Beer Log: Sept. 17 - 30, 2012

Sept. 17: Today’s Beer: Alameda’s: American Rye: So, today is Constitution Day. September 17. A little celebrated moment, except for public educational institutions, which must celebrate in order to receive federal funding. So, as a good Historian, I am part of the celebration. To honor the day, I chose the most patriotic looking beer in the ‘ol beer fridge. This one not only has the name “American” in it, it also has a picture of Washington crossing the Delaware, so it even is somewhat contemporary (and, after all, Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention). The beer itself is a beautiful honey gold with a thick frothy head. It has a friendly earthy aroma that hints at the type of bitter hops it must have. It has a sharp citrus, earthy bitter, like a good pale ale would, but it also has the distinctive rye character. In some ways it is similar to Devil’s Canyon’s California Sunshine, but less sweet, and more savory. The deep bitter lingers in the aftertaste, but with a persistent reminder of the citrus. Very nice offering from Alameda. Only 5.5% ABV.

Sept. 18: Today’s Beer: Drake’s: Aroma Coma IPA: This is Drake’s seasonal IPA for summer. The description is of 2-row barley malt with some Caramalt brewed with Cascade, Chinook, CTZ and Citra hops. This beer has a very positive reputation and I know several people who anticipated its release. I had never tried it so am very excited about it. The pour sets up a light orange honey color and thick head that dissipates quickly. The scent is very floral and piney and the taste backs it up. The combination of floral and pine blends to create a wonderful earthy bitter that hovers above the piney taste. Very hoppy, bitter and tasty. 6.75% ABV. 75 IBU

Sept. 20: Today’s Beer: Collaboration between New Belgium and Lost Abbey: Brett Beer: (Collaboration with Lost Abbey: also part of the Lips of Faith Series):  Pale and golden in color with a limited head and cloudy. It has a bright citrus sweetness and pleasant yeastiness. It uses the Brettanomyces yeast, used in sours, but it doesn’t have the sharp, deep sour of many sours. It also uses Sorachi Ace hops to enhance the fruity character. Very tasty and drinkable. 7.5% ABV.

Sept. 23: Today’s Beer: Widmer Brothers: Pitch Black IPA (Part of Series 924): Another entry into the black IPA category to compete with Hop in the Dark, or Back in Black. The pour sets up a very dark beer – darker than a porter, almost as dark as a stout. It has a thick foamy tan head and a sweet and roasted scent. The first sip of foam has a hint of blue cheese that softens and moves toward a toasted flavor. Past the foam there is no blue cheese, which is probably for the best. Further sips don’t make much of a distinct impression. It is a tasty beer, but nothing really stands out at first. There is a friendly sweet lightly toasted flavor with a hint of citrus. The hops accentuate the citrus but aren’t overly present. The aftertaste is probably the most interesting part of the beer. As the sweet and citrus recede, what is left is a pleasant roastyness. Overall  tasty, but not overly distinct.

Sept. 24: Today’s Beer: Stone’s: Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean:  This is very exciting – a new variety of one of my favorite beers, the Stone Smoked Porter. It has a lovely creamy foamy tan head and deep roasty scent. And the taste – heavenly! It hits the mouth with a mildly peppery smokiness that is paired with a subtly sweet vanilla. A friend of mine likes to refer to beer as a “man soda” and this one definitely qualifies. It could be a soft drink. The vanilla blends quite well with the smoky dark maltiness. As it finishes, the vanilla leaves the show and the deep smokiness dominates the aftertaste. Mmmm. 5.9% ABV. Comes only in specialty 12 oz. bottles.

Sept. 24: Second Beer: Stone’s: Smoked Porter with Chipotle Peppers: Another variation on the Smoked Porter. While the Vanilla Bean version builds on the chocolate/coffee flavors of the beer, this one plays with and enhances the smoky elements. Same color, same tan head as the regular porter and the vanilla version. With this one, the smokiness hits the palate first and then redoubles its assault with a deeper smokiness and an aggressive peppery flavor. Very different effect from the Vanilla. Whereas the Vanilla version is a sweet, subtly sweet desert beer, this one packs a powerful, savory sensation akin to chocolates made with peppers. Very tasty, but not so easily inviting as the vanilla. 5.9% ABV. Comes only in specialty 12 oz. bottles.

Sept. 25: Tonight’s Beer: Knee Deep’s: Hoptologist DIPA (Double IPA): Having had one of Knee Deep’s beers and being impressed by it made me much more eager to try other of their varieties. This one is quite good as well.  It has a nice orange-amber color and frothy head. The foam has a bright citrus-pine flavor, almost evocative of a sour pineapple. This is a very very hoppy beer. All hops all the time. But it also does a nice job of balancing the hop influences, opening with citrus and finishing with a deep pine bitter. With all of the hoppiness, it is still a very inviting beer. Surprisingly, sneaky strong at 9%ABV, but it may be the overwhelming hop character at 102 IBU that helps to camouflage it. Rock on Knee Deep!

Sept. 26: Today’s Beer: Mt. Shasta Brewing’s: Jalapeno Weed Ale: Crisp golden yellow color with a very fizzy heat that dissipated very quickly. It has a strong peppery scent. The description of the beer explains how it was brewed with jalapeno peppers and dry hopped with fresh jalapenos as well. The taste is very much like taking a bite out of a jalapeno and then sipping a sweet light ale. There is a lingering burn as well, which is unusual in pepper beers. Most have a hint of heat that disappears quickly; not so here. Definitely only for jalapeno lovers. Others would be most unhappy drinkers.  5.5% ABV.

Sept. 27: Today’s Beer: Rogue’s: Santa’s Private Reserve (2012): Wonderful reddish-brown hue! It has a frothy, creamy head and an inviting sweet citrus aroma. The taste is wonderful as well. It is very subtly sweet with a hint of hop and toasty flavor. Excellent balance of hop and malt. Not quite a brown, but very special. Excellent beer.

Second Beer: Rogue’s: American Amber Ale: Beautiful deep amber color and frothy creamy head. Sweet and nutty flavor with a mildly sour with finish that ends with a mild bitterness. Most of the emphasis is on the malts, as with many of the Rogue offerings. Another tasty offering.

Sept. 29. Tonight’s Beer: Bear Republic’s: Tripel’s Alley: This one I tried on tap at the Hopyard in Pleasanton. It was one they don’t bottle, so I was glad to come across it. It is a light golden color. It has a sharp, piney hoppiness with a pleasant yeastiness. It is based on a Belgian tripel, so one would certainly expect the yeastiness.  There also is a pleasant fruitiness, somewhat like a sour cherry. Distinct, yet subtle.

Sept. 30: Tonight’s Beer: Stone’s: 16 Anniversary IPA: Brewed with lemon verbena and lemon oil. I would have bought it for that description alone. Plus I try to try everything I can from Stone. So, the color is a pretty orange-gold hue. There is a nice thick creamy head and a delightful piney citrusy scent. Tasty tasty lemony foam. The first taste envelopes the entire mouth. There is a sharp, peppery character that is closely followed by citrus. It is a stronger beer at 10% ABV, but the alcohol isn’t dominant. But, it is definitely there. The more sips I take, the more I notice it. But, it still doesn’t distract from the overall flavor. The piney flavor also comes through more distinctly the more sips I take. The bitterness also lingers on the palate long after the sip is gone. The dominant character is definitely hop. The malts are there, to be certain. There is a mild sweetness in the middle of the taste, but it is bookended by the pepper citrus of the opening and the pine bitter of the conclusion. Happy 16^th Stone IPA!