit and i would say lime coming through also. Not as much bitter bite as you might expector want with an IPA, but some bitter is there. The finish hangs onto the tongue nicely.

Overall: Love it, a great effort from Abita. Nice citrusiness and just the right amount of dryness. The only complaint could be not enough bitter for an IPA, but the body, nose, and mouthfeel totally overcompensate for any hop bitterness lacking. Great balance and just an all around great beer.

Score: 9.4/10

SMUTTY NOSE BREWING COMPANY - "Finestkind" IPA

Smutty Nose Brewing

Type: India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.9%

Color: Opaque cloudy orange with lighter tones on the top and bottom. Light head that leaves a little lacing.

Aroma: Nice citrus hoppiness that comes clean and holds the nose for some time.

Taste: Bitter and dry with a pleasant floral and citrusy punnch. The body is light to medium and it finishes hanging onto the roof of the mouth

Overall: The dry more than the bitter is what is most dominant. It comes through clean and almost overwhelming with the dryness. I ilke it. Some of you won't. Very good effort Smutty Nose.

Score: 8.1/10

MURPHY'S IRISH RED ALE REVIEW

Type: Irish Red Ale

ABV: 5%

Color: Transparent brown with a red tone(no really?) with a one-finger thick creamy white head.

Aroma: Mellow spicy sweet with a nice floral bouquet that stays within the glasses frame.

Taste: Creamy but dry with a mild bitterness. There is a very light malt touch that hangs til the end as it coats the tongue nicely.

Overall: Good but very simple. Not too complex at all. It is balanced but nothing stands out to make it unique from the other reds out there.

Score: 7.3/10

ALLAGASH Brewing Company - Dubbel Ale Review

ALLAGASH DUBBEL

Type: Dubbel

ABV: 7%

Color: Beautiful opaque medium brown that tends lighter at the bottom. It has a thin head with some lacing.

Aroma: Not really much of a throw from the glass...On deep inhale some carameled sweets sweetness comes through along wwith some malt.

Taste; Malt, caramel, and alcohol are the first and most aggressive tastes. I get chocolate in there also. No bitterness to compare to the strong malt body.

Overall: No flavor really stands out, and that would usually mean a balanced beer, but not with this one. The malt wants to stand out but the chocolate won't let it...The chocolate wants to also but the caramel keeps it in check. It has an light to medium body that is dull in the middle and no-existant at the end.

Score: 7/10

STARR HILL BREWERY - Dark Starr Stout Review

Starr Hill Brewery

Type: Stout

ABV: 4.2%

Color: The darkest brown, basically black with a nice tan head

Aroma: Coffee, caramel, alcohol, and smoked malt are abundant.

Taste: Smokey and dry with a very little amount of bitterness, alcohol and woodsey essences.

Overall: I preface this, this way...I am not too fond of stouts, but i still try them to hopefully one day finding that awesome stout that is out there. With that being said, I really didn't enjoy this one at all. Surprisingly light body for a stout. The taste of alcohol is the reason I'm not digging it at all...It is the most awarded DRY IRISH STOUT in the country. Sorry, but i don't really get it. The main reason i grabbed this one is because of the Grateful Dead tribute...Obviously!

Score: 5/10

Samuel Smith's INDIA ALE Review

SAMUEL SMITH'S - India Ale

Type: India Ale(Pale)

ABV: 5%

Color: Shiny new penny copper with a slight tinge of red added. It has a nice thick creamy white head(like beaten egg whites) with incredible lacing.

Aroma: Sweet and clean...Orange with other hints of citrus. Some light floral tones coming through from the hops.

Taste: Smooth and very subtle...at first dull, like tap water, then it comes up and the hops hit through, not hard, but subliminally in the guise of orange and a little smoke. Some malt keeps things balanced til the end where that smoke helps dry things out.

Overall: I am very happy that i picked this brew up the other day. Well balanced, clean and refreshing. Can dfinitely be enjoyed with spicy foods or on a hot summer afternoon.

Score: 8.8/10

MAGIC HAT BREWERY - Lucky Kat Pale Ale

Magic Hat - Lucky Kat

Type: Pale Ale

ABV: 5.8%

Color: Cloudy, virtually opaque, orange-hued brown, with light yellows at the bottom. Some very thin white head that disipates almost immediately , and leaves some light lacing.

Aroma: Mild citrus of orange and lemon come through well. Then a touch of earthy hoppiness, and some spice(maybe corriander.

Taste: Muted mixes of citrus and carbination. The bitterness is there but is dull for a 60 IBU beer. The taste does stay with the tongue for a long time and turns sour the longer its there.

Overall: Not bad, but the flavors aren't distinct enought to really pull any one from the others. Can be enjoyed, but it wouldn't be my first choice for a Pale Ale or an offering from MAGIC HAT. Try Blind Faith or #9

Score: 7.2/10

Erie Brewing Company - Railbender Ale Review

ERIE BREWING COMPANY

Type: Scottish Style Ale

ABV: 6.8%

Color: Dark mahogany brown with lighter highlights at the bottom...Minimal white head that is gone very quickly.

Aroma: Very basic smell of malt, with no bitterness, floral, or fruitiness noticed at all.

Taste: Nice emphisized malt up front with a hint of sweet sugars and a smidge of caramel. Subtle hoppiness that is very light and the aftertaste lingers on the tongue pleasantly

Overall: Nice medium body brew that puts the focus on malt. There is almost a good balance between the maltiness and the bitterness, but the malt wins out. Very enjoyable and can easily be over-enjoyed due to its ease of drinkability.

Score: 7.8/10

Southern Tier Brewery - 422 ALE Review

Type: Pale Wheat Ale

ABV: 5.8%

Color: Hazy dark golden yellow with almost no head or lacing.

Aroma: Spicy sweet with a bready nose. Some orange notes come through the deeper you inhale.

Taste: Orange zestiness with light bitterness. Medium body with a touch of spice that tingles the tongue. The finish is easy and smooth.

Overall: Tingles nicely and mellows to a citrusy smooth finish. The wheat makes it a little more filling, so your either gonna drink it slower or not as many overall.

SOUTHERN TIER BREWERY

Score: 7.8/10

Barley & Hops Brewery - Hoptopsy ESB Review

Barley & Hops Brewery

Type: ESB

ABV: 5.6%

Color: Light Copper with virtually no head. Gold hues at the top and bottom of the glass

Aroma: Some nice malt sweetness with a chill floral "over-scent" , that is crisp and refreshing.

Taste: Very nice hoppiness that lets go to a nice malt body. The tongue stays entertained long after the swig. The finish is dry and welcoming.

Overall: Nice balance between  3 things...sweetness, bitterness and dryness. It is supposed to be an ESB, but it would rank with some of the better IPA's out there.


Score: 9.0/10.