Sierra Nevada Harvest Wild Hop IPA
The Sierra Nevada Harvest series has always meant one thing to me: a tasty IPA at a reasonable price. However, it has always been the Southern Hemisphere Fresh Hop and Northern Hemisphere Dry Hop IPA's. This new Wild Hop was certainly an intriguing venture, as it uses wild grown hops from New Mexico and claims to give melon and apricot flavors. The beer poured with a tantalizing nose that included hints of lavender, oranges, grapefruit, rye bread, and floral notes. I tasted the beer and got nothing in the way of melon or apricot. In fact, it starts with a bitter bite that probably hides any of those sort of lighter flavors. Orange pith, perfume, and just a twinge of green onion rounds out the opening. The finish has the bitterness disappearing with light flavors of perfume and toast. It was a decent IPA, but not close to what was promised.
Mike's Rating - 7.75/10
Founders Imperial Stout
Make no mistake, this is one of my favorite beers out there. I even used some in my batch of chili to pair with this tasty stout.The nose was very subtle with hints of dark chocolate, raisins, and coffee beans. The taste is quite smooth at the start with flavors of fudge brownies, roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and just a few stray floral notes. The finish brings a strong bitter flavor that accentuates the dark chocolate, fudge, and roasted black coffee flavors that round out the finish. I popped a few of these in my cellar, and look forward to reviewing them a few years down the line. Though make no mistake, they can be drank now and are quite stellar.
Mike's Rating - 9.5/10
Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout
A friend of mine left this lone beer at my house. I have looked at this beer for a while, as I tend to love a Nitro-infused Stout. However, the Milk Stout is already so light that it made me hesitant to try it. This was the perfect opportunity and I do have a rule: Leave your beer? Now it belongs here. Heh. So I cracked this one open and poured it and was greeted with a good aroma. I was actually surprised at the depth of the nose. Milk chocolate and chocolate milk dominated initially with lighter hints of roasted coffee and raisins appearing later. However, the taste is thin. I mean, really thin. Only light flavors of milk chocolate and coffee appear. The finish doesn't change that much with a flavor that leans towards espresso with a hint of cream. I can't say I'm surprised, but a little disappointment crossed my mind. Still, can't argue with a freebie right?
Mike's Rating - 6.5/10
Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter IPA
This is another new IPA from Sierra Nevada that uses hop oil. Essentially it is an extract from hops that is super concentrated. However, it seems like every time you turn around there is a new IPA on the shelves. I am certainly a hop head, but it takes a lot these days to distance yourself from the pack. This beer is good, and its biggest pro and biggest con happen to be the same: It is silk smooth. I can't help it, I want my IPA to bite. Whether with hops or bitterness. The smoothness would be fine if this beer had a little more depth to its flavor. The aroma has hints of grapefruit, citrus, and floral notes. All of this transfers to the first flavor with citrus, grapefruit zest, and hints of perfume and floral notes. The finish is exceptionally light with flavors of toast and lemon zest. This beer will drink well as a sessionable IPA when the weather warms, but I wish it had just a little more oomph.
Mike's Rating - 8.25/10
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
New Green Flash: Soul Style IPA
Green Flash and Stone Brewing seemed to have taken each new IPA from the other as a challenge, as these two San Diego area breweries have been pumping out IPA after tasty IPA. Green Flash will soon be dropping the Soul Style IPA. This tropical IPA looks to do Green Flash justice while remaining at a decently sessionable 6.5%. I will certainly have my eyes peeled for this new, tasty IPA.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
17 Rare Beers
These days craft beer is readily available. Even grocery stores have hopped on the craze and stocked their shelves with choice selections. However, in this day and age of plenty there are still a handful of beers that remain elusive. Beers that release only at one time of the year in such a limited supply that you have to be in the known and/or know someone in the business to acquire one of these hot commodities. This list here is a selection of some of the rarer beers you can find around the USA. I myself have only had 4 of the beers mentioned on this list and feel lucky to have sampled those. How many have you had?
Thursday, February 19, 2015
New Stone Beer: Stone Enjoy After 12/26/15
Stone has just been full of announcements recently. I just told you all about the soon to come Enjoy By Black IPA. Now a new Enjoy After series is being launched, and it is starting with a Brett IPA. The fact that it is an IPA probably has many of you eying my words with skepticism. However, Brett (Brettanomyces) is a yeast found in many sour beers and is actually known to impart more flavor as it ages. I am curious to see how this will go as you have one aspect that screams age and one that screams fresh.
Turkish Smuggle
This funny video of a soccer fan trying to smuggle beer into a stadium had me rolling. I don't think I would have ever found a place for all of those beers. http://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/man-tries-to-smuggle-in-case-of-beer-to-soccer-game
Mikkeller to Open San Diego Brewery
This news shocked me like no other beer news in the last year. Mikkeller has staunchly refused to setup a brewery in the United States, and I didn't expect that to change any time soon. However, AleSmith (an awesome brewery out of San Diego) has their old facility up for sale and Mikkeller has jumped at the chance. Perhaps just as shocking is that there are plans to eventually have 6 packs and a possible steady lineup. This news means nothing but good things for both Mikkeller and beer drinkers alike. For the full article, check it out here.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Flat 12 Brewing Trip
A couple weeks ago I proceeded to visit the lovely new Flat 12 Brewery in Jeffersonville with my girlfriend and a couple friends. I have been impressed with Flat 12 ever since they starting distributing their product to Louisville. The Pogue's Run Porter and Pinko Pappy-Aged Imperial Stout have both impressed me thoroughly. The place was clean, friendly, and not very crowded. Though from what I garnered, the crowd varies from day to day. I sampled four barrel-aged beers and have decided to provide reviews for everyone.
Above is a view from the brewery itself. A flight of 4 5 oz. barrel-aged beers set me back a measly $8. A flight of regular beers goes for $5. These prices were very affordable, and they offered a selection of appetizers. However, I had just picked up a fantastic burger from the nearby Big Four Burgers where I partook of a breakfast burger with bacon, fried egg, and dripping with maple glaze. I digress, on with the reviews!
Cowtipper Bourbon Barrel-Aged Milk Stout
ABV: Unknown
I started with the lightest of the barrel-aged beers. I love a well-done milk stout and was excited to see what the bourbon barrel could add to this style. The nose was light with hints of brownies, cream, oak, and cocoa. It was pleasant, and the bourbon didn't overpower the aroma. The taste was light throughout, and started with hints of sweetened cream, chocolate milk, and white chocolate. The body was a little thin, though that isn't entirely uncommon with milk stouts. The finish thinned out even more and gave hints of buttermilk, cocoa powder, and a dash of coffee. The beer wasn't exactly what I wanted, and the bourbon seemed to change some of the flavors in a bad way.
Mike's Rating - 7.75/10
Wine Barrel-Aged Winter Cycle Double IPA
ABV: 10%
The second beer on my list is a DIPA, which most don't see as a style that needs aging. I was skeptical as well. Their Winter Cycle is a big DIPA that combines 6 different hop varieties from 3 different continents combined with juniper berries. They combined this beer with a short aging in a local Easley wine barrel. The aroma is a stellar combination of both. Sour grapes, vanilla, wood chips, pine needles, and grapefruit combine for a mouth-watering nose. The taste starts out with those sour grapes and vanilla and quickly shows off that wine barrel. Then the hops kick in and flavors of pine and citrus overwhelm your taste buds. The finish is intensely bitter and provides strong flavors of oak, grapefruit pith, and pine needles. This beer was quite the surprise and made me wonder how good it was fresh.
Mike's Rating - 9.25/10
Very Owd Gordo Pappy Van Winkle-Aged Old Ale
ABV: 11.5%
This one is quite interesting as it takes an English-Style Old Ale and ages it in Old Pappy barrels. I was curious to see what flavors and aromas this could exhibit, as the bourbon could easily overpower the subtle flavors of the Old Ale. The nose was nothing like what I imagined with hints of sour grapes, black cherries, and vanilla. The first taste started out thick and bitter with flavors of grapes, cherries, perfume, and a hint of oak. That oak began to overwhelm in the finish and included flavors of vanilla and dirt. After being excited to see how this would taste, the flavor fell flat...no pun intended.
Mike's Rating - 8.25/10
Snowdog Canadian Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Rye Stout
ABV: 9%
Another complicated beer that could achieve greatness or fall flat...That pun was intended. Too soon? Anyways, I was skeptical going into this one. So far, only one of the three beers had impressed me, though they all remained interesting. The nose on this one starts out with sweet hints of fudge brownies, milk chocolate, white chocolate, and vanilla. I was eager to give this one a taste, and I was not disappointed. Rich flavors of dark chocolate, black cherries, and tootsie rolls make for a nice introduction into this beer. The finish has a bit of bitterness with flavors of roasted coffee and thick dark chocolate. This was a great beer to end on, as it turned out to be the best of the bunch.
Mike's Rating - 9.5/10
Above is a view from the brewery itself. A flight of 4 5 oz. barrel-aged beers set me back a measly $8. A flight of regular beers goes for $5. These prices were very affordable, and they offered a selection of appetizers. However, I had just picked up a fantastic burger from the nearby Big Four Burgers where I partook of a breakfast burger with bacon, fried egg, and dripping with maple glaze. I digress, on with the reviews!
Cowtipper Bourbon Barrel-Aged Milk Stout
ABV: Unknown
I started with the lightest of the barrel-aged beers. I love a well-done milk stout and was excited to see what the bourbon barrel could add to this style. The nose was light with hints of brownies, cream, oak, and cocoa. It was pleasant, and the bourbon didn't overpower the aroma. The taste was light throughout, and started with hints of sweetened cream, chocolate milk, and white chocolate. The body was a little thin, though that isn't entirely uncommon with milk stouts. The finish thinned out even more and gave hints of buttermilk, cocoa powder, and a dash of coffee. The beer wasn't exactly what I wanted, and the bourbon seemed to change some of the flavors in a bad way.
Mike's Rating - 7.75/10
Wine Barrel-Aged Winter Cycle Double IPA
ABV: 10%
The second beer on my list is a DIPA, which most don't see as a style that needs aging. I was skeptical as well. Their Winter Cycle is a big DIPA that combines 6 different hop varieties from 3 different continents combined with juniper berries. They combined this beer with a short aging in a local Easley wine barrel. The aroma is a stellar combination of both. Sour grapes, vanilla, wood chips, pine needles, and grapefruit combine for a mouth-watering nose. The taste starts out with those sour grapes and vanilla and quickly shows off that wine barrel. Then the hops kick in and flavors of pine and citrus overwhelm your taste buds. The finish is intensely bitter and provides strong flavors of oak, grapefruit pith, and pine needles. This beer was quite the surprise and made me wonder how good it was fresh.
Mike's Rating - 9.25/10
Very Owd Gordo Pappy Van Winkle-Aged Old Ale
ABV: 11.5%
This one is quite interesting as it takes an English-Style Old Ale and ages it in Old Pappy barrels. I was curious to see what flavors and aromas this could exhibit, as the bourbon could easily overpower the subtle flavors of the Old Ale. The nose was nothing like what I imagined with hints of sour grapes, black cherries, and vanilla. The first taste started out thick and bitter with flavors of grapes, cherries, perfume, and a hint of oak. That oak began to overwhelm in the finish and included flavors of vanilla and dirt. After being excited to see how this would taste, the flavor fell flat...no pun intended.
Mike's Rating - 8.25/10
Snowdog Canadian Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Rye Stout
ABV: 9%
Another complicated beer that could achieve greatness or fall flat...That pun was intended. Too soon? Anyways, I was skeptical going into this one. So far, only one of the three beers had impressed me, though they all remained interesting. The nose on this one starts out with sweet hints of fudge brownies, milk chocolate, white chocolate, and vanilla. I was eager to give this one a taste, and I was not disappointed. Rich flavors of dark chocolate, black cherries, and tootsie rolls make for a nice introduction into this beer. The finish has a bit of bitterness with flavors of roasted coffee and thick dark chocolate. This was a great beer to end on, as it turned out to be the best of the bunch.
Mike's Rating - 9.5/10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)