The latest offering is a Rye IPA. I didn't enjoy rye beers as recently as a a couple years ago, but they have grown on me, and grown quickly. I have enjoyed more rye beers in the last year than I had in all my years previously. Guess Mom and Dad were right--again--tastes do change.
Review #30
Rocket Dog IPA ABV 6.9%
Laughing Dog Brewery Sandpoint, ID 650 ml poured into pint glass
A - Pours much lighter than other ryes I've had, a golden, honey hue. A snow white head retains surprisingly well, and the lace is very clearly indicated
S - Sweet nose, with spice and lemon. Lots of hops here with a toasty backbone that is much more rye, than malt. Sweet fruits, orange and pineapple on the end. Appears to be super hop-forward, but the balance is certainly there.
T - Immediate smack of full cone hops, lemon and white grape acidity matched by the return of the sweet fruits and now some raw sugar and grassy notes. I almost get a tropical vision. The rye is a supporting actor here, but it is a Rye IPA, so I did expect a bit more. There is a bready quality to counteract all the hop craziness, but it doesn't quite reach a full, level balance.
M - A definite oily feeling, coming from the hop resin. The overall mouth feel is on the high side of light, or low side of medium, depending on your perspective. Light carbonation.
O - This is not a bad beer. Not at all. Something just doesn't quite work though. If you take it in pieces, it seems fine, but all together it lacks cohesiveness. I'd certainly drink it again, my hope is that further production would have a bit more peppery rye to counteract the hops, or reduce the hops a bit; make it more fully a Rye IPA.
Cheers,
Chris
Friday, July 20, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Bock, Bock, Bock...Gone!
Trying to stay in the saddle now that I've got a rhythm going. So, here we again. Another 'trip beer' courtesy of Lace's Cobb travels to Kentucky. Perks of the job I guess. She leaves me for 3-10 days, returns with an appeasement gift of quality brew. The way to a man's heart IS through his liver after after all...
Review #29
Double Smoked Doppelbock ABV 10.2%
Fort Collins Brewery Fort Collins, CO 650 ml bottle poured into tall pilsner
A - The pour is an amber brown, with gorgeous orange edges playing in the light. A small, cream colored head disappears quickly leaving very little bubbled lacing.
S - Initial aroma is ripe fruit with fig, date, and cherry flavors. A warmed molasses, smooth caramel secondary smell lingers after the fruity notes pass. Dark malts, with a certain smoke note, but nowhere near as overwhelming as I feared it might be
T - Darker fruit immediately again, this time with some raisin and plum mixed in. Its a seamless transition from the sweet fruit front end to the smoky secondary presence. The smoke starts faint, and grows with a caramel balance to keep it at bay. The finish is reminiscent of slightly burned bacon, the lingering smell in the air of the grease still cooking. Some maple syrup sweetness just before the finish, which is all smoke, wood, and bacon. Little to no hop, but I wasn't expecting much anyhow.
M - A medium level mouth feel, smoothed out caramel textures
O - While there is no question that I am a 'Hop Head' the lack here does nothing to upset me. There are so many different flavors and complexities created here with mostly malt, that I almost don't even miss the hops. Almost. The 'double smoked' description had me a bit scared, but it is so mellowed by the dark, ripe fruits and sweet toffee, the smoke, though powerful, never gets OVER whelming. A very nice beer, and Lace scores again.
Cheers,
Chris
Review #29
Double Smoked Doppelbock ABV 10.2%
Fort Collins Brewery Fort Collins, CO 650 ml bottle poured into tall pilsner
A - The pour is an amber brown, with gorgeous orange edges playing in the light. A small, cream colored head disappears quickly leaving very little bubbled lacing.
S - Initial aroma is ripe fruit with fig, date, and cherry flavors. A warmed molasses, smooth caramel secondary smell lingers after the fruity notes pass. Dark malts, with a certain smoke note, but nowhere near as overwhelming as I feared it might be
T - Darker fruit immediately again, this time with some raisin and plum mixed in. Its a seamless transition from the sweet fruit front end to the smoky secondary presence. The smoke starts faint, and grows with a caramel balance to keep it at bay. The finish is reminiscent of slightly burned bacon, the lingering smell in the air of the grease still cooking. Some maple syrup sweetness just before the finish, which is all smoke, wood, and bacon. Little to no hop, but I wasn't expecting much anyhow.
M - A medium level mouth feel, smoothed out caramel textures
O - While there is no question that I am a 'Hop Head' the lack here does nothing to upset me. There are so many different flavors and complexities created here with mostly malt, that I almost don't even miss the hops. Almost. The 'double smoked' description had me a bit scared, but it is so mellowed by the dark, ripe fruits and sweet toffee, the smoke, though powerful, never gets OVER whelming. A very nice beer, and Lace scores again.
Cheers,
Chris
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Better with Pepper
I decided to back up the fresh made salsa tonight, made with home grown jalapenos, with a complimentary, peppery beer. I chose the beer Gypsy's Chipotle Porter, also known as 'Texas Ranger.' Perfect.
Review #28
Mikkeller Chipotle Porter aka Texas Ranger ABV 6.6%
Mikkeller Gypsy/Phantom brewers 22 oz brown bottle poured into a Guinness Imperial Pint glass
A - A midnight black pour with a good half glass of tan head. Nice retention, with wonderful lacing in multiple lines. A beautiful, lace-like image is left on the glass from the gorgeous evaporating bubbles.
S - A mild smoke aroma amidst the dark chocolate and coffee bean. A wispy aroma of dark cocoa, baker's chocolate, earthy wood smells all intermingle in the second wave. The peaty aroma clings to the back of the palate with just a touch of pepper. Not near as much as I would have expected. A very nice, complex intermingling.
T - Initial tastes of roasted malts, wood charring and dark toasted bread give way to a smooth, mellowed chocolate flavor. The earthiness is strong again here, with a reminder of 'forest after rain' smell; wet leaves. The finish starts off thin, but the pepper builds, clings to the throat, finally showing off its namesake. No alcohol heat, a little lacking there. A burnt coffee finish clears out the pepper at the very last. Makes me want to brew a pot...or have a doughnut. Or both.
M - With as much as there is going on with the aroma and taste, the mouth feel is definitely on the thin side. Not awful, but easily the weakest segment of this brew.
O - This is a really, really nice beer. Lots of complex hints of flavors not readily noticeable in the aroma and vice versa. These crazy Danes know what they are doing, and they have a great plan of using everyone else's breweries to do it. While every Mikkeller beer isn't a hit, they will certainly never be accused of being boring or not thinking outside the box. Their willingness to try new things, new flavors is to be commended, and I will continually try their offerings on that basis alone.
Cheers,
Chris
Review #28
Mikkeller Chipotle Porter aka Texas Ranger ABV 6.6%
Mikkeller Gypsy/Phantom brewers 22 oz brown bottle poured into a Guinness Imperial Pint glass
A - A midnight black pour with a good half glass of tan head. Nice retention, with wonderful lacing in multiple lines. A beautiful, lace-like image is left on the glass from the gorgeous evaporating bubbles.
S - A mild smoke aroma amidst the dark chocolate and coffee bean. A wispy aroma of dark cocoa, baker's chocolate, earthy wood smells all intermingle in the second wave. The peaty aroma clings to the back of the palate with just a touch of pepper. Not near as much as I would have expected. A very nice, complex intermingling.
T - Initial tastes of roasted malts, wood charring and dark toasted bread give way to a smooth, mellowed chocolate flavor. The earthiness is strong again here, with a reminder of 'forest after rain' smell; wet leaves. The finish starts off thin, but the pepper builds, clings to the throat, finally showing off its namesake. No alcohol heat, a little lacking there. A burnt coffee finish clears out the pepper at the very last. Makes me want to brew a pot...or have a doughnut. Or both.
M - With as much as there is going on with the aroma and taste, the mouth feel is definitely on the thin side. Not awful, but easily the weakest segment of this brew.
O - This is a really, really nice beer. Lots of complex hints of flavors not readily noticeable in the aroma and vice versa. These crazy Danes know what they are doing, and they have a great plan of using everyone else's breweries to do it. While every Mikkeller beer isn't a hit, they will certainly never be accused of being boring or not thinking outside the box. Their willingness to try new things, new flavors is to be commended, and I will continually try their offerings on that basis alone.
Cheers,
Chris
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
For the Love
I haven't done this in awhile now. I have to admit, I got discouraged. I wasn't seeing page views, and I let it get to me. You know what though? Who cares. I am doing this for myself ultimately. I want you to read it; to like it, but in the end, I just like writing. So here we go again. Also, this brew was so unique, I couldn't NOT write about it. Thanks to Alex Roberts for the gift!
Beer review #27
Boulevard Love Child No.2 American Wild Ale ABV 9.6%
Boulevard Brewing Company Kansas City, MO 22 oz Bomber poured into a Maredsous Tulip
A - A deep amber pour with a slight haziness. A thin beige head with small bubbles and little lacing give this a less than perfect appearance when poured, but that is also part of the style. No points for or against it then I suppose.
N - Vinegar acidity hits the nose first, with cherries, raspberries and some woodiness. Lemon comes in on the back end, playing up the tartness further. There is a battle going on here just in the aroma for dominance between sweet/sour. Smells like a Kriek, a sour, a red wine that has, JUST gone bad. Its very interesting and not at all unpleasant. As it warms, more of the Belgian pronounced 'funk' comes in along with a heavier wood flavor, and bourbon. The aging is definitely more noticeable after it has relaxed.
T - Wow. A lemon tart, acid explosion gets run over by a rush of ripened fruit. Orange, berries, apples--even an apple cider twang. The finish is long with feelings of crusty bread, and the bourbon holds the final note. The Brett is strong throughout, and for those not used to this, it may feel like this beer has gone bad at first. Slow down, let it coat your palate, warm up. The oak, bourbon heat is a stronger presence than I imagined from the aroma, but it is mellowed by all the other flavors at play. A real three circus of flavor.
M - Very thick, and very strong. For beginner sour drinkers, I would suggest something a bit lower on the pucker scale, and work your way up.
O - This is not a beer I could've drank 10 years ago. Maybe not 5 years ago. And even though I enjoy it occasionally now, its not a style I could have even once a week. It is definitely not for the faint of heart, but for those beer aficionados out there, Boulevard really cranks out some interesting, top-notch stuff with their Smokestack series. There are just so many levels of flavor and aroma here, that if you can get past the vinegar, acid, tartness levels initially, you will find yourself enjoying a truly one-of-a-kind beer. One of the more unique beers I have had in a very long time, thanks again Alex!
Cheers,
Chris
Beer review #27
Boulevard Love Child No.2 American Wild Ale ABV 9.6%
Boulevard Brewing Company Kansas City, MO 22 oz Bomber poured into a Maredsous Tulip
A - A deep amber pour with a slight haziness. A thin beige head with small bubbles and little lacing give this a less than perfect appearance when poured, but that is also part of the style. No points for or against it then I suppose.
N - Vinegar acidity hits the nose first, with cherries, raspberries and some woodiness. Lemon comes in on the back end, playing up the tartness further. There is a battle going on here just in the aroma for dominance between sweet/sour. Smells like a Kriek, a sour, a red wine that has, JUST gone bad. Its very interesting and not at all unpleasant. As it warms, more of the Belgian pronounced 'funk' comes in along with a heavier wood flavor, and bourbon. The aging is definitely more noticeable after it has relaxed.
T - Wow. A lemon tart, acid explosion gets run over by a rush of ripened fruit. Orange, berries, apples--even an apple cider twang. The finish is long with feelings of crusty bread, and the bourbon holds the final note. The Brett is strong throughout, and for those not used to this, it may feel like this beer has gone bad at first. Slow down, let it coat your palate, warm up. The oak, bourbon heat is a stronger presence than I imagined from the aroma, but it is mellowed by all the other flavors at play. A real three circus of flavor.
M - Very thick, and very strong. For beginner sour drinkers, I would suggest something a bit lower on the pucker scale, and work your way up.
O - This is not a beer I could've drank 10 years ago. Maybe not 5 years ago. And even though I enjoy it occasionally now, its not a style I could have even once a week. It is definitely not for the faint of heart, but for those beer aficionados out there, Boulevard really cranks out some interesting, top-notch stuff with their Smokestack series. There are just so many levels of flavor and aroma here, that if you can get past the vinegar, acid, tartness levels initially, you will find yourself enjoying a truly one-of-a-kind beer. One of the more unique beers I have had in a very long time, thanks again Alex!
Cheers,
Chris
Friday, May 18, 2012
Not so Funny
I write this blog fairly sadly this evening. I don't like not liking beer. I really like to like it. I want to be able to say good things about all the stuff I drink. I want to. This one was tough.
Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet Black IPA ABV: 7%
Clown Shoes Beer Ipswich, MA 22 oz brown bottle with nice artwork poured into tall pilsner
A - Even with the standard slow pour, this beer was way to happy to get out of the bottle. I fought an hour to get it fully poured, mostly staring at a glass of thick, chunky bubbles. Since the frothy head lingered so long, its really tough to tell if the strong lacing properties are from quality or just a result of holding the foam so long.
S - Roast, charcoal, smoke, malt. I am getting no hop aroma whatsoever.
T -Very, very bitter. Roasted notes with some charcoal and smoke kicking in. Way more BLACK than IPA as the hops hide in the background till the very last, coming through piney and bitter on the rear of the palate, leaving a long, dry finish of BBQ coals
M - Definitely on the carbonated side of right for my two cents. The rich coating flavors do work hard against that however.
O - This is a bit of a letdown after the 94 rating on BA. Although looking through those ratings, it does seem split between people like me, and people who loved it. I hope I just got a bad bottle, especially since I have another sitting in the cellar. There was just too much that was off in this bottle. There seem to be lots of good building blocks in place, they just never really get built upon. Its almost as if this beer was caught between a porter and an ale, and they decided to call it a Black IPA. I need more balance, more hops to sign off on this one. If the other bottle is good, I will certainly amend this review.
Cheers
Chris
Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet Black IPA ABV: 7%
Clown Shoes Beer Ipswich, MA 22 oz brown bottle with nice artwork poured into tall pilsner
A - Even with the standard slow pour, this beer was way to happy to get out of the bottle. I fought an hour to get it fully poured, mostly staring at a glass of thick, chunky bubbles. Since the frothy head lingered so long, its really tough to tell if the strong lacing properties are from quality or just a result of holding the foam so long.
S - Roast, charcoal, smoke, malt. I am getting no hop aroma whatsoever.
T -Very, very bitter. Roasted notes with some charcoal and smoke kicking in. Way more BLACK than IPA as the hops hide in the background till the very last, coming through piney and bitter on the rear of the palate, leaving a long, dry finish of BBQ coals
M - Definitely on the carbonated side of right for my two cents. The rich coating flavors do work hard against that however.
O - This is a bit of a letdown after the 94 rating on BA. Although looking through those ratings, it does seem split between people like me, and people who loved it. I hope I just got a bad bottle, especially since I have another sitting in the cellar. There was just too much that was off in this bottle. There seem to be lots of good building blocks in place, they just never really get built upon. Its almost as if this beer was caught between a porter and an ale, and they decided to call it a Black IPA. I need more balance, more hops to sign off on this one. If the other bottle is good, I will certainly amend this review.
Cheers
Chris
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Aye Aye Captain!
Ok this post is gonna be different. Different because I am going to review multiple beers (that isn't different) and a brewery all together. Skip the typical format, give overall impression, and let people up north know what they are or might be missing.
Last week, I went up to New York to help celebrate my sister's 30th birthday. We were in Elmsford, near White Plains, and I took the opportunity to try some new and local beers. In doing some research, I found that the Captain Lawrence Brewing Company had their brewery about 2 miles form where we staying. It seemed perfect. Little did I know, I was underestimating just how perfect it would be.
Brewery #1, beers #21-26
Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Elmsford, NY
A small brewery, tucked behind an industrial park, this place was a Beer Advocate aided find. Quite literally, you'd have to be going there to know it was there, and even then you might miss it. It is through the gates, around the back, with only a vinyl sign attached to the fence to announce its presence. Thanks to Google maps, and the iPad for your assistance. A large wooden barrel is in the parking lot, but you need to go further around, because the entrance is up against the back fence. Felt almost like being in on a secret, like a speakeasy, getting in. Just a main room, two restrooms, and a couple high top tables, with a bar to the left, and the brewery behind some glass doors in front of you as you enter. Not a lot to take in. We made our way to the bar.
As my dad and I got to the bar, we were greeted immediately by a friendly staff, who explained straight away that to sample you had to shell out a whopping $2 each for 3 oz souvenir glasses. $2?? Really?? Come on, man, I'm thinking. What's that you say barman? Oh, that's it, no more than that? My bad, this is a little better. And I what? I get two 3 oz samples of each draft at no additional cost? SOLD! With six drafts to choose from, the math is 36 oz for those math challenged. That is 3 full beers for just two bucks. Best deal going, and if you bring your glasses back, no more purchase necessary, just tips. Outstanding! They also have a variety of cheeses and meats to choose from, served up on a slate board, from a local butcher/deli. This costs extra, but at that point, I was euphoric anyway. Lets dive in!
First choice was the Family Meal, described as a 4 spiced pumpkin ale. I was a bit leery, considering I don't much care for pumpkin beers, but it was a lower ABV, so I started there. A brilliant, shining golden ale appeared in miniature before my eyes, and I immediately thought that this was no fall ale. It looked crisper, brighter, and no pumpkin aroma was discernible. Lots of spice, however, with clove and cinnamon hitting the right notes, and the right amount of carbonation to balance the light hops and faint yeastiness. It was like Thanksgiving on the tongue, with familiar tastes, and a refreshing finish; it was everything but pumpkin to me, but that made it more pumpkin. Like a donut, where all the other flavors of pumpkin pie are there, except the pumpkin filling. It was delicious, but I helped myself to my second serving just to be sure. Yep, I was right, very nice indeed.
Next up, we moved to the aptly named 'Brown Ale.' Honestly, there just isn't much for me to say here. Its not my favorite style, and this wasn't memorable. It was textbook brown ale, with the nuttiness, and malt character you'd expect. It was a little thin tasting, and there were some hop notes, but again, as most browns go...this one went. As did the second 3 ouncer...
Captain's Kolsch next. Cold, wet, good palate cleanser. Not my thing, I moved along. Not even seconds here, I tasted it simply to taste, but felt no need to linger, so I moved on to...
Liquid gold. Now, here is one i was looking forward to. A Belgian pale, well rated, pretty popular, and on the edge of my favorite style. Some excitement. And a let down. Too much 'funk' here. I like the Belgian beers for that yeasty, farmhouse, grassy aroma, flavor, finish, but I was left wanting here. The notes were there, but too overpoweringly so. There was little balance. It clung to all parts of my mouth, and down the throat. It just seemed off. So I asked the barman if this was the intention. He had a sip and admitted it seemed a bit different. He tried the other line it was assigned to, declared that one proper, and served me that. No use. I had been tainted. I could taste nothing else at that moment, and the faint notes in the good glass, stood out strong in my flavor memory. Sad times. I look forward to trying again at some point in the future.
Some food would be nice. And was it! Strong & mild cheeses, prosciutto, salami, gherkins, olives. Salt and protein. Mmm. Very lovely indeed.
Now, I saved these last two for last, because, well, I wanted to. They are more along my preferred types, and I wanted a strong, hoppy finish. But before we could get started towards the pale ales, tragedy struck. With a swift swipe, the bartender drew a line on the chalkboard through the Xtra Gold, the Tripel, the coup de grace. I was aghast. How could this be? Maybe if I'd started there, things would be ok, but no going back. I needed to drown my sorrows, three ounces at a time.
Freshchester, or Captain Lawrence Pale Ale was next in line, and I was very pleased. I'd seen this throughout town, but had refrained, wanting to try it direct from the source. I'm glad I did, but I'd soon wish that I'd indulged sooner. A bright, crisp pale ale with a more malty nose than expected, and some decent head retention and lacing. The hops are piney and noticeable, but a definite East Coast rendering, with the fruitiness down played. It reminds me of a generously buttered chunk of rough bread, the creamy butter fighting hard against the yeast and holding its own. Pine dances here and there, and a light finish complete a well constructed beer. My six ounces would have to be enough on this day, but dangit, opportunities--see, 'pints'--missed by passing this up previously. Not quite a session beer at 5.6% ABV, but it has that all day drinkability to it for sure.
As dad and I were settling up, sad that we'd been robbed of our final choice, the people in line next to us were doing a growler fill. They too were disheartened at the news of no Xtra Gold. But this keen-eyed gentleman noticed two bombers sitting in the display behind the counter, not on the 'for sale' aka empty shelf, but with the shirts and hats and coolers and such. He asked the bartender if he could have those, got a yes, and before I knew what happened, I blurted, 'I'll take one of them from you!!' Um. Rude. 'I mean, if that's ok with you.' Better. But not by much. 'Man.' There, that should do it. And to my beer geek happiness, he smiled and said, 'sure, why not.' VICTORY! I almost hugged him. Feeling that might have been too much, I simply nodded and offered profuse happiness. Dad and I had a hotel beer!
After a nap, while prepping for my sister's surprise party--that's how this all started you remember--we enjoyed this 10% ABV beast. It was happy to see us too, carbonation abounded. Froth upon froth poured out and I feared we had shaken or disturbed it. It finally settled, and the aromas of pear and apple and orange and lemon hit me. Like a fruit basket buoyed by yeast, with faint caramel, toasty malt. The funk is present, its here, but in much greater balance than the previous BPA. Its a lovely dance, each ingredient playing its part, knowing its steps. A little thin on the mouthfeel, and the carbonation gave it almost a champagne quality that I didn't expect, but also didn't completely hate, but I'm nit-picking. I really enjoyed this, and it was a great close to a great day, with an above average run of beers.
Well, if you've made it all the way through this rambling narrative, and you haven't discovered that CL is the best $2 money can buy, I suggest Econ for Dummies, widely available everywhere. Staff, and beer, and food were way above par; facilities on par, though a bit small. And a friendly group of craftbeer people, in Elmsford, NY, who are definitely in on the secret. And they know it, the smiles above their 3 oz mini-pints prove it. If you're anywhere near, please don't miss out. Thank you for a great day Captain Lawrence staff!
Cheers,
Chris
Last week, I went up to New York to help celebrate my sister's 30th birthday. We were in Elmsford, near White Plains, and I took the opportunity to try some new and local beers. In doing some research, I found that the Captain Lawrence Brewing Company had their brewery about 2 miles form where we staying. It seemed perfect. Little did I know, I was underestimating just how perfect it would be.
Brewery #1, beers #21-26
Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Elmsford, NY
A small brewery, tucked behind an industrial park, this place was a Beer Advocate aided find. Quite literally, you'd have to be going there to know it was there, and even then you might miss it. It is through the gates, around the back, with only a vinyl sign attached to the fence to announce its presence. Thanks to Google maps, and the iPad for your assistance. A large wooden barrel is in the parking lot, but you need to go further around, because the entrance is up against the back fence. Felt almost like being in on a secret, like a speakeasy, getting in. Just a main room, two restrooms, and a couple high top tables, with a bar to the left, and the brewery behind some glass doors in front of you as you enter. Not a lot to take in. We made our way to the bar.
As my dad and I got to the bar, we were greeted immediately by a friendly staff, who explained straight away that to sample you had to shell out a whopping $2 each for 3 oz souvenir glasses. $2?? Really?? Come on, man, I'm thinking. What's that you say barman? Oh, that's it, no more than that? My bad, this is a little better. And I what? I get two 3 oz samples of each draft at no additional cost? SOLD! With six drafts to choose from, the math is 36 oz for those math challenged. That is 3 full beers for just two bucks. Best deal going, and if you bring your glasses back, no more purchase necessary, just tips. Outstanding! They also have a variety of cheeses and meats to choose from, served up on a slate board, from a local butcher/deli. This costs extra, but at that point, I was euphoric anyway. Lets dive in!
First choice was the Family Meal, described as a 4 spiced pumpkin ale. I was a bit leery, considering I don't much care for pumpkin beers, but it was a lower ABV, so I started there. A brilliant, shining golden ale appeared in miniature before my eyes, and I immediately thought that this was no fall ale. It looked crisper, brighter, and no pumpkin aroma was discernible. Lots of spice, however, with clove and cinnamon hitting the right notes, and the right amount of carbonation to balance the light hops and faint yeastiness. It was like Thanksgiving on the tongue, with familiar tastes, and a refreshing finish; it was everything but pumpkin to me, but that made it more pumpkin. Like a donut, where all the other flavors of pumpkin pie are there, except the pumpkin filling. It was delicious, but I helped myself to my second serving just to be sure. Yep, I was right, very nice indeed.
Next up, we moved to the aptly named 'Brown Ale.' Honestly, there just isn't much for me to say here. Its not my favorite style, and this wasn't memorable. It was textbook brown ale, with the nuttiness, and malt character you'd expect. It was a little thin tasting, and there were some hop notes, but again, as most browns go...this one went. As did the second 3 ouncer...
Captain's Kolsch next. Cold, wet, good palate cleanser. Not my thing, I moved along. Not even seconds here, I tasted it simply to taste, but felt no need to linger, so I moved on to...
Liquid gold. Now, here is one i was looking forward to. A Belgian pale, well rated, pretty popular, and on the edge of my favorite style. Some excitement. And a let down. Too much 'funk' here. I like the Belgian beers for that yeasty, farmhouse, grassy aroma, flavor, finish, but I was left wanting here. The notes were there, but too overpoweringly so. There was little balance. It clung to all parts of my mouth, and down the throat. It just seemed off. So I asked the barman if this was the intention. He had a sip and admitted it seemed a bit different. He tried the other line it was assigned to, declared that one proper, and served me that. No use. I had been tainted. I could taste nothing else at that moment, and the faint notes in the good glass, stood out strong in my flavor memory. Sad times. I look forward to trying again at some point in the future.
Some food would be nice. And was it! Strong & mild cheeses, prosciutto, salami, gherkins, olives. Salt and protein. Mmm. Very lovely indeed.
Now, I saved these last two for last, because, well, I wanted to. They are more along my preferred types, and I wanted a strong, hoppy finish. But before we could get started towards the pale ales, tragedy struck. With a swift swipe, the bartender drew a line on the chalkboard through the Xtra Gold, the Tripel, the coup de grace. I was aghast. How could this be? Maybe if I'd started there, things would be ok, but no going back. I needed to drown my sorrows, three ounces at a time.
Freshchester, or Captain Lawrence Pale Ale was next in line, and I was very pleased. I'd seen this throughout town, but had refrained, wanting to try it direct from the source. I'm glad I did, but I'd soon wish that I'd indulged sooner. A bright, crisp pale ale with a more malty nose than expected, and some decent head retention and lacing. The hops are piney and noticeable, but a definite East Coast rendering, with the fruitiness down played. It reminds me of a generously buttered chunk of rough bread, the creamy butter fighting hard against the yeast and holding its own. Pine dances here and there, and a light finish complete a well constructed beer. My six ounces would have to be enough on this day, but dangit, opportunities--see, 'pints'--missed by passing this up previously. Not quite a session beer at 5.6% ABV, but it has that all day drinkability to it for sure.
As dad and I were settling up, sad that we'd been robbed of our final choice, the people in line next to us were doing a growler fill. They too were disheartened at the news of no Xtra Gold. But this keen-eyed gentleman noticed two bombers sitting in the display behind the counter, not on the 'for sale' aka empty shelf, but with the shirts and hats and coolers and such. He asked the bartender if he could have those, got a yes, and before I knew what happened, I blurted, 'I'll take one of them from you!!' Um. Rude. 'I mean, if that's ok with you.' Better. But not by much. 'Man.' There, that should do it. And to my beer geek happiness, he smiled and said, 'sure, why not.' VICTORY! I almost hugged him. Feeling that might have been too much, I simply nodded and offered profuse happiness. Dad and I had a hotel beer!
After a nap, while prepping for my sister's surprise party--that's how this all started you remember--we enjoyed this 10% ABV beast. It was happy to see us too, carbonation abounded. Froth upon froth poured out and I feared we had shaken or disturbed it. It finally settled, and the aromas of pear and apple and orange and lemon hit me. Like a fruit basket buoyed by yeast, with faint caramel, toasty malt. The funk is present, its here, but in much greater balance than the previous BPA. Its a lovely dance, each ingredient playing its part, knowing its steps. A little thin on the mouthfeel, and the carbonation gave it almost a champagne quality that I didn't expect, but also didn't completely hate, but I'm nit-picking. I really enjoyed this, and it was a great close to a great day, with an above average run of beers.
Well, if you've made it all the way through this rambling narrative, and you haven't discovered that CL is the best $2 money can buy, I suggest Econ for Dummies, widely available everywhere. Staff, and beer, and food were way above par; facilities on par, though a bit small. And a friendly group of craftbeer people, in Elmsford, NY, who are definitely in on the secret. And they know it, the smiles above their 3 oz mini-pints prove it. If you're anywhere near, please don't miss out. Thank you for a great day Captain Lawrence staff!
Cheers,
Chris
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Across the Bow!
Review #20
Torpedo Extra IPA ABV 7.2%
Sierra Nevada Chico, CA 12 oz poured into tulip
A: Bright copper colored pour with a fluffy, generous head; about 2 fingers worth. Great lacing, with tremendous head retention
N: Expected citrus and pine IPA aromas, but with plenty of depth to spare. Levels of floral hops layered with bready caramel. Grapefruit the most prevalent of the citrus, with hints of lemon
T: Bitter hops with a lovely malt balance, the slight toast on the malts keeping the powerful piney and citrus hope beast at bay. A long deliciously bitter finish, excites the palate with the tang of orange zest and snippets of lemongrass. The whole cone hops are definite champs here.
M: Crisp and refreshing with enough carbonation to balance the hop oils and not be to sudsy.
O: A tremendous, steroid-infused IPA. A beginning hop-head dream, with every note played perfect in the IPA symphony. Completely textbook, and yet never boring. A real go-to for me, and has been for years. Sierra Nevada really is a great example of what a craft beer company can be long-term. Mature, develop, branch out...don't lose your roots.
Cheers,
Chris
Torpedo Extra IPA ABV 7.2%
Sierra Nevada Chico, CA 12 oz poured into tulip
A: Bright copper colored pour with a fluffy, generous head; about 2 fingers worth. Great lacing, with tremendous head retention
N: Expected citrus and pine IPA aromas, but with plenty of depth to spare. Levels of floral hops layered with bready caramel. Grapefruit the most prevalent of the citrus, with hints of lemon
T: Bitter hops with a lovely malt balance, the slight toast on the malts keeping the powerful piney and citrus hope beast at bay. A long deliciously bitter finish, excites the palate with the tang of orange zest and snippets of lemongrass. The whole cone hops are definite champs here.
M: Crisp and refreshing with enough carbonation to balance the hop oils and not be to sudsy.
O: A tremendous, steroid-infused IPA. A beginning hop-head dream, with every note played perfect in the IPA symphony. Completely textbook, and yet never boring. A real go-to for me, and has been for years. Sierra Nevada really is a great example of what a craft beer company can be long-term. Mature, develop, branch out...don't lose your roots.
Cheers,
Chris
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