The Beer Tap

The Seventh Beer of Christmas

The next beer in this series takes a serious step away from the higher alcohol and robust flavors of holiday beers to explore a very complex style, Lambic.  Traditionally lambic is produced in open vats with fermentation fueled by wild strains of yeast, bacteria and whatever blows into the wort from Belgium's Senne Valley air.  There are several types of lambic or sour beers available from Belgian, but the 7th beer of this series will focus on a gueuze.  This is a blend of lambic of differing ages, typically some younger product mixed with some more thoroughly fermented and aged product.  And age here is measured in years!  Think a one year mixed with a three year and maybe some other ages mixed in as well.

The flavor and aroma profiles from sour beers is complex and a little bit of an acquired taste.  I am still wading in the shallow end of the pool with this style so there is much for me to learn about identifying flavors and aromas.  I picked up a 375 mL bottle of Hanssens Oude Gueze for this series to get some more experience with this style.  Here is what I found when I uncorked this import:

• Appearance: Dark gold color with a touch of orange; Very little head despite a vigorous pour; Bubbles seem to large for bottle condition; Haze that appears to be chill related as it cleared some as the beer warmed
• Aroma: A combination of sour, citrus, and a musty, earthy aroma; Maybe a touch of hay
• Taste: Immediate sour, lemon and citrus flavors; Touch of sweetness but definitely light; Earthiness
• Mouthfeel: Light and bright; Puckering quality with some acidity
• Finish: Tart and tangy; dry; Long lasting on the palate and the acidity really becomes apparent; Refreshing

Overall I found this to be a very enjoyable beer and perfect for the 75 degree day I tried it on.  The flavors and aromas were complex and often challenged me to put a description on what I was experiencing.  All of this complexity was combined in a refreshing, tangy beer.  Oude Gueze will definitely surprise anyone not familiar with sour beers, but if you would like to step into the pool with me this would be a great way to start.

The Sixth Beer of Christmas

For beers 6 and 7, I decided to explore a couple Belgian imports that are new to me.  Beer number 6 in this series is 't Smisje Plus IPA from Regenboog Brewery in a suburb of Bruges.  I picked this beer up at Whole Foods for two simple reasons: it was a Belgian IPA and it came in the classic 330 mL indestructible bottle (sure there is a special name for it, but my quick Google search did not turn up a name)  I have always enjoyed Chouffe Houblon so I was glad to see another opportunity to try another Belgian version of this beer style.  The bottle itself is just a novelty for me.  Most domestic beers come in a light weight bottle with a pretty standard shape.  The 330 mL import bottle is very heavy, short and stubby.  Just something about this heavy duty bottle that I like.  In trying to research this brewery and beer, I was not able to find very much other than it is a small microbrewery in Belgian that was started by a bee keeper.  The label alludes to this possibly being a Double IPA based on the "Plus" in the name and the 10% alcohol.  Other than that, I went into this tasting relatively blind.  Here is what I discovered once I popped the cap:

• Package:  330 mL bottle
• Appearance: Cloudy; Dark gold/amber color; Thick creamy head; Sediment remains in the bottle hinting that this beer was probably primed and carbonated in the bottle
• Aroma: Mostly typical Belgian aromas with noticeable spice and clove; some candy like sweetness; A touch of alcohol; No hop related aromas which I find a little strange for an IPA
• Taste: Huge upfront hop flavor, then some quick sweetness; A metallic flavor is present and not pleasant
• Mouthfeel: Tight carbonation with medium body; Such high bitterness that it puckers the tongue

Overall this beer disappointed and held none of the charm and wonderful flavors you would find in the Chouffe Houblon.  The Smisje Plus IPA is overly weighted with hop flavor and bitterness and is very much out of balance.  Any spice flavor present in the aroma was completely overwhelmed by the hops as was just about any other flavor that was present.  I was really hoping for a great experience with this beer, but was left disappointed.  I am not sure what this brewer was trying to achieve with this recipe.  Hopefully I can find some more information to learn where things might have gone wrong.  Luckily beer 7 provided much more enjoyment!  More to come on that tomorrow.

The Fifth Beer of Christmas

I am finally getting back to the computer to get beers 5 through 7 up and posted!  Despite all of my time off, I seem to keep filling my days with to do lists and chores.  Since it is New Year's Eve, I decided to carve out some time and dedicate it to recording my thoughts on beer number 5, Hoppin' Frog Frosted Frog Christmas Ale.  This is a spiced seasonal offering made with Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.  When I am homebrewing regularly, I make a recipe called Christmas Pie that uses these same ingredients.  When I read the Hoppin' Frog label, I knew I had to try this beer to see how their interpretation of a spice holiday brew compared.  Plus I have not had any of their beers and I knew it was time to give them a try!

• Package: 22 oz bottle
• Appearance: Dark copper/amber color; Head was course with large bubbles and quick to disappear (may have been an issue with the glass not being beer clean); Slight cloudiness/haze
• Aroma: Cinnamon hit my nose long before I got close to the glass; Honey and brown sugar notes; Cinnamon toast and gingerbread cookies
• Taste: This is liquid gingerbread cookie; Cinnamon is front and center; Nutmeg is very mild; Not very sweet and definitely spice centric
• Mouthfeel: Carbonation a little low; A little thin for my taste in a holiday spice beer
• Finish: Cinnamon hangs on the tongue mildly; No bitterness; No lasting sweetness

Overall, I like what Hoppin Frog has accomplished with the spices and how they intermingle.  The gingerbread cookie connection is spot on and I found it enjoyable.  Based on my spiced holiday brews, I know it can be hard to get the right level of spice flavor with balance.  Any of the three ingredients can overpower a brew and I applaud the brewers of this beer for getting that right.  I would, however, like to have a little more body and creaminess with a touch of caramel sweetness.  I think some minor tweaks in the grain bill would elevate this beer to a higher level.  Just my opinion and one that will not keep me from buying this beer again if they stick to the status quo.

The Fourth Beer of Christmas

For the fourth beer of Christmas, I am returning to a beer that I remember trying for the first time in the winter of 2003.  Or was it 2002 or 2004?  Who knows! I can remember picking up this beer from Spec's when I was living in Houston and more importantly tasting it.  Exact flavor descriptions have not survived in my memory and really only one lasting impression remains: Avery Old Jubilationwas a very unique malt forward beer.  I have had Old Jubilation several times since, but I do not recall ever seriously examining the beer, its ingredients, and the resulting flavor profile.  When I saw it on the shelf at my local Total Wine, I knew it would make a great addition to this series. 

According to Avery's website, Old Jubilation is an English Strong Ale brewed with two-row barley, special roast, black, chocolate, and victory malts.  Special roast and Victory malt are both created by employing specific techniques during the kilning process.  Victory malt imparts a toasty flavor that can sometimes include some nutty flavors while Special Roast adds a strong biscuit flavor that I have even heard described as tangy and sour dough like.  It is the addition of these malts in the brewing process that I am sure leads to the "hint of hazelnuts, and a finish reminiscent of mocha and toffee" flavors described by Avery on their website.  Here are my thoughts:

• Package: 12 ounce bottle
• Appearance: Mahogany color that shows deep ruby when held against the light; slight haze; thin head with creamy texture
• Aroma: Toffee; Bread; Toasty; Some darker sweetness like that from dried fruits such as raisins; Alcohol
• Taste: Dark fruit more towards a date or a fig; Caramel malt flavors; Nutty but not apparent as hazelnut to me; Hops come through in an earthy manner
• Mouthfeel: Well carbonated; medium body; warming from the alcohol is subtle
• Finish: The hop flavors and bitterness continues after swallowing and gives way to a roast flavor that lingers for a while

After a closer examination this Christmas, there is certainly more to Old Jubilation than I remember from my first encounter.  The Bullion hops contribute their fair share and help provide a wonderfully balanced beer that is not so malt forward as to be disgustingly sweet.  The end result is a beer that provides similar flavors and aromas as a barley wine but in a slightly more sessionable form.  At 8% ABV this may be a bit of a stretch, but I was definitely ready to tackle another bottle when I finished this one!  I think I might have to venture back out to the beer store to pick up a 6 pack before this seasonal disappears. 

The Third Beer of Christmas

The third beer of my Christmas vacation is Rip Tide by BrewDog Brewery.  BrewDog is a relatively new brewery in Scotland that I first learned about through a collaboration they did with Stone.  They have now appeared in Florida with their full collection of bottled beers and this is my first opportunity to give them a try.  The cooler weather always gets me in the mood for a stout and a Russian Imperial Stout is always a nice way to unwind.  According to the brewer, Rip Tide is a "contemporary Scottish take on an age old Russian classic style originally brewed for the Tsars. Our interpretation brings together hops from both sides of the Atlantic, amazing flavoured malts and dark sugars."  At 8% ABV this beer is smaller than many of the RIS's being brewed here in the US.  BrewDog also adds muscavado sugar to this brew which is a first for me with this style.  This type of sugar is a natural form of brown sugar made from sugarcane juice and has a noticeable molasses flavor.  With the roasted and coffee flavors typical of stouts this could be a nice addition.

• Package: 660 mL bottle, batch 94 best by 12/12/09
• Appearance: Dark black; little to no foam and appears to be flat (may be low carbonation combined with being too cold from the refrigerator.)
• Aroma: Roasted coffee and chocolate combined with some sweetness
• Taste: Starts with a roasted sweetness with some caramel flavors that fade and give way to a heavier roasted flavor; Alcohol not as forward as normal with this style; Muscavado sugar is hard to pick out on its own as the sweetness I taste could also be from dark caramel malts
• Mouthfeel: Low gentle carbonation level which I am guessing is intended and is to style; Slightly creamy but now as full bodied as I prefer in a RIS
• Finish: Roasted grains and hop bitterness at a pleasant level

Overall this beer was enjoyable even if not to style or to my expectations of a RIS: It certainly was balanced and without any major flaws.  I look forward to trying more beers by BrewDog to get a better handle on the craft scene across the pond.

The Second Beer of Christmas

A little late getting notes up on my second tasting of the vacation.  I am finding plenty of time to taste but the last two days did not provide a lot of time to sit down at the computer and post. That and most of the beers I picked are higher alcohol making it a little more difficult to blog after drinking a large bottle!

The second selection for this series is Weyerbacher Merry Monks, a Belgian-Style Golden Ale at 9.3% ABV.  I thought this might be a holiday offering but discovered that this is actually a year round offering.  I was also surprised to see that the website lists this as an Abbey Tripel and the label says a Golden Ale.  Sounds like there might be some tweaking going on in the presentation of this beer.  Both styles have similarities and actually fall under the same Belgian Strong Alecategory in BJCP guidelines.  As the guidelines point out a Tripel "strongly resembles a Strong Golden Ale but slightly darker and somewhat fuller-bodied. Usually has a more rounded malt flavor but should not be sweet."  As you will see in my notes, I definitely think this beer would be classified as a Tripel by most who taste it.  Here are my thoughts:

• Appearance:  Dark gold with some orange hues; Cloudy and lacks the clarity typical of the style but that may just have been a pour issue as this is a bottle conditioned beer with yeast sediment; Low level of head despite a rigorous pour.  Again not typical of this style. 
• Aroma: Candy sugar with notes of fruit including banana and pear; Some citrus and some mild spiciness
• Taste: Candy sweetness and low levels of fruit; A little too sweet for the style but not over the top; Pepper and spices
• Mouthfeel: Carbonation level is high and appropriate for the style; tight small bubbles compliment the slightly creamy texture.
• Finish: Pepper spice lingers slightly along with some hops bitterness; Gives way to clean dry finish; Nothing over powers

Overall this is an enjoyable beer.  Not the perfect example of the style but I had no problem finishing it.  The mild banana and fruit aromas combined with the sweetness nicely without overpowering and ruining any sense of balance.  The alcohol is well hidden and left me feeling a little merry myself.  I think next time I grab a Merry Monk I think I will have to put it right next to a true Belgian Triple and further explore all of the nuances that make this such a wonderful style of beer.

The First Beer of Christmas

Yesterday I ventured out to my local Total Wine and Whole Foods to gather the 12 beers for this special Christmas series.  Unfortunately everyone else was out as well and the seasonal offerings were picked over with few left to choose from.  I still found plenty of good options as people seemed to overlook the winter warmers, barley wines, imperial stouts, and Belgians.  I think that I ultimately ended up with a nice eclectic selection to review over the break.

The first beer out of the gate is Life & Limb, a collaboration between Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada.  Both breweries turn out some great beers but usually at different ends of the spectrum.  I was immediately intrigued at how this would turn out.  Here is what their website has to say about the beer:

"Life & Limb is a 10% ABV strong, dark beer that defies style characteristics- brewed with pure maple syrup from the Calagione family farm in Massachusetts and estate barley grown on the Grossman 'farm' at the brewery in Chico, CA. The beer is alive with yeast-a blend of both breweries' house strains-bottle conditioned for added complexity and shelf life, and naturally carbonated with birch syrup fresh from Alaska."

This unique combination of ingredients has Sam Calagione written all over it and I definitely expect this beer to follow the off centered mantra of the East Coast brewer.  Enough reading, let's get to tasting this beer. 

• Package: 24 ounce bottle
• Appearance: A dark brown with some ruby and garnet hues; Well filtered without any yeast or cloudiness; A thick creamy head sits about 2 fingers high and lingers for quite a while.
• Aroma: A roasted sweetness hits the nose. Maybe a touch of some coffee and dark sugar sweetness. I also detect some of the alcohol.
• Taste: The beer starts with the sweetness you would expect from the aroma but quickly moves into a complex fight between alcohol and hop bitterness. The first few sips are really a struggle to comprehend. Things seem to improve over time but I am not sure if that is just because I have over powered my senses. I get a medicinal quality out of the beer. Probably not a brewing defect, but more of an interaction between the sweetness, alcohol, and some harsh bitterness.
• Mouthfeel: Creamy with a relatively tight carbonation. Smooth but a little thinner than expected based on the pour and head.
• Finish: The beer finishes with a long lasting hop bitterness. There may also be some grain astringency.  It does not leave me wanting to rush back to another taste.

Overall this beer does not impress me.  It is out of balance and complex to the point of confusion.  I think it needs to be aged to allow the flavors to mellow.  I am sure there are some die hard beer geeks out there who will love this, but I am moving on to something new to try.  If I find another bottle I might get one to cellar for a few months to see where Life & Limb finishes out.  Let's hope the selection for the 2nd Day of Christmas brings more enjoyment!

The 12 Beers of Christmas

I was cooking dinner tonight thinking about how tomorrow is my last day of work until sometime in January.  I started counting the number of days in front of me and realized I have 12 total days away from the every day grind.  With the weather a little chilly outside, I have been craving some bigger, full flavored winter seasonals.  Combine this craving with my basic counting skills and I came up with the idea to drink a different beer everyday from now until we hit January 4th.  Yep...I created a way to feel productive about drinking a fantastic winter/holiday season on each day of my break.  Tomorrow I am off to the beer store to pick out the lucky 12 beers.  I hope to find a mix of past favorites and some new discoveries.  Tune in tomorrow to what I get on the first day of Christmas!

A change in direction

18 months or so since the last post.  Amazing how busy life can get.  During that time I also began to realize that I will never be able to keep up with all of latest news, trends, new releases, etc.  Especially not as well as many of the other blogs out there.  So tonight, I am announcing a slight re-branding and re-launch of this blog.  I have been drinking beer for 15 years now.  And there is still so much about this fantastic beverage that I do not know.  (Granted I have to write off 5 of those years since I was in college, but that is a whole different story.)  All those years of beer drinking and still things I do not know?  Yeah...beer has so many dimensions including those beyond the senses.  Plus there are still breweries I have not visited.  Beers I have not tried.  Tasting skills I have not mastered. 

So tonight I sit here drinking a bomber of Three Floyds Dreadnaught I brought back from Chicago and I am inspired to get back to recording beer through my eyes.  I am re-purposing this blog.  Taking it back to one of the original reasons I started it in fact.  From here on out this is all about my journey through beer.  This is my outlet to capture my thoughts, learnings, impressions, and opinions.  Shared with all of you.  My friends, family, and random internet acquaintances. 

Here's to sharing a few great beers together!

Back in the brew house!

This weekend I will finally get back to home brewing for the first time since June/July of last year.  I am lucky enough to be off Friday and have an extra vacation day that I am taking Monday.  I figured there is no better way to start a long weekend than to brew up one of my best IPA recipes.  I think I will try to blog along the way to share all the mishaps and funny stories.  Learning to brew in a new place always leads to some sort of issue.  Broken hoses, wrong fittings, learning how to elevate 180 degree water...I am pretty sure I will really miss my old house along the way! 

Of course it wouldn't be much of a brew day without having some good beer around to sip on.  Since the kegs have been dry for near forever I will have to venture out to a store.  That should lead to a few more posts...if anyone is still reading!  Plus I have an idea for another post that details one benefit of drinking American lagers for an extended period.  Tune in for all the details!