Mar. 1: Today’s Beer Anchor’s Brekle’s Brown: Very tasty
brown. It has a nice dark brown color and a nice sweetness that is more fruity
than most browns, which tend to be a bit more earthy. Almost a hint of peach or
apricot. At first sip, I found this a bit off-putting, but after I settled in,
I began to enjoy the flavor more and more. It may be better after being out of
the refrigerator for a little bit to let some of the maltiness come through.
Nice head that is significantly thick, but dissipates quickly, so it is less
carbonated than I at first expected. Also limited hopping from a single hop,
the Citra, which probably accounts for the fruitiness. I hadn’t tried anything
new from Anchor for a while, but they are the granddaddy of the craft industry.
It’s good to see them keeping up by introducing new varieties.
Mar. 2: Nothing too new today, though I did get to revisit
an old favorite on tap. The sports complex where I play indoor soccer has
recently begun offering Lagunitas’ IPA on tap. It’s about damn time. I love
this beer in general, and am very happy to have access to it from a keg. In
this form there is also a slightly citrus flavor, kind of like grapefruit. So
very, very wonderful.
Mar. 3: Today’s Beer: Mission Street’s Anniversary 2012:
Billed as an Imperial Brown, and described as a blend of 3 other beers. Mission
Street is a Trader Joe’s brand. I’ve heard rumors that it is brewed by
Firestone Walker, and that wouldn’t surprise me. Their IPA is very similar in
character and flavor to the Union Jack. This beer is very tasty and has a bit
of an oaky flavor that is consistent with Firestone. It has limited hops, so
most of the flavor is in the malt. It is sweet and slightly roasted in flavor,
but heavier than a typical brown. Not as smoky as Devil’s Canyon’s Full Boar
Scotch, but similar in its sweetness. Limited carbonation. High in ABV at 8.5%,
and you can get a feel for its strength in the taste. There is also a slightly
fruity element layered in, that is somewhat tart, but also has a hint of the
smooth banana flavor that you get in some hefeweizens. A great buy at $2.99 for
a 22oz. bottle.
Mar. 4: Today’s Beer: A revisit to Deschutes’ Hophenge.
Still deliciously sweet and pleasantly hopped.
Mar. 5. Today’s Beer: Bear Republic’s Ricardo’s Red Rocket
Ale: OK, it is now very soon. Just tried another Bear Republic offering, and
there will be more. The Red Rocket Ale is billed as a take on a Scottish Ale.
My reference point for most Scottish beers is Bellhaven, or Devil’s Canyon.
This is very different from either of those. This is like a Red version of an
IPA. The color is wonderfully deep – beyond amber. The initial scent is
stunningly floral and inviting. The flavor also has a nice bright floral hoppyness,
with a bit of pine and a dry finish. Some sweetness, but mostly a pronounced
bitterness. Decent head, but not too bubbly. While it is bottle conditioned,
there isn’t much of the yeasty flavor generally associated with bottle
conditioned beers. It also is unfiltered, but is still remarkably clear. At
6.8% it has some strength, but won’t knock you over.
Mar. 8: Today’s Beer: Bear Republic’s Hop Rod Rye: With 18%
Rye! Lovely beer. This is very much like a Scottish ale. Sweet, dark, and only
mildly hopped, despite the description on the bottle. Limited head. Very
strong, but smooth. Mild sourness. This may be their best. Well crafted and
tasty. Also pretty darn strong at 8% ABV, but so smooth you won’t notice until
it’s too late
No comments:
Post a Comment