Sierra Nevada Summerfest ....

Tonight's beer will be Summerfest (Crisp Summer Lager) from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle shows 5% ABV.  The Sierra Nevada web site lists 28 IBUs.

This beer poured with a very thick, off-white head.  The beer color is a paler, bright yellow - very clear.  Good amount of carbonation.  Mild aroma - kind of a generic "beer" aroma with maybe a few grass-like hints.  The taste is mild and very lager.  However, there is some malt and a foamier mouth feel, as well as some bitter (that lingers) which make this stand out from your run-of-the-mill mild lagers.  Fairly thin finish.  Slight aftertaste - just a little hint of bitter beer.  A nice, clean lager but needs a little more "oomph" for my taste.   

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Chico, California

www.sierranevada.com

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA ....

Today I am trying a Sculpin India Pale Ale from Ballast Point Brewing Company.  The 1 pint, 6 ounce bottle shows 7% ABV.  Their web site lists 70 IBUs.

This IPA poured with a medium to thicker, cream colored head.  Beer color is a nice golden shade - more gold than yellow.  The aroma is a sweeter citrus; more orange or sweet grapefruit - not really the bitterness of grapefruit.  With the taste you get some malt, a little citrus/pine, then a slight bitterness builds under your tongue.  The finish is a little dry and slightly bitter.  A little bitter aftertaste.  More mild to medium bodied, but some nice flavor.   

Ballast Point Brewing Company

San Diego, California

www.ballastpoint.com

Alaskan IPA ....

Tonight I am trying a beer from Alaskan Brewing Company, my first from them for the year - their IPA.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 6.2% ABV.  The Alaskan web site lists 55 IBUs.

This IPA poured with a small, bone colored head.  The beer's color is a clear, golden yellow.  Aroma is a lovely mix of citrus - grapefruit, lemon and probably a few more.  There is also a little pine.  The taste doesn't have the citrus and bitter hit that I really expected.  This beer is smooth, kind of mild and malty up front, with the citrus taste building some as you go.  The finish is dry and you get a little bitterness at the end.  Very little aftertaste - just a small amount of bitter.  Not as hoppy as I expected from the aroma, but smooth and refreshing.      

Alaskan Brewing Company

Juneau, Alaska

www.alaskanbeer.com

AGED Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA ....

Continuing the "aged" theme, tonight I am going to sample a 15 month old bottle of 60 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales.  At 6% ABV and 60 IBUs, this doesn't really have a higher alcohol content that most people recommend for aging.

The beer poured with an excessively thick, off white head.  There was fine sediment in the bottom of the bottle.  The beer is cloudy and looks more like an unfiltered wheat beer, so you really can't compare the color to the original.  The aroma is a tamed-down version of the original.  There are hints, but not the stronger scents of hops and citrus in a fresher sample.  There also seems to be an underlying sweeter note that wasn't present in the original.  As to the taste, it doesn't have the "pop" and refreshing quality that I expect from 60 Minute.  Mild citrus; a sweeter note.  It is a lot smoother, but the aging has tamed it down to the point it is a little muddled.  The bitterness has become a little sour.  It's not bad, but I think it could have used a higher alcohol level to benefit from the aging.  Leaves a little bitter/sour aftertaste.  Interesting, but I think I will drink these rather than letting them sit!

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

Milton, Delaware

www.dogfish.com

AGED Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA ....

Tonight I am going to try something different.  I pulled out a 16 month old bottle of 90 Minute Imperial IPA from Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales.  At 9% ABV and 90 IBUs, this beer would seem like a good candidate for aging.  It has been kept in a closed beer case in my pantry, at room temperature, since purchase.

There was a small amount of fine sediment in the bottom of the bottle.  When poured, the head seemed a little more creamy colored than the bone-colored head on the 90 Minute I sampled 2 months ago.  Beer color is a copper, which also might be a little darker.  But it could be the different batches, so who knows?  The aroma has some nice lemon or orange to it, and seems to have a little less citrus sharpness than the fresher beer.  I am also not getting the hints of higher alcohol that were in the other sample.  As far as taste, the strength of the malts and hops seem to have mellowed some.  You can still get some taste of the higher alcohol, but probably not as much.  The bitterness has a little more of a sour note to it, which is something I have noticed in other older beers.  Not getting as much spice.  This is definitely smoother and more mellow - both are good, and I would probably have a hard time saying which is better.

 

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

Milton, Delaware

www.dogfish.com

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock ....

My beer for today is Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock from The Boston Beer Company.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 5.8% ABV.  Their web site shows 11 IBUs.  For this beer, cocoa nibs are actually used in the beer making process.

Today's beer poured with a thin, darker brown head.  The beer color is a very dark brown; almost no light passes through when the glass is held up to a light.  The aroma definitely has a real chocolate note to it, but it is not overwhelming.  I am also getting some fruity sweetness.  Fairly mild bodied.  Malty.  Definite chocolate/cocoa flavors.  A little more mouth feel than most beers.  Although it is not overly sweet, I get some real molasses in the taste as well.  Smooth, light finish.  Surprisingly little aftertaste, as I really expected some lingering cocoa but it wasn't there.

The Boston Beer Company

Boston, Massachusetts 

www.samueladams.com

Rahr Ugly Pug ....

Tonight I am sampling another from the local Rahr & Sons Brewing Company - Ugly Pug (black lager).  Twelve ounce bottle.  Their web site shows 4.5% ABV and 26 IBUs.

Ugly Pug poured with a thick, rich brown head.  The beer color is a dark brown; one that lets through very little light when held up to a light.  The aroma is primarily chocolate, and maybe a little brown sugar.  Mild bodied.  The taste is malty; with some chocolate, roasted malt, maybe a little coffee.  A little sweetness towards the end.  Seems a little thin in the mouth.  Not a bad beer, but a little mild for my taste.
    

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

Fort Worth, Texas

www.rahrbrewing.com

Rahr The Regulator ....

My beer for today is The Regulator (Doppelbock) from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company.  It is one of the limited releases from their "To Thee" series.  One pint, 6 ounce bottle.  It was listed on the Rahr site at it's release at 8.5% ABV.

This beer poured with a medium head that was tan or a little darker.  The beer color is a darker brown, with some red tint showing when you hold it up to the light.  Some light penetrates the glass.  The aroma is nice, with some definite chocolate/cocoa and hints of the higher alcohol.  The taste is more of the same - some chocolate, then the higher alcohol comes in, and a little sweetness.  Softer mouth feel.  Medium bodied.  The aftertaste leaves you with a little bitter and hints of cocoa.  This is not the most complex beer, but it has some good flavor and is one I definitely enjoyed.  

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

Fort Worth, Texas

www.rahrbrewing.com

Shiner Spring Ale ....

Tonight's beer is the Spring Ale (Dortmunder Style) from Shiner Beers.  Twelve ounce bottle.  Internet research shows this beer comes in at 5.5% ABV.

Spring Ale poured with a medium to thick, bone colored head.  The beer is golden in color and very clear.  The aroma has some fruity/floral sweetness, and a little spice and grain.  The taste is fairly mild.  There is some sweetness, and a grainy/grassy taste that almost borders on metallic for me.  Slight bitterness.  Sweeter finish with little aftertaste.  Refreshing, but pretty mild.  

Shiner Beers / Spoetzl Brewery

Shiner, Texas

www.shiner.com

Abbey Monks' Wit ....

Today I am trying Monks' Wit from Abbey Beverage Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  Their web site shows 5.1% ABV and 19 IBUs.

This beer poured with a small to medium, white head.  Beer color is a pale yellow.  A little cloudy with a lot of carbonation/bubbles.  The aroma has some citrus, and is a little yeasty/bready, but not as much as I expected.  A little spice, but the aroma overall is fairly mild.  Mild bodied.  Not as much carbonation as appeared in the glass.  Some sweetness to the taste.  A very mild yeast/bready flavor.  Light spice to the taste as well.  Basically a very mild-mannered wit beer.  Very little aftertaste.  

Abbey Beverage Company

Pecos, New Mexico

www.abbeybeveragecompany.com

Saint Arnold Weedwacker ....

Trying Weedwacker from Saint Arnold Brewing Company tonight.  It is similar to their Lawnmower, but is fermented with a hefeweizen yeast instead of a kolsch yeast.  Twelve ounce bottle.  The Saint Arnold web site shows 4.9% ABV and 15 IBUs.  It is unfiltered.

Weedwacker poured with a thin, almost white head.  The beer color is a pale yellow.  Being unfiltered, there is a lot of sediment floating around in the glass.  Aroma has some wheaty/breadiness, spice and maybe a little citrus.  Fairly light bodied.  Refreshing.  I am getting the same notes in the taste that are in the aroma, but nothing very strong.  Also a little fruit.  Slightly dry finish.  Very little aftertaste.  I think I prefer this version over the Lawnmower.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Houston, Texas

www.saintarnold.com

Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale ....

Another beer from Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales - India Brown Ale.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 7.2% ABV.  The DFH web site shows 50 IBUs.

This beer poured with a thick, rich brown head.  Beer color is a dark reddish brown.  Very little light passes through the glass when held up to the light.  The aroma has coffee, chocolate, some smokiness and brown sugar.  Medium bodied, or a little heavier.  The taste starts off with some chocolate and malts, then transitions to some dark fruit and the higher alcohol.  Finishes with some smokiness on the tongue which lingers for an aftertaste.  Leaves some hints of caramel/brown sugar as well.  Very little bitterness given the IBUs listed on the web site.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

Milton, Delaware

www.dogfish.com

Rahr Texas Red ....

Today I will have a Texas Red (Amber Lager) from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  Their web site shows 4.5% ABV and 25 IBUs.

Texas Red poured with a medium, cream colored head.  The beer color is a dark copper, almost a brown with reddish tints.  Nice aroma - I am getting bread, spice and some caramel.  Mild bodied.  The taste has the same notes as the aroma, just a little milder than I prefer.  Not getting much hops.  A little bitterness in the taste and aftertaste.

 

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

Fort Worth, Texas

www.rahrbrewing.com

Full Sail LTD 04 ....

Tonight's beer will be LTD Recipe Number 04 (Limited Edition Lager) from the Limited Series of Full Sail Brewing Company.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 7% ABV.  The web site lists 45 IBUs.

This beer poured with a small, almost white head.  The beer color is golden yellow, a little more gold than apple juice.  The aroma has some nice spice; bready, a little sweetness.  The taste has a fair amount of sweetness.  There is a little bite from the higher alcohol, but it goes well with the other flavors.  Bready malts.  A little bitter.  The aftertaste leaves you with a little bitterness.  This is definitely an interesting lager.

Full Sail Brewing Company

Hood Rover, Oregon

www.fullsailbrewing.com

Harpoon Rich & Dan's Rye IPA ....

Tonight I will be sampling a Rich & Dan's Rye IPA from Harpoon Brewery.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 6.9% ABV.  Their web site lists 70 IBUs.

Tonight's beer poured with a thick, creamy colored head.  The beer is cloudy, with a golden/orange color - I really wouldn't call this one amber, copper or reddish.  Aroma has some nice citrus; tangy and sweet but not bitter.  Maybe a few floral notes.  Taste is not as hoppy as the aroma suggests - some smooth citrus and pine.  Balanced; the rye seems to soften the citrusy hops.  Some caramel-like sweetness.  Pepper, dry and a little bitter towards the finish.  Slightly bitter aftertaste.  Another tasty IPA!  

Harpoon Brewery

Boston, Massachusetts

www.harpoonbrewery.com

Breckenridge Pandora's Bock ....

Today I am trying Pandora's Bock from Breckenridge Brewery.  Twelve ounce bottle.  Their web site shows 7.5% ABV and 16 IBUs.  It is a seasonal, available January-March.

This beer poured with a small to medium head that was almost tan in color.  Beer color is a bright and clear, darker copper.  Some sweetness to the aroma - caramel and malts.  Mild bodied.  There is some malt, but I'm not really getting the tastes that were hinted at in the aroma.  Some vegetal notes.  A little sweetness and spice.  There is a slight bitterness to the aftertaste.  

Breckenridge Brewery

Denver, Colorado

www.breckbrew.com

Magic Hat Vinyl ....

Tonight's beer will be a Vinyl Lager from Magic Hat Brewing Company (an Amber Lager).  The twelve ounce bottle lists 5.1% ABV.  The Magic Hat web site shows 20 IBUs and that this spring seasonal is available January-March.

Vinyl poured with a medium, almost tan colored head.  The beer color is a reddish copper.  Nice aroma, with toasted malt, chocolate and little caramel sweetness.  Not much sweetness to the taste - toasted malts, hints of cocoa, bready, and a kind of dry bitterness.  Medium bodied.  Very little aftertaste other than a hint of the dry bitterness.

 

Magic Hat Brewing Company

South Burlington, Vermont

www.magichat.net

Flying Dog Woody Creek White ....

Tonight I will have a Woody Creek White from Flying Dog Brewery.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 4.8% ABV and 18 IBUs.  It is described as a Belgian Style Wit Beer, brewed with coriander and orange peel.  This beer is a seasonal for Flying Dog.

Woody Creek White poured with a small to medium head that was almost white in color.  Beer color is a pale yellow; it is cloudy and a lot of sediment is visible.  Aroma is very yeasty with a lot of spice.  The taste is not quite as aggressive as the aroma.  Some pepper and spice, then yeast and wheat.  A tart, dry finish.  Nice mouth feel.  I am not the biggest fan of this type of beer, but this one has a lot of good things going on in the flavor department.

Flying Dog Brewery

Frederick, Maryland

www.flyingdogales.com

Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye ....

Tonight's beer is Ruthless Rye IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 6.6% ABV.  The Sierra Nevada web site shows 55 IBUs and says the beer is a seasonal available early in the year.

Woody Creek White poured with a very thick, bone colored head.  The beer color is a medium copper/amber.  Aroma is fairly mild, with some nice citrus that seems to be more grapefruit than anything else; a little bready.  The bitter grapefruit citrus is prominent in the taste.  There is some malt there that keeps it from being all about the hops.  A little spice.  Leaves you with a little grapefruit-like bitterness as an aftertaste.

  

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Chico, California

www.sierranevada.com

Real Ale Phoenixx Double ESB ....

Tonight I will be drinking a Phoenixx Double ESB from Real Ale Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  It is listed as a winter seasonal, with 7.2% ABV and 50 IBUs.

This beer poured with a very thick, cream colored head.  The beer color is a very nice looking darker copper.  I get a little citrus and some sweet caramel in the aroma.  The taste starts with some smoky roasted malt, segues into some sweetness, then develops into hops that give you some sour bitterness.  Soft mouth feel.  You are left with some bitter and smokiness in the aftertaste.  This beer has a lot going on in the flavor department, and is one of my favorites when it is available.

Real Ale Brewing Company

Blanco, Texas

www.realalebrewing.com

Rahr Bucking Bock ....

Today I am trying another from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company - Bucking Bock.  The twelve ounce bottle describes the beer as a German-Style Spring Bock.  This is one of their seasonals that is available March-April.    The web site lists 7.5% ABV and 45 IBUs.

Bucking Bock poured with a VERY thick, creamy colored head.  The beer color is a darker gold.  The aroma has a lot of notes - bready wheat, some citrus and a little caramel sweetness.  The taste starts with some real malty sweetness.  Then you get some bready wheat followed by a little pepper/spice.  Medium bodied.  Not much aftertaste.  Tasty and interesting.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

Fort Worth, Texas

www.rahrbrewing.com

Deschutes Red Chair ....

Tonight's beer is a Red Chair NWPA (Northwest Pale Ale) from Deschutes Brewery.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 6.2% ABV.  The Deschutes web site shows 60 IBUs.  It is a seasonal, available from January through May.

Red Chair poured with a small to medium, cream colored head.  The beer color is a lighter copper.  Aroma has some nice citrus, which seems to be between orange and grapefruit.  The taste has some definite citrus, but it is smooth and not overpowering.  Nice balancing malts.  Some bitterness kind of sneaks up on the back of your tongue as you sip.  Medium bodied.  Soft mouth feel.  Slight bitter aftertaste.  This beer has a near-perfect balance of citrus, bitter, malt and drinkability - smooth!

Deschutes Brewery

Bend, Oregon

www.deschutesbrewery.com

Mendocino Blue Heron Pale Ale ....

Today I am sampling Blue Heron Pale Ale from Mendocino Brewing Company.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 6.1% ABV.

This beer poured with a thick, bone colored head.  The beer color is a golden yellow, and there is quite a bit of visible carbonation.  The aroma has a floral/fruity sweetness to it.  Mild bodied.  The taste has some grain, malt and a little spice.  I don't get much sweetness in the taste.  The finish is dry and leaves a little bitterness.

Mendocino Brewing Company

Ukiah, California

Saratoga Springs, New York

www.mendobrew.com

Rogue Mocha Porter ....

Tonight's brew will be a Mocha Porter from Rogue Ales.  Twelve ounce bottle.  The Rogue web site lists 54 IBUs.  Other web sites list the ABV at 5.1% and 5.3%.

This beer poured with a very thick, fluffy, rich brown colored head.  Beer color is a dark black/brown that doesn't let any light penetrate when held up to the light in a glass.  The aroma has coffee, some chocolate and a little sweetness.  A little more than medium bodied, but not overly heavy.  Starts with a lot of roasted malts - definite cocoa and coffee.  The taste thins out a little later in the sip, to a slight sweetness.  Leaves a nice little malty aftertaste in the mouth.

Rogue Ales

Newport, Oregon

www.rogue.com

Ballast Point Big Eye IPA ....

And ANOTHER India Pale Ale.  They are really popular right now - and I like them - so it's good for me.  This is the Big Eye India Pale Ale from Ballast Point Brewing Company.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 7% ABV.  Their web site shows IBUs at 75.  Sounds good...

This IPA poured with a very thick, almost tan colored head that REALLY hung around.  The beer color is a beautiful clear amber/copper with a lot of bubbles moving around in the glass.  Aroma has a lot of citrus, which seems very orange-like.  Some pine as well.  The taste hits you with hops - lemon, orange and pine.  Then you get some malt, and then some floral sweetness.  I kind of expected some spice at the end, but instead the floral notes faded to a sourish bitterness that stuck around a little for an aftertaste.  Tasty!

    

Ballast Point Brewing Company

San Diego, California

www.ballastpoint.com