Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Mad Anthony IPA

This 6.5% ABV India Pale Ale is from the Mad Anthony Brewing Company of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The beer pours a dark copper and amber in color. There is a short head of off-white foam. The aroma is hop forward, big and juicy, tangy citrus, strawberry, light passionfruit, and a touch of pine. The taste follows the aromas directly, with some caramel malt peeking through all the hop flavors, a bit of tea and lemon coming through, with a moderately bitter finish. The beer drinks easy for all the flavor, light to medium bodied, with a pleasantly light, but still noticeable carbonation. This is a solid IPA.


Sunday, April 28, 2013

Epic Hop Zombie

"Need...More...Hops..." This 8.5% ABV double India Pale Ale is from the Epic Brewing Company  of Auckland, New Zealand. The hops used are "classified." The beer pours clear, light amber and dark honey golden with orange tints. There is a half-inch head of off-white foam. The aroma is hop forward, big, round and juicy, with citrus, some tropical fruits, apricot, and light pineapple. There is enough caramel malt to hold it all up. The taste follows the aromas, but ramps up the citrus, adds grapefruit, and a touch of pine. The hop fruit flavors are so intense as to seem like a syrup concentrate,  but the body is actually medium. It has a quite bitter finish. It has carbonation just right for the style. This is a nice hop bomb.


Wild Onion Paddy Pale Ale

This 5.6% ABV pale ale uses Cascade hops and is from the Wild Onion Brewing Company of Lake Barrington, Illinois. The beer pours a hazy dark honey and orange in color. It has a short head of off-white foam that dissipates quickly. The aroma is malty and fruity, caramel, orange, plum and muted peach, with some citrus. The taste is equal parts fruit and malt, all in good balance. It ends dry with a moderate to strong bitterness. It is medium bodied, well carbonated, but smooth. The aftertaste is true to the original flavors. This is an English-style pale ale that adds enough hops to veer toward an American style, without losing its malty base.



Flat 12 Bierwerks Walkabout Pale Ale

This 5.3% ABV pale ale featuring Australian Galaxy hops is from the Flat 12 Bierwerks of Indianapolis, Indiana. "Locally created in our neighborhood, locally consumed in yours." 

The beer pours copper and amber in color. It has a short and thin head that is off-white in color. The aroma is hop forward, big and juicy, apricot and citrus, tangy, with ripe melon. The taste is full of the big, round, fruity hops, melon and apricot, citrus, with a touch of tobacco. There is enough malt to hold up all the hops. It ends with a sharp bitterness that manages to settle lightly on the tongue. It is medium to light bodied, easy drinking, but really packed with flavor. This one of those hop forward pale ales that drinks more like a light bodied IPA.



Half Acre Tomten Winter Ale

This 6.7% ABV winter ale is from the Half Acre Beer Company of Chicago, Illinois. The beer pours a deep chestnut, light mahogany brown in color. There is a short head of off-white to light brown foam. The aroma is roasted and toasted malt, a bit of hazelnut, and deep caramel. The taste follows the aromas, roasty, toasty, nutty, caramel, with a quite bitter finish, abruptly halting any sweetness from the ample malt, and instead finishing dry. It is medium bodied and well, but subtly, carbonated. This is one of the finest winter ales you will ever taste.


Figure Eight Brewing Offwidth Double Pale Ale

This double pale ale from the Figure Eight Brewing Company of Valparaiso, Indiana has 7.8% ABV and 100 IBU’s, and is made with a blend of six grains, plus Amarillo, Centennial, and Williamette hops. The beer pours a deep amber brown with a tinge towards garnet. There is a short head of thick light brown foam. The aroma is malty, yet tangy and fruity, orange, caramel and fruit jams. The taste follows the aromas, lots of malt, caramel, tangy fruit, jam, tea with lemon, a touch of tobacco and dates, and a moderately bitter finish.  The malts do much to tame the 100 IBU’s, it is not as bitter as I expected, although the bitterness slowly intensifies as you drink the beer. It is medium bodied and smooth, with a tingle of subtle carbonation.


 

Figure Eight Brewing Where Lizards Dare IPA

This is a 6.0% ABV India Pale Ale from the Figure Eight Brewing Company of Valparaiso, Indiana. It has 84 IBU's and uses Cascade and Centennial hops. The beer pours a dark golden with an orange tint. There is an inch of thick foam, off-white in color. It leaves fairly thick lacing down the glass. The aroma is orange, melon, grassy over light caramel malt. The taste follows the aromas, the malt becomes noticeably roasted and toasted, and there is an intense, astringent grapefruit bitterness. This is refreshing and very drinkable. It combines an English-style IPA with an amped up American hop twist, without going all West Coast style.



Saturday, April 27, 2013

Figure Eight Snake Pro DIPA

This is a 9.0% ABV and 100 IBU double India Pale Ale from the Figure Eight Brewing Company of Valparaiso, Indiana. It uses Nugget and Cascade hops.

The beer pours a dark amber, medium brown in color. There is an inch of thick and bubbly head, the foam an off-white color. The aroma is citrusy, orange, tangy, muted pineapple, over ample caramel malt. The taste follows the aromas directly, with orange and pineapple partially tamed by loads of caramel malt. The finish is refreshingly bitter, adding a grapefruit edge. The alcohol is present, but fully integrated, unobtrusive. This is a big beer, be ready to charm this snake or get bit by its "venomous bite."


Atwater Brewery Conniption Fit

This double India Pale Ale is from the Atwater Brewery of Detroit, Michigan. It is 8.0% ABV and 92 IBU's. The beer pours burnt orange and amber in color, a touch of haze. There is a short head of off-white foam. The aroma is loads of orange over caramel malt, with some apricot jam and roses. The taste follows the aromas, very jammy, lots of caramel malt, with a decidedly bitter finish, a touch of spiciness held down by all the malt, and also notes of dank hop funkiness. This is pretty good, I would love some fresh out of a tap at the brewery.


Rail Splitter IPA

This 7.0% ABV India Pale Ale is from the Triton Brewing Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. It is their flagship beer. The beer pours a deep copper in color. There is a short head of off-white foam. The aroma is hop forward, citrus, orange, a touch of pine, a note of spiciness, and some caramel malt. The taste follows the aromas, lots of citrus and orange, zest, juice, peels, with a dank, hoppy funk note, over caramel malt. It is medium bodied, but drinks easy, especially for 7.0%. It has a moderately to amply bitter finish, giving notes of squeezed grapefruit rind. This is a solid American IPA, and a good choice as their flagship.


Cisco Sankaty Light Lager

Brewed and bottled by Cisco Brewers of Nantucket, Massachusetts, this is their craft take on a lighter lager. It is 3.8% ABV and 126 calories. The Sankaty Head Light is a lighthouse located on Nantucket island. It was first lit in 1850, was automated in 1965, and is still in operation. 

The beer pours a pure golden in color. There is a good head of white foam that doesn't last particularly long. The aroma is pleasantly aromatic, grassy, floral and lightly fruity. The taste follows the aromas directly. This is light, but it is tasty and very pleasant. If you are wanting a light beer, and this is available, it is the one.


Slavutich

Slavutich is a lager from the Slavutich Brewery of the Ukraine. The beer pours a clear yellow and golden in color. There is a tall head of thick white foam that leaves occasional rings of sticky lacing on the glass. The aroma is full of lager funk, straw, old barn, grain, and grassy hops. The taste follows the aromas directly, ending with a dry, grassy bitterness. This is a top-notch example of a European lager, excellent.


Friday, April 26, 2013

Blue Moon Valencia Grove Amber

The Blue Moon Brewing Company is a Molson-Coors brand, based out of Golden, Colorado. This beer is 5.9% ABV and uses Valencia orange peel and has wheat added to the malts. The beer pours a clear and sparkling copper in color. There is a short and thin head of off-white foam. The aroma is caramel malt, roasted, a touch nutty, toasted wheat, with a touch of orange. The taste follows the aromas directly, the malts are at the forefront, and there is a sweet and tangy orange note at the end. It is well, but subtly carbonated, it drinks medium bodied, but with a crispness and a moderately dry finish. This one is a winner, it has a nice roasted maltiness to it.



Meteor Lager

This is a lager from from Brasserie Meteor of Hochfelden, France, part of the Alsace region. They have brewed since 1640 according to the bottle. This is a tiny 8.45 ounce bottle. The beer pours a dark golden and yellow in color. There is a half-inch head of pure white foam that leaves a small amount of sticky lacing down the glass. The aroma has a nice lager "funk", lots of straw, and golden grain. The taste is smooth malted grain, straw, a touch of sweetness, with enough grassy bitterness to counteract it. It is nicely carbonated, not too much, not too little, easy drinking, crisp, yet smooth. This is an excellent example of a European lager, I would drink it any day

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Wild Onion Phat Chance

This is a 5.0% ABV blonde ale from the Wild Onion Brewing Company of Lake Barrington, Illinois. It is described by the brewery as a "porch pounder" with "nice cans." The beer pours a hazy dark honey golden in color. There is a short, but thick head of off-white foam that leaves a medium amount of sticky lacing down the glass. The aroma is bright and fruity over lightly sweet grain. The taste is pleasantly malty in a lighter golden grain way, with a fruity and lightly yeasty tang, followed by a grassy finish that is moderately bitter. It is light bodied, easy drinking, moderately carbonated with a subtle sting. It is easy drinking, yet flavorful, a good session beer.


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Fat Head's Head Hunter IPA

This India Pale Ale from Fat Head's Brewery of Middleburg Heights, Ohio is 7.5% ABV and 87 IBU's. It has won a number of awards.

The beer pours a glowing amber and copper in color. There is a tall half-inch of off-white foam. The aroma is hop forward, tropical fruits, orange, and pine sitting nicely on caramel malt. The taste follows the aromas directly. It is very bitter on the finish and quite dry, adding a strong grapefruit quality. It is medium bodied, with tingling, almost crisp, carbonation. If you like a hop forward, mouth puckering IPA, then this one is for you.




Bluegrass Brewing Company American Pale Ale

The Bluegrass Brewing Company is in Louisville, Kentucky. This is their pale ale which they describe as hoppy and full-bodied.  My bottle isn't the freshest, so I hope it still has some hop notes.

The beer pours a hazy copper and amber. There is a massive thick foamy head that is off-white in color. The aroma is stone fruit and caramel malt, with a yeasty tang. The taste follows the aromas. There is also sun tea with light lemon. The finish is moderately bitter and dry, and it is nicely carbonated. This is good, I would love to try it fresh sometime, I bet it is excellent then.


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Upland Harvest Ale

The Upland Brewing Company is in Bloomington, Indiana. This is a fresh whole-hopped pale ale. I must be getting to it a bit late, as it is not hop harvest season, but let's see how it has held up.

The beer pours orange and amber with a short head off off-white foam. It is slightly hazy. The aroma is very orange, over caramel malt. The taste follows the aromas, lots of orange fruit and caramel malt, with a citrusy tang, and a very bitter finish, adding grapefruit zest. It is nicely carbonated, with a medium body. It is nice as it is, so I would love to try it absolutely fresh sometime.


Flat 12 Bierwerks Half Cycle IPA

This 6.0% ABV India Pale Ale is from the Flat 12 Bierwerks of Indianapolis, Indiana. "Locally created in our neighborhood, locally consumed in yours." This beer is described by the brewery as a marriage of single and double IPA characteristics.

The beer pours a glowing orange golden in color. There is a short head of off-white foam. The aroma is hop forward, lots of orange, citrus, over ripe melon and some pine. A malt base strong enough to hold up the hops is evident. The taste follows the aromas, citrus and orange, mild pine. There is enough malt to keep it all from falling over. The finish is very bitter, adding a grapefruit peel astringency. This is one I would like to try fresh out of the tap at the brewery.


Estaminet

This 5.2% ABV pilsner beer is from the Palm Breweries of Steenhuffel, Belgium. It is made with Saaz hops. "Estaminet" is the French word for a small cafe.

The beer pours a clear golden yellow in color. There is over an inch of white thickly foamy head. The aroma is light, grain, grass, herbal, with a touch of sweetness and fruit. The taste is grain, light straw, a touch of sweetness, with a grassy and lightly bitter finish. It is very crisply carbonated, and gives a pleasant sting. A very pleasant drinker, but not exceptional.


Monday, April 22, 2013

'na biretta chiara

This 4.9% pilsner beer is from the Birradamare of Rome, Italy. It is self described on the bottle as a pilsner, but it is maltier and yeastier than your average pilsner.


The beer pours a dark honey golden with orange tints. It appears a bit hazy. There is an inch of very thick white to off-white foam. The aroma is malty, bready, bread dough, with some yeastiness. The taste follows the aromas, very malty, lots of bread and bread dough, the tang of yeast, very grassy, and quite bitter on the finish. It is crisply carbonated. This has the bitter crispness of a pilsner, the maltiness of an amber Oktoberfest beer, combined with a noticeable yeastiness. There is a lot of flavor packed in this beer.


Taiwan Beer

Taiwan Beer is a 4.5% ABV lager from...wait for it...Taiwan.  It is brewed and bottled by the Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation. It has been brewed since 1919 and in addition to barley and hops is made with local ponlai rice. It is imported by SSC International in South El Monte, California.

The beer pours a light honey golden in color. There is a fizzing head of white foam that rapidly disappears. The aroma is malty, sweet, with a grassy/floral note. The taste follows the aromas, it is surprisingly malty, sweet, with enough grassy hops to keep it from being too sweet. It has a sticky rice with jasmine tea note to it as well. It drinks both fizzy and flat at the same time, strange mouthfeel. I'm not sure I would seek it out again, but it would be a good accompaniment to a spicy stir fry.


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Tsingtao Pure Draft

This 4.8% ABV lager is brewed by the Tsingtao Brewery of Qingdao, China. The beer pours a very pale, sun bleached golden in color. There is a quickly dissipating head of pure white foam. The aroma is grain, straw, funk, with a slight chemical odor in the background. The taste is fairly light, following the aromas with grain, straw and light funk. It is crisply carbonated. Very light, but drinkable, I would have it with a spicy stir fry.



Saturday, April 13, 2013

Urthel Hop-it

This "Superior Hoppy Blond Ale" is from Urthel, with the beers created by Hildegard Van Ostaden in Ruiselede, Flanders, Belgium and brewed in the Netherlands at Konnigshoeven in Tilburg. As the bottle says, "Dutch with a touch of Flemish." This 9.5% bottle conditioned beer was inspired by the hoppy beers tasted by Hildegard when she visited the United States. It uses European Noble hops.

The beer pours just slightly hazy and dark honey golden in color. There is a tall, thick, foamy, bubbly white head. Some light lacing is left on the glass. The aroma is grassy, floral, herbal, tangy, spicy and yeasty. The taste follows the aromas, adding in citrus. It is moderately bitter, with a grassy and floral bitterness. All the hops sit on a bed of honeyed grain. The finish is refreshingly dry, but also spicy. It is finely carbonated, tingling like champagne. This beer is well worth trying.


Cottrell Brewing Mystic Bridge IPA

This is a 6.0% ABV India Pale Ale from the Cottrell Brewing Company of Pawcatuck, Connecticut. The beer pours hazy orange, copper and amber in color. There is three-quarters of an inch of thick off-white foam. Almost  no lacing is left on the glass. The aroma is mild, tangy and tart citrus over caramel malt. The taste is tea with lemon over caramel malt. It finishes very strongly  bitter, adding grapefruit notes. It is puckering and dry. The carbonation is ample and fine and tingles on the tongue.