ESB- Extra Special Bitter

ESB by Redhook Brewery EST. 1981

Beer I am trying tonight is from one of my favorite breweries, the brewery is Redhook Brewery. I have had many of their beers and really have not had a bad beer from them. Redhook was founded in 1981, and they became one of the first craft breweries in the United States. Redhook Breweries can be found in Woodinville, Washington and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I have noticed that Redhook has done some recent collaborations with some noticeable people or companies. The two beers that I know the collaborated on are Audible Ale with Dan Patrick and KCCO Black with Resignation Brewery or The Chive. The beer I am here to look at tonight is ESB which is also known as Extra Special Bitter. ESB has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 5.8% and an IBU of 28. ESB is one of the main beers that helped create Redhook and assisted in their growth into the awesome brewery they are today. In a way this beer is a throwback to when the brewery was first thought of and created. In terms of style of brew this beer is an Amber Ale that was modeled after an English Extra Special Bitter. This particular style focuses on a balance between malt and hops. The English style ESB feature and aggressive addition of hops and a malt forward style brew, which tend to mellow out each other. The ESB style has the word bitter but tends to not be to hoppy and focuses on the balance between a roasted malt and bitter hops. 

Appearance of ESB 

I have had another Amber Ale recently, which was by Ommegang and now I am looking towards ESB. The head or foam of the beer is thick and has a strong retention. Looking at ESB and thinking about this as an Amber Ale the color appearance is in line with the style. ESB has a copper or brownish-red color appearance to this ale. Now thinking about the name makes me worry about this beer. It makes me think that this ale is going to be very bitter and something I might not enjoy. Let's see how the aroma impacts my thoughts about this beer positively or negatively. Aroma at first thought gives me a curious smell that I do not know right off the bat. I think it is a blend between a roasted malt sweetness that makes me think caramel and a citrus/bitter blend. The citrus I cannot quite pinpoint but the addition makes me intrigued and the bitter note comes from the hops added into the ESB. 

 Taste in an Amber Ale is something I sometimes do not look forward to but after having a really good experience with an Amber, I am excited to try this beer to test my palate. I took a sip of this ESB and I noticed the blend between the roasted malt sweetness and the bitter hop notes. I think this is a beer that I can really fully enjoy because  the malt character balanced out the hop bitterness that IPA's typically focus on.  Based off of Redhook's own website this beer is smooth and bold. Gives the drinked an enjoyable malt sweetness, which I would say helps makes this a smooth ale. The hop bitterness in my mind combined with the malty sweetness gives the drinker a bold style of brew, something I could get behind as an ale. There is a toasty note that I pick up on as I begin to drink more of this beer and I cannot quite think what is behind it. I think it might be from the malt presence in the beer.     

In terms of mouthfeel this beer has light carbonation and is blended between the perfect combo of thickness to creaminess. This ESB is a smooth and finishes very nicely on the tastebuds. In my mind this is more of a blend between an India Pale Ale and an Amber Ale. Almost like a session style brew. ESB is not too heavy on ABV and has a nice blend of hop/malt. 

I would recommend this beer to anyone that was curious about the Extra Special Bitter style of brew and wanted to try it. I know after having this beer I might look for more in this style of brew. Again if you are not a fan of bitterness like I tend not to be, you can still enjoy this brew because of the nice balanced in the beer. This throwback to the beginning of Redhook days makes me want to think of how they thought about creating this brew. I can understand how this brew was the flagship beer in the beginning days and I am glad that it is something they still focus on still today. I have to take a trip and visit this brewery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  

ESB- Extra Special Bitter 

Looking in terms of distribution, I have noticed that Redhook paired with Anheuser-Busch to help them grow into a bigger brewery. To me this was a smart and logical choice for Redhook to make a jump to become known nationally like they are now. Sometimes you require assistance when trying to grow and distribute nationwide. I think one can notice the quality of beers and notice the difference between the Macro-Brews and the Micro-Brews. To me in my mind I think that Redhook was really smart in doing this because the had grown to a point where they needed to pair with Anheuser-Busch so they could grow and develop themselves into what they are today as a brewery. This partnership allows them to reach markets that they otherwise might not have been able to reach, trying to distribute their beer on their own. Redhook developed and cultivated their market in Washington and New Hampshire, but to take it to the next level they needed a big leap  and that leap was with the bigger brewer like Anheuser-Busch. Still to this day they have a partnership which I have noticed when I was a bartender in a restaurant because the rep of Anheuser-Busch was the one I always wanted to talk to in order to bring in KCCO Black and other Redhook beers. Price wise Redhook beers for a six pack are going to run you around eight to nine dollars for one. In terms of price per six pack that is reasonable and for the quality of beer it is a steal in my opinion.  

Below are Redhook's Website and Twitter: 

Redhook Website 

Redhook Twitter

  

Lagunitas Sucks

Lagunitas SUCKS by Lagunitas Brewing Company 

Trying one of the brews from Lagunitas Brewing Company tonight, that beer is Lagunitas Sucks. An interesting name for them because it is mentioning a negative connotation. Usually when you here sucks that means that it was terrible and something you would never have again. Let's see if it is the opposite and something just being a play on words. Lagunitas Brewing Company can be found in Petaluma, California and Chicago, Illinois.  Getting back to the beer which is not my strong style beer. Lagunitas Sucks is a Brown Shugga Substitute Ale, but if you look it up on Beer Advocate, it is a Double India Pale Ale or a Imperial IPA. This beer has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 8.0% and an IBU of 63. To some people Double IPA's are India Pale Ales jacked up on steroids, for me I want to see what this Double IPA is all about.

Glimpse of Lagunitas SUCKS

Lagunitas SUCKS aroma is an aroma I typically run away from in a brew. The aroma I picked up in this beer was the bitter hop note. Typical for an India Pale Ale. There was another subtle aroma I began to pick up on after swirling the beer around. That aroma is a fruity or citrus aroma. The citrus aroma I think is from an orange peel. The aroma is blended between the citrus and the hoppy note, which makes me think or hope I can still enjoy this beer fully. The color or appearance of the beer is a cooper color and clear. Looking at the head or foam, I became intrigued because I noticed how thick the foam was at the top of the beer. I have seen head of a beer like this before but most of the time it is on a Stout or a dark beer style not an India Pale Ale.The foam or head a good retention and hangs around while you enjoy this beer. There is some lacing on the glass as you begin to drink the beer.

Tasting this Double IPA or Brown Shugga Substitute Ale is something I am nervous about because I do not usually have or enjoy IPA's. I dove in to try the first sip to see what I could pull out flavor wise. This ale's taste follows the aroma of the beer. There is a strong bitter note in the taste of this ale. I will say that the first sip I tried of this Double India Pale Ale, I did not mind or dislike. I think the malt the brewers used did a nice job of cutting the IPA harsh bitterness, but you get some of it back because of the dry-hopping. In terms of mouthfeel this beer is a smooth and sharp. The body of this brew is between medium to full because there is a noticeable thickness to the beer.

Now as not a big India Pale Ale fan, this is something I could enjoy. I may not have an entire case of it but I would have one if it was on tap at a bar. This ale is a nice brew and a very interesting/complex beer. It appeals to both the non-IPA drinker and the IPA enthusiast. The thing that I would say about this beer is that when you have this ale make sure if you are having more than one that you do not drive. After one you begin to notice the ABV and the 8% is not something to mess around with. I will say that the name aspect of the beer throws you off in the beginning but towards the end, it leaves you wanting another. Wondering why you ran out and cursing that you do not have anymore, saying Lagunitas SUCKS. 

Lagunitas SUCKS by Lagunitas Brewing Company

Price point of this ale or any Lagunitas brews are considerate to the quality of brews. I think for a six pack you are looking at around $11 bucks for one. I have not looked at a case but I would say if you were looking to buy a case it would run you around $50 dollars, which is what you are paying for in terms of quality. As far as distribution sense they are paired with Miller-Coors, to spread their product nationwide. I noticed this when I used to work at a bar the Miller-Coors distributor would be the person we would have to talk to when trying to bring in Lagunitas. Medium size craft beer companies have to pair up with the bigger guys, because most times they are using that pairing to help them grow and become a bigger brewery. 

Below are Lagunitas Brewing Company's Website and Twitter:

Lagunitas Website

Lagunitas Twitter

Rare Vos

Rare Vos by Ommegang Brewery 

Trying another beer from one of my favorite breweries, that brewery is Ommegang Brewery. The beer I am trying tonight is called Rare Vos, which is an Amber Ale. Amber Ales focus on the malts but can have a decent amount of hops added into the beer. One of the most popular Amber Ales is Troegs Nugget Nectar and is an interesting/complex style to look at. Rare Vos is the first Amber Ale that I am trying and reviewing for the blog and I am hoping that the more I try new brews that my palate will begin to evolve.  Rare Vos has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 6.5% and IBU of 21. Ommegang Brewery is located in Cooperstown, New York and is also known for brewing beers related to the hit Television series Game Of Thrones. But, I am trying Rare Vos and now it is time to dive into this brew to figure out what makes this beer. 

Glimpse of the color of Rare Vos 

Now taking into account that Rare Vos is an Amber Ale, the color appearance makes sense. The color of this ale is amber or in a sense almost more like a copper hue. I am noticing how clear  the brew is and that looks intriguing to me because this is an Amber Ale. The head or foam is white, robust and a creamy top to this beer. Looking at the color and the head I cannot help be curious about this beer. Typically this is not my style of beer, but sometimes palates change and maybe this is the start. 

Now aroma of Amber Ales can be tricky because most of the times when I have had them before I typically only smelled a bitter hop note. Rare Vos is different though, it almost reminds me of a wheat beer from it's aroma. The aroma that I am noticing strongly is coriander and an orange note. Mostly this style of aroma is found in wheat style ales. I am curious to see how it plays out in terms of the taste of this beer. There is another intriguing aroma that I smell and the aroma is a sweet malt aroma, which is common in Amber Ales. Looking at the aroma and the appearance of this beer I am thinking this is a blend between an Amber and a wheat. Only one way to find out and that is to do the tasting part of this review to figure out what Rare Vos is. 

I am nervous about tasting this brew because of the style of brew it is, which is an Amber Ale. When I think about the aroma and gain curiosity to sample this ale. Time to dive in and take a long look at Rare Vos. Trying the first sip all I can think about is wow, Rare Vos is smooth and very enjoyable beer based off of the first sip. First taste note that I picked up on was the sweet malt characteristic when I was sipping this beer. After that it has a sweet and spice combo after that malt note. The malt note that I pick up on is a caramel malt taste and then I picked up a dried fruity note, which added to the complexity/sweetness. 

In terms of mouthfeel this is a medium body and finishes with a moderately dry finish. This is a very complex buy enjoyable beer . I think that this being a Belgian style Cafe Ale, but also being a Amber Ale shows the complexity of Rare Vos and also shows why it got its name in my mind. 

Rare Vos by Ommegang Brewery

Overall this is a very good and smooth beer. I would recommend anyone that is looking to try new styles of beer try this as a step into Amber Ales. Another point if you like Belgian style beers than this is a beer you should try as well. 

Now looking at price and distribution aspects of this beer. When you find this beer in a store where you can buy six packs, you will notice that Ommegang sells theirs in four packs. Which in my mind is curious because usually that happens to beers that are high in ABV and you cannot have more that two at a time. Price of these four pack are around $13 bucks which is on the pricey side, but I think for the quality of the beer, I am willing to pay it. The other interesting note that I looked at is that Ommegang paired up with Duvel Brewing for distribution purposes to help them attack the craft beer market. This is a smart idea in my mind because they are focused on Belgian style brewing, why not pair themselves with a strong Belgian import like Duvel.  Last note about distribution is that if you want you can also get Ommegang brews in twenty two ounce bombers, which I think adds to the intrigue about their beers. 

Below are the website and twitter for Ommegang Brewery.

Rare Vos Ommegang

Twitter Ommegang

Carle The Great: Imperial Russian Stout

CARLE THE GREAT by BROKEN GOBLET BREWERY 

Recently I visited an up and coming brewery after their one year anniversary. That brewery was Broken Goblet in Bristol, Pennsylvania. If you get the chance and you are in the area make sure you check out this brewery and their awesome brews. When I visited them, I got the Broken Goblet Flight and was able to pick 5 different beers. Out of those five beers not a single one was bad, I loved them all. Now to backtrack a little, I was introduced to this brewery and their beers by my friend Kevin. He knew the brewers when it first opened and thought it would be a cool idea to go check them out, since he knows I love beer. When we stopped in Kevin introduced me to the owners, Jay Groose and Mike LaCouture. This was my first time at the brewery, so we decided to dive in and try some of the beers on tap. Broken Goblet has a taproom and located next room over was the breweries offices/brewery. Of all the beers we tried, I think the popular one was Bubba's Tea Bag. Kevin and I both enjoyed it. The other really awesome thing that I noticed were the names of the supporters on the wall, showing how they got to where they are.  Now, time to look at the beer I am currently drinking from Broken Goblet. 

Carle The Great Artwork 

Carle The Great Label and Story

The brew that I am trying tonight from Broken Goblet Brewery is called Carle The Great. Carle The Great is an Imperial Russian Stout that was aged in Glenfiddich Single Malt Barrels. Carle The Great has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 10.8% and an IBU of 79. Imperial Russian Stouts were brewed to win over the Russian Czar's in the 1800's. They focused on stouts that boasted high alcohol content and malt character that had low to medium carbonation. In addition they had a roasted chocolate malt that hop levels varied, keep that in mind as I look into this beer to figure out what makes Carle The Great, so great. Also, when you try beers like this, make sure you use the proper glassware the beer was designed for. Carle The Great was aimed to be poured into a snifter glass or goblet glass.

Appearance of Carle The Great

The aroma is a pleasant coffee and a slightly noticeable sweet scotch aroma since being aged in Glenfiddich barrels. In addition to those aromas there is a faint chocolate aroma I picked up on towards the end. The head or foam of the brew is brown or chocolate in terms of color. The head of the beers is thick and creamy at the same time, in my opinion. After a while the foam dissipates and loosens up to show the beauty of Carle The Great. The color of is very impressive and very noticeable for a stout. Carle The Great  color appearance is black and very dark to make sure nothing escape its greatness. 

Carle The Great by Broken Goblet Brewery

Taste can be a big factor for some when trying Stouts and beer in general, so now it is time to look at this aspect of Carle The Great. See what the flavor or profile of the beer is. Took my first sip to try this beer for the first time and definitely noticed that this beer was an Imperial Russian Stout. By that I mean I picked up on the malt forward and chocolate presence in the beer. Another interesting taste note is the full body of the beer and then the heated spice finish. There is a fruit taste that I am trying to pick up on but the profile is mixed in with the spice kick finish that it is hard to pick out. The more and more I sip on this beer, the more flavors I begin to pull out, like the coffee note of the last sip I had. While sipping on this Imperial Russian Stout, I have noticed that there is a warming mouthfeel to this beer. In that sense, I think this would be a perfect beer for the winter because usually everyone is cold, but this would warm you up in a sense. 

Another important aspect about this beer is that you should take sips of the beer and not chug this beer. That is only asking for an accident, because if you do not you are not thinking about the ABV. I poured half a glass into the snifter and I have drank a quarter of it so far and have noticed the ABV aspect of this beer. 

Being aged in Glenfiddich barrels really comes through when tasting this beer. The sweet scotch profile blends well with the roasted dark malt and bitterness of the hops used. That does help in adding some ABV to this beer and help add to the enhanced profile of this beer.

I think the big impact and thing I took from Carle The Great was to enjoy a sip at time especially when it comes to being an Imperial Russian Stout aged in Glenfiddich Barrels. Looking at the Broken Goblet website and trying to find more out about this beer, I am humbled in trying this beer brewed in memory of the one of the brewers father, Carle. Carle The Great is a rich full body beer that is great beer. 

The four owners/brewers did a great job in brewing this beer and I look forward to hopefully meeting all of you guys. Jay, Mike, Bub Groose, and Joe Fazekas. 

Beers on Tap when I visited

Broken Goblet Flight

If you are in the area of Bristol, PA, make sure you go check this brewery out and support them. If you want to support them become an Irregular and get your name up on the wall. If you become an Irregular or a supporter you get the opportunity to try bottle release beers like Carle The Great and others. Broken Goblet's passion for beer really does come across in their beers and if you really enjoy a good brew check this brewery out personally.

Last opinion, Carle The Great is a good Imperial Russian Stout that you should try when you get the chance. It's a full bodied stout that for me is a little too much ABV for my full enjoyment. Great beer that will warm you up and give you a buzz that will last the night. Make sure that if you drink this beer that you are not going anywhere, except for enjoying others company.  Below is where you can find Broken Goblet's website and twitter. 

Broken Goblet Website

Twitter Broken Goblet

 

White Wheat

KCCO White Wheat by Resignation Brewery and Redhook Brewery

Tonight, I am trying the third beer from a collaboration between Redhook Brewery and Resignation Brewery. So far, I have had a Black Lager and a Gold Lager from the collaboration of these two. I am really excited to try the White Wheat because it is the third KCCO beer and is impossible to get outside of Texas. Luckily I had a friend send two bottles to me and I could not be more ecstatic right now. I like wheat beers and have had many but this beer is my white whale. If you do not get the reference it is from Moby Dick, I am curious to see what this beer will taste like since I have been waiting to try it. I do want to thank my friend Angela for sending me this beer and now I have to send you some beers as an exchange. This beer that I am having tonight is called KCCO White Wheat and is the third beer from a collaboration with The Chive, The Chive, who created Resignation Brewery and Redhook Brewery.  White Wheat has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 5.0% and an IBU of 14.

White Wheat's appearance, cloudy and golden. 

KCCO White Wheat has a tint that looks like orange and gold were combined. There is cloudy or hazy appearance to White Wheat but that is expected since this beer is a wheat beer. The aroma is something that is enticing me and make me want to just drink it all right away, but then I cannot do the review. In the aroma I think the major or most appealing aroma is the orange citrus/zest. It almost as if I am enjoying a Mimosa or Orange Juice, that is how intense this aroma is. There is a honey aroma that tickles my nose when trying to pick out the aromas of this beer. The last aroma that I am picking up is a subtle lemon citrus aroma that blends in with the orange citrus.  Just diving into the aroma and I can tell this maybe a refreshing beer. The head or foam of the beer quickly dissipated and was thick as I poured this beer into the glass. 

Taste is where I am excited to try KCCO White Wheat. This could make or break my thoughts on this beer, but I am ready for the challenge and curious to see where this White Wheat is headed. I am hoping it is a style a wheat beer that I will enjoy and not something that has too much coriander like some wheat beers do. KCCO White Wheat is an Unfiltered Wheat. Trying the first sip that is something that sticks out to me. The next major taste note that hits me is the orange and lemon citrus as I took another sip. The honey is the last taste that sticks to my palate and makes me want to drink it more.  

In terms of mouthfeel this is a light body, in my opinion. KCCO White Wheat is not as heavy as typical wheat beers. Which is probably because in terms of body is more like a Hefeweizen. Off of mouth feel I would say this White Wheat reminds me of Hoegaarden in a sense.  For anyone who has not tried it but wants to know what beer this is comparable to. 

KCCO WHITE WHEAT 

I would recommend this beer to anyone who is looking for a good beer that is not too heavy and something. This is a beer that would help someone beat the heat but not heavy where you can only have one. 

Now that I have had KCCO Black Lager, KCCO Gold Lager, and KCCO White Wheat. I think they are all good beers. If I had to pick one to say it was the best out of the three that would be very difficult for me. I love the Black Lager and the White Wheat is very close to tying or going ahead of the Black Lager. 

KCCO Beer line as of right now 

I can honestly say that I think the Black Lager is an amazing beer and is my favorite beer that is that particular style. I love the Black lager enough to say that I have bought twelve cases of the Black Lager and if given the opportunity I probably do the same with the White Wheat. If I ranked them in order of my favorite to least favorite it would go as followed. White and Black are tied and Gold Lager is my least favorite. 

White Wheat

Redhook Brewery

Resignation Brewery

HADES

Welcome to HADES, Great Divide Brewing Company 

Trying a beer from Great Divide Brewing Company tonight. Great Divide is located in Denver, Colorado. The idea behind Great Divide was thought up during the late 80's and they were born in 1994. The make sure they do their part and have green practices in place to help be responsible for the environment. The beer I am trying from them is called Hades. Hades is a Belgian Style Golden Ale. This ale has an alcohol by volume of 7.8% and an IBU of 25. 

Appearance of HADES.

Looking closely at Hades, I am thinking what color does the beer look like and what style that reminds me of. Like wheat beers are usually cloudy and tend to have an orange tint to them. Amber ales tend to have an amber tint to them, so I was trying to figure out what style this beer reminded me of. I thought about it and it is a blend between golden and pale ales, color scheme wise. The color of this ale is golden and is very clear. The head or foam of the beer quickly dissipates and becomes does not keep a thick foam for too long. Foam on a beer is good and not too much because then you might have to wait to really enjoy the beer. In addition, if you do not give your beer enough foam at the top then that can change the complexion of the beer.  

The aroma of Hades is something that is sticking to my nose and has a strong aroma. As soon as I got close enough to smell the aroma of the beer there was one resounding aroma that stuck with me. That aroma was banana esters, or a banana aroma. Which is interesting for this being a Golden Belgian Style Ale. Another aroma that is playful but not pungent is a clove aroma to give it a sense of the spice aroma that one might think of. Based off of the aroma of this beer it makes me think this beer is a Tripel Ale. Because banana and cloves are usually associated with Tripel Ales. 

Looking forward to the taste part to see which beer style this beer taste like. Tripel? Pale Ale? or Golden Ale? Things to think about before trying this ale. Curveballs can be fun but let's see, which one throws a fastball in terms of taste. I am hoping the Tripel, but let's find out. 

Hades Golden Belgian Style Ale

Took my first sip and got a wave of spices and belgian yeast. Another interesting note is that the taste starts off with a spice note and finishes with a bitter hop note that is not overpowering. I would have to say based off of the taste so far, I think this beer is acting more like a Golden Ale. This ale does have a strong side to it based off of the ABV of 7.8 and is another thing that comes through in drinking this beer. The mouthfeel is medium body and does a nice job with the spicy/hop notes. 

Overall I would have to say this is a good beer and something I would drink. The only thing that might concern me is that you cannot have too many of these because you will begin to feel it after the second or third beer. Hades is a beer you might have to relax and unwind. I do not think this is a beer you could drink all night.  Make sure if you get the chance to try this beer, I think it is worth trying and slowly enjoying this beer. 

Hades Great Divide

Great Divide Twitter

Beer Wars: Gretz Beer Company vs. Stockertown Beverage

Tonight, I visited UNO's in Warrington, Pennsylvania, because there was a beer war between two beer distributors. The one was Gretz Beer Company located in Hatfield, PA. The other was Stockertown Beverage located in Stockertown, PA. Notable breweries that are sold by Gretz are as followed: Kona Brewing, Ithaca Brewing, Rogue Brewing, Redhook Brewing, Lancaster Brewing, and Troegs Brewing. Notable breweries that are sold by Stockertown are as followed: Founders Brewing, Breckenridge Brewing, Riverhorse Brewing, Cricket Hill Brewing, and Summit Brewing Company. Each company brought beers with them and competed against each other in four categories. 

Sheet to pick the Winners

There was four categories and a beer for each flight of beer. First category was India Pale Ales or IPA's. Second category was Wheat beers. Third was Summer Ales and last was Fruit beers. When doing flights like this you want to make sure you leave the India Pale Ales for last. That is because of the bitterness and what that does to your taste palate. I started at the bottom with the fruit beers and worked my way up towards the IPA's. Whenever you do beer flights and have an IPA in them make sure you save the IPA for last. 

Stockertown Beverage Four Beers

For IPA, Stockertown chose Free Will Kragle IPA. This has an alcohol by volume of 6.6% and an IBU of 90.  Wheat Ales were next and for this they chose Breckenridge Agave Wheat. Agave Wheat has an alcohol by volume of 4.2% and IBU of 19. Third came down to Summer Ales and for this category they chose Summit Brewing Company Summer Ale. This beer had an alcohol by volume of 4.4% and IBU of 37. Last for Stockertown Beverage was Lovitz Watermelon Lager. Watermelon Lager had an alcohol by volume of 3.7%. All very interesting and unique beers that I have never tried before. 

Kragle IPA at the Top and Watermelon Lager at the Bottom

Next up was Gretz. For India Pale Ale or IPA Ithaca Flower Power was picked. Flower Power has an alcohol by volume of 7.5% and an IBU of 75. Next up was Kronenburg Blanc for Wheat Ales. Blanc has an alcohol by volume of 5.0% and an IBU of 15. For Summer Ales they picked Long Trail Summer Ale.  Summer Ale has an alcohol by volume of 4.3% and an IBU of 32. In the last category, Lancaster Brewing Strawberry Wheat for the Fruit beer category. Strawberry Wheat has an alcohol by volume of 4.7% and IBU of 25.

Gretz Four Beers for the Flight's 

Ithaca Flower Power at the Top and Lancaster Strawberry at the bottom. 

I sampled all eight of these beers and I though all eight beers was very interesting. They all brought their own taste and profile to showcase from the beers. I think that for IPA's Kragle from Free Will Brewing was the winner, it was smooth and I actually was surprised by how much I liked it. In terms of Wheat beers, I would say Kronenburg Blanc won this particular style. Agave Wheat was good and I think would be very good for a summer beer to enjoy just like Blanc. Third pairing was the Summer Ale's and I think the beer that won this pairing was Summit Summer Ale. Summit Summer Ale was smoother and more towards my style of Summer Ales. Last and deciding group was the Fruit beers. This was a toss up because I enjoyed both just like the Wheat Ales. I think the one if I had to pick an winner would be Lancaster Strawberry Wheat. It gives you the wheat profile and gives just the right amount of strawberry flavor to enjoy the taste.

If you were keeping track, my card was a tie. I think both companies did a great job in picking their four beers.  

If you have any comments or different opinions on who should have won compared to my card, make sure you leave a comment. 

If you want to check out these two companies their websites are listed right below:

Stockertown Beverage

Gretz Beer

Good Juju

Good Juju by Left Hand Brewing Company 

Tonight, I am trying a seasonal brew from Left Hand Brewing Company. Left hand is located in Longmont, Colorado. This is the second beer from Left Hand, that I will have had on this blog, the first was their Milk Stout. I have heard good things about Left Hand Brewing Company especially their Nitro beers. I am looking forward to trying this seasonal brew from them. The name of this beer reminds me of the movie Silver Linings Playbook. This beer is called, Good Juju. Good Juju has an alcohol by volume or ABV of  4.5 % and an IBU of 20.  Good Juju to me brings up the sense of good karma and things or superstitions that help things go your way. Maybe this brew can help with some good karma and not bad karma. According to the dictionary, Juju means magical power attributed to such an object. For example in Silver Linings Playbook, they only wanted good juju around the Philadelphia Eagles. This beer is brewed with ginger and gives it a different twist on this ale. 

Complexion of Good Juju 

Now I want to dive into the aspects on Good Juju, like aroma, taste, and appearance. The appearance of this ale is one that has a golden orange color to the ale. The foam or head is thin but dense on top of the brew. I think that one could almost say their is a copper tint to Good Juju. The aroma is very unique and makes me wonder what is behind it. I think that one aroma I can pick up of the bat is the ginger aroma, subtle but has staying power. Another interesting aroma, I smelled was a black pepper and lemon medley. It has the spiciness of the black pepper blended with the sweet citrus of the lemon. There is a hint of a floral aroma that I think might come from the hops brewed with this beer. So far this beer has some Good Juju behind it in the aspect of aroma and appearance. Now to see if there is Good Juju in the taste of the beer and the mouthfeel. 

Thinking about the taste before hand makes me think there should be a sense of ginger in the beer because this is an ale that is brewed with ginger. If there is not a sense of the ginger then did the ginger only come through in the aroma and not the taste. These are some questions I have heading into tasting Good Juju from Left Hand Brewing Company. 

Taking the first sip of Good Juju there is one thing that I notice, that is the mix between ginger and the hops in this beer. The ginger has a subtle taste and is not overpowering like some might think based off of the bottle. To me the hops are little too overpowering and mask the ginger too much. After a few more sips, the hop note is smooth but still overpowers the ginger. The mouthfeel of this brew is light and dry. I think  this beer is a good summer beer because it crisp and dry.  

I got some GOOD JUJU from Left Hand Brewing Company

I think overall this is an interesting twist on a beer. I applaud Left Hand Brewing Company for taking the chance on brewing a beer this way, they did a great job. For me as a beer drinker, this is not my particular style that I drink but if it was there at a bar I might get one. Good Juju is very crisp and refreshing. The combination of the dry finish and light mouthfeel makes this a very drinkable beer. I think that anyone looking for a different twist on a summer style beer might want to check this out. The ginger adds different but unique twist on this ale. 

Left Hand GOOD JUJU

Twitter Left Hand Brewing

Summer Ale Goose Island

Goose Summer Ale by Goose Island Beer Company

We are officially in the grasps of the summer heat and looking for that refreshing beer to combat the heat. Summer Ale's are usually the go to during the summer because of their light and refreshing taste that cools us down, while we are at the beach or near a pool. I have had a few of this style of beer and I think that each brewery that makes theirs play to their audience that is expecting a particular style from them. For some its the light taste that they go for during the summer. For others its going after a refreshing twist on their style of brews. The beer I am trying tonight is from Goose Island Beer Company. Summer Ale by Goose Island, looking at the label, to me its the refreshing twist on a summer ale. Summer Ale has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 5.0% and IBU of 35. The twist on this beer is that it is a summer style session ale. Another interesting fact about this beer is that Goose Island in brewing this beer only used one type of hop and it was Amarillo Hops. 

Appearance of Goose Summer Ale 

Looking at Goose, I think that this looks like a tasty beer that I cannot wait to try. The aroma is something I cannot help but notice right away. I picked up on a hop note that blended with and orange citrus aroma. Usually, I would be hesitant on trying a beer like this because of the hop note, which tends to be on the bitter side and not my style of beer. I am trying to expand my beer tastes so I  wanted to make sure I gave this beer a chance and tried to figure out if I liked it or if it is still not a particular style I like. Diving into the appearance of Goose Summer Ale, the gold tint is something that sticks out to me. It almost looks like honey to my eyes, which might be dangerous trying to tempt me like Winnie the Pooh. The head or foam of the Goose Island is thick and foamy. Now time to dive in and sample this Goose Summer, session style ale because that is what I write this blog for is try biers. Taste is very important when enjoying a beer for some beer drinkers, if they do not like the taste they are most likely not going to try it again. Typically if it is a session ale brewers are trying to have the same bitter hop taste that India Pale Ale's have just at a lower level, so one can drink it all day. Hence the name Session, have an all day session with this style. Another way some people look at sessions is are they crushable, again something you can enjoy all day. Taste in a session ale is a major factor for some when drinking these beers. 

I took my first sip of Goose Summer Ale and did not hate it, which for me is a good thing. Notes that I picked up when tasting this ale was the floral hop note and a citrus note that blended very well to give this beer a summer ale taste. The bitter notes were not overpowering to the point where I could not enjoy the beer, which points out the session style ale. The mouthfeel is definitely a light body and very smooth. Overall this is a smooth and refreshing twist on a Summer Ale and I think that anyone that wants to try a smooth hoppy style ale, this might be one you should try. 

Goose Summer Ale 

I think that this is a very unique twist on a summer ale and I think Goose Island may have done a great job trying to placate to beer drinkers. With this beer I think Goose Island Beer Company is able to  target beer drinkers like myself who are not the biggest India Pale Ale fan and they are able to also target the IPA fans that enjoy bitters/hops. Trying beers can be hard, if you want to it can be rewarding in finding different styles of beers that you like and can enjoy. Below is Goose Islands Beer Company website and twitter. 

Twitter: GOOSE ISLAND

Website: Goose Summer Ale

Raspberry Sour

Raspberry Sour Aged in Oak Barrels by Avery Brewing Company

The new brew that I am trying is from a brewery that I have tried brews from before. The brewery that I am trying this beer from is Avery Brewing Company, which is located in Boulder, Colorado. I am stepping outside my normal beers to try a different style of brew. The particular style I am trying is Sour Ale or a Wild Ale as some might call it. I am trying a Raspberry Sour Ale from Avery Brewing Company. This particular beer is part of their Botanicals and Barrels. This beer is brewed with Raspberries and then aged in Oak barrels. Raspberry Sour has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 7.2% and is a very limited beer being brewed only once.

Appearance of the Raspberry Sour

This is my second time ever having this particular style of brew, so bare with me when I describe this beer. The color of the sour is a deep brownish red, almost like a rich auburn color. The head or foam of this beer quickly dissipated after being pour because of the carbonation in the sour. Looking at this Raspberry Sou, reminds me of looking at a cider but with a darker color to it. The aroma of this beer is very fruity and tart. The aroma's that I picked up on when smelling this beer were almost like a wine aroma, tart and can smell the alcohol. I think the most pungent aroma I pick up is the sour aroma, which is blended into the raspberry aroma. I think the wine aroma I might be picking up is coming from being aged in Oak barrels. This sour aroma is very complex in terms of the raspberries. When picking up the aroma of the raspberries, you get to different notes: one being tart/unripe and sweet raspberries. The fruit esters are playing with my olfactory sense, while trying to pick up on the fruit aroma's. Taste is where some might get lost with this particular style of brew. I am nervous to try this beer, just because it looks so good and I do not want to be disappointed. Tasting a beer for the first time can be nerve wrecking if you are really interested in trying a beer and hoping that you like it.  

First taste note that I picked up on was the sour profile, which is to be expected for this particular style of beer. After a little while on my tongue I picked up the raspberry note as well. The raspberry note in the sour beer is a tart raspberry. In addition to the sour note and the raspberry note there is a third major note that I am picking up while tasting the beer. The notes is from the Oak barrels. In my mind it makes this beer almost taste more like a wine because of the tannins in the oak. Tannins helped make this sour beer drier and almost like a wine vibe from drinking this beer. The aftertaste that is lingering is one of raspberries and strawberries. The mouthfeel is medium and finishes dry. 

Avery Raspberry Sour Ale

Overall, I think that this is a good beer and worth trying. I think that a reader named Brice would really enjoy this brew and should try it before it runs out. The thing that stands out the most to me is the sour profile both in the aroma and the tasting of the beer. Avery did not mess around when brewing this beer and did right by the style of Sour Beers. The raspberries and aging the sour in an oak barrel played to the character of this sour ale. Some when trying this beer might think of it as a funky wine that might have gone bad, but it is a Sour Ale that sort of has a wine profile to it. If you get the chance to get this sour ale, make sure you do because this ale is a limited ale that is only brewed once. 

Avery Brewing Website

Avery Brewing Company Twitter