Sorry to anyone who looks forward to reading up on what I'm doing! I've been really busy lately; between getting brewing on the go, a quick trip to Mexico and work I have been hard pressed to find time to write! I just posted a handful of beer reviews for you cerveza fans out there, and will be writing a review on a fantastic authentic taqueria we stopped into in Playa del Carmen.
As for the brewhouse, which is yet unnamed (please feel free to make suggestions), we are moving along quite nicely. We jumped into the most advanced style of home beer brewing, known as AG or all grain. In this style, we are the ones responsible for steeping the grains and creating the wonderfully syrupy, flavorful substance known as wort, which we ferment to make beer. In brewing, other than AG, homebrewers rely on powdered or concentrated extracts to create their wort. However convenient, extract brewing simply results in an inferior product and less control over the final result. AG brewing, is unfortunately much more time consuming and difficult to master. In our first batch we encountered a problem in our wort making, but never realized it. We diagnosed the problem as a fermentation issue, which it wasn't, and took the wrong steps to fix it. The final result ended up tasty nonetheless, but a bit heavier than we intended. Batches 2 and 3, were brewed before we noticed that the problem was actually with our mashing (making of the wort) rather than with the yeast (fermentation). Batch 2 was bottled without creating a fix, and batch 3 was treated with a stopgap measure that we felt would improve our final product. With any luck, both will turn out enjoyable, with minor blemishes. Batch 4 is thus far a tremendous success, our mashing problem has been solved and our beers are now coming along brilliantly! Batch 5 is to be brewed this week, as well as a small batch of gluten free cider for my girlfriend. For those of you who are interested, our status is as follows:
Batch 1: Alphabeer, American Pale Ale, Bottled and Carbonated
Batch 2: Unnamed, Weizen, Bottled and Carbonating
Batch 3: Unnamed, Oak Aged Imperial Stout, Secondary Fermentation
Batch 4: Unnamed, California Common 'Steam Beer', Primary Fermentation
Cider: Unnamed, Dry Hopped Cider, Primary Fermentation
Batch 5: Unnamed, Sour Saison, Yet to be Brewed
Batch 6: To be Determined!
Mexico was a lovely trip, great weather, relaxing atmosphere and plenty to do. Aside from attending the wedding and drinking obscene quantities of Dos Equis (which makes me think I should brew a Vienna Lager), we had the opportunity to snorkel with sea turtles, go sea kayaking, horseback riding, tour an underground river (cenote), and visit the Mayan ruins of Tulum.
Keep watch for a review of El Fogon!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Beer Ratings Folks!
Ratings, ratings, ratings...
Dieu de Ciel Chaman
341 mL bottle. Pours a clear medium amber color with a thin head and good lacing. Aroma is largely caramel malt and earthy/floral hop. Taste is sweet and malty, with a slightly bittering hop finish, but not as much as I expect from an IIPA. Creamy on the palate with medium carbonation, a touch of herb and fruit esters. A bit boozy and one dimensional; feels like its missing something.
Flying Monkeys 'Matador' Spanish Cedar Aged IIPA
750 mL bottle. Pours a clear amber with a lacy white head. The cedar really dominates the nose on this one. Background notes of yeast, citrus, earth and caramel malt. Fairly sweet and robust with a long bitter finish tinged with toasty wood notes. Full bodied with moderate carbonation, leaves a sticky mouth feel, the high ABV is well in check. An interesting IIPA; not for the faint of heart.
Dupont Cervesia
750 mL bottle. Pours a cloudy honey color with a thick white head. Not so much lacing. Big yeasty funk on the nose, with notes of tropical fruit and a touch of phenolic spice. Fairly dry with a lively carbonated mouthfeel, leaves a pleasantly sour aftertaste. A long complex finish. I really enjoyed this one, to be enjoyed on its own, cool but not cold please.
Kuhnhenn Fourth Dementia Old Ale
355 mL bottle. Pours a deep dark garnet with a nice beige head and lots of lacing. Aromas of dark caramel, fig, prune, rum cake, molasses and candied fruit. Robust, very sweet and sticky, medium carbonation and a full mouth feel. Provides a lingering finish, reminiscent of sweet sherry and tinged with booze. Big and dangerous, consume at your own risk, preferably with good fruit cake or bitter chocolate. Intense.
Grand River Dogstalker April Bock
500 mL bottle. Pours a nice amber caramel color with a tight white head and some lacing. Nice dark bready aroma; roasted almonds, toffee, a touch of grass and earthy hops. A refreshing lager, light to medium on the palate with a touch of sweetness, a well rounded hop finish. Moderate carbonation. A very tasty bock.
As per usual:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
Dieu de Ciel Chaman
341 mL bottle. Pours a clear medium amber color with a thin head and good lacing. Aroma is largely caramel malt and earthy/floral hop. Taste is sweet and malty, with a slightly bittering hop finish, but not as much as I expect from an IIPA. Creamy on the palate with medium carbonation, a touch of herb and fruit esters. A bit boozy and one dimensional; feels like its missing something.
Flying Monkeys 'Matador' Spanish Cedar Aged IIPA
750 mL bottle. Pours a clear amber with a lacy white head. The cedar really dominates the nose on this one. Background notes of yeast, citrus, earth and caramel malt. Fairly sweet and robust with a long bitter finish tinged with toasty wood notes. Full bodied with moderate carbonation, leaves a sticky mouth feel, the high ABV is well in check. An interesting IIPA; not for the faint of heart.
Dupont Cervesia
750 mL bottle. Pours a cloudy honey color with a thick white head. Not so much lacing. Big yeasty funk on the nose, with notes of tropical fruit and a touch of phenolic spice. Fairly dry with a lively carbonated mouthfeel, leaves a pleasantly sour aftertaste. A long complex finish. I really enjoyed this one, to be enjoyed on its own, cool but not cold please.
Kuhnhenn Fourth Dementia Old Ale
355 mL bottle. Pours a deep dark garnet with a nice beige head and lots of lacing. Aromas of dark caramel, fig, prune, rum cake, molasses and candied fruit. Robust, very sweet and sticky, medium carbonation and a full mouth feel. Provides a lingering finish, reminiscent of sweet sherry and tinged with booze. Big and dangerous, consume at your own risk, preferably with good fruit cake or bitter chocolate. Intense.
Grand River Dogstalker April Bock
500 mL bottle. Pours a nice amber caramel color with a tight white head and some lacing. Nice dark bready aroma; roasted almonds, toffee, a touch of grass and earthy hops. A refreshing lager, light to medium on the palate with a touch of sweetness, a well rounded hop finish. Moderate carbonation. A very tasty bock.
As per usual:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
Friday, April 12, 2013
Belgians and IPAs
The new spring beer release is out at the LCBO and it features a great number of some of my favorite styles of beer; Belgians and IPAs.
The Belgians
Although Belgian is more of an origin than a style, all Belgian beers tend to have a few things in common. Because the Belgians are so passionate about beer, high quality, hand crafted ales are most popular. Another thing that ties them together is the use of pungently flavored yeasts. No matter what the style, yeast plays a large role in the flavor profile.
Abbaye des Rocs Grand Cru
330 mL bottle. Pours a dark chestnut colour with a foamy off white head. Complex nose of layered fruit, fig, liquorice, prune and honeycomb. Sweet and roasted with notes of chocolate, dark treacle and nut. High carbonation and a thick mouth feel with a layered finish. No noticeable hop flavor. Another very tasty Belgian brown.
St. Feuillien Grand Cru
330 mL bottle. Pours a light straw color with a active white head that dissipates quickly with no lacing. Subtle hop spice on the nose, clove, candi sugar, papaya, golden raisin and a touch of alcohol. Moderately sweet with high carbonation and champagne like texture. Offset with a touch of hop bitterness. Not as complex as I anticipated.
Dupont Monk's Stout
330 mL bottle. Pours a very dark reddish brown, almost black. A thin beige head. Burnt caramel on the nose, smoke, charred wood and dark roast coffee. Little body here, very mild, nice and bitter with a slight herbaceous note. Dry and fairly hopped, thin body with mild carbonation. A tasty mild stout.
Gouden Carolus Tripel
330 mL bottle. Pours a slightly cloudy golden with a thick mousse. Aromas of banana, clove, coriander, chewing gum and a touch of ginger. A touch of sweetness, and a yeasty mid palate, leading into a zesty hop finish. Herb and floral notes on the lingering finish. Creamy on the palate with high carbonation. A solid tripel, well made.
The IPAs
IPAs were originally invented as a way of preservation. Ales were fermented with more malts so that they would have a higher alcohol content, and more hops for their antioxidant qualities. This allowed them to survive the long trip via boat from the UK to India; hence the name, India Pale Ale. Look for malty sweetness overtoned with bitter notes of hop. North American brewers have made a name for themselves crafting intensely hopped beers with strong aromatic qualities.
Sam Adam's Latitude 48 IPA
355 mL bottle. Pours a clear toffee color with a soapy white head that doesn’t last that long. Nose is hoppy with earth, mushroom, and a touch of citrus and bread dough. Mildly sweet and moderately carbonated, featuring a smooth mouth feel with a finish bittered with hop and tinged with woodiness. A tasty commercially available IPA; nothing mind blowing but certainly plausible as someones go-to.
Green Flash West Coast IPA
355 mL bottle. Pours clear copper with a two finger white head and messy lacing. The nose is largely yeasty, with notes of bread, toffee, grapefruit and floral earth. Moderately sweet and medium bodied with with overlapping layers of hop, but very well balanced by the malt and alcohol, leading to a long bitter finish. Sticky on the palate, medium carbonation. A well built IPA.
BIA IPA
330 mL bottle. Pours a cloudy light gold with streaming bubbles and a thin white head. Big yeast aroma here from the bottle conditioning. Lots of grassy notes, earthy and floral, citrus, apricot and spice. Fairly dry and well hopped. Light to medium bodied with lots of carbonation, slightly sticky finish. An interesting European styled IPA.
8Wired Hopwired IPA
500 mL bottle. Pours a perfect amber with a pillowy beige head. Aroma is quite nice, floral, with a touch of caramel malt. Tangerine, honey and grape flavours. Moderately sweet but surprisingly clean on the palate, with moderate carbonation and an earthy bitter hop finish. A very well balanced IPA, fruity without any waxiness or cloying sugars. Annoyingly easy to drink, an interesting new world take on the IPA, would buy more.
Other
Les Trois Mousquetaires SS MaiBock
750 mL bottle. Pours a cloudy amber with a tight white head, lots of lacing. Aromas of banana, cotton candy and fresh cut grass. A little buttery diacetyl. Mildly sweet with a touch of caramel and Vienna malt flavor. A creamy mouth feel with high carbonation, sticky on the palate with a slightly sour finish and mild hop spice.
As always, check out more of my reviews here:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
The Belgians
Although Belgian is more of an origin than a style, all Belgian beers tend to have a few things in common. Because the Belgians are so passionate about beer, high quality, hand crafted ales are most popular. Another thing that ties them together is the use of pungently flavored yeasts. No matter what the style, yeast plays a large role in the flavor profile.
Abbaye des Rocs Grand Cru
330 mL bottle. Pours a dark chestnut colour with a foamy off white head. Complex nose of layered fruit, fig, liquorice, prune and honeycomb. Sweet and roasted with notes of chocolate, dark treacle and nut. High carbonation and a thick mouth feel with a layered finish. No noticeable hop flavor. Another very tasty Belgian brown.
St. Feuillien Grand Cru
330 mL bottle. Pours a light straw color with a active white head that dissipates quickly with no lacing. Subtle hop spice on the nose, clove, candi sugar, papaya, golden raisin and a touch of alcohol. Moderately sweet with high carbonation and champagne like texture. Offset with a touch of hop bitterness. Not as complex as I anticipated.
Dupont Monk's Stout
330 mL bottle. Pours a very dark reddish brown, almost black. A thin beige head. Burnt caramel on the nose, smoke, charred wood and dark roast coffee. Little body here, very mild, nice and bitter with a slight herbaceous note. Dry and fairly hopped, thin body with mild carbonation. A tasty mild stout.
Gouden Carolus Tripel
330 mL bottle. Pours a slightly cloudy golden with a thick mousse. Aromas of banana, clove, coriander, chewing gum and a touch of ginger. A touch of sweetness, and a yeasty mid palate, leading into a zesty hop finish. Herb and floral notes on the lingering finish. Creamy on the palate with high carbonation. A solid tripel, well made.
The IPAs
IPAs were originally invented as a way of preservation. Ales were fermented with more malts so that they would have a higher alcohol content, and more hops for their antioxidant qualities. This allowed them to survive the long trip via boat from the UK to India; hence the name, India Pale Ale. Look for malty sweetness overtoned with bitter notes of hop. North American brewers have made a name for themselves crafting intensely hopped beers with strong aromatic qualities.
Sam Adam's Latitude 48 IPA
355 mL bottle. Pours a clear toffee color with a soapy white head that doesn’t last that long. Nose is hoppy with earth, mushroom, and a touch of citrus and bread dough. Mildly sweet and moderately carbonated, featuring a smooth mouth feel with a finish bittered with hop and tinged with woodiness. A tasty commercially available IPA; nothing mind blowing but certainly plausible as someones go-to.
Green Flash West Coast IPA
355 mL bottle. Pours clear copper with a two finger white head and messy lacing. The nose is largely yeasty, with notes of bread, toffee, grapefruit and floral earth. Moderately sweet and medium bodied with with overlapping layers of hop, but very well balanced by the malt and alcohol, leading to a long bitter finish. Sticky on the palate, medium carbonation. A well built IPA.
BIA IPA
330 mL bottle. Pours a cloudy light gold with streaming bubbles and a thin white head. Big yeast aroma here from the bottle conditioning. Lots of grassy notes, earthy and floral, citrus, apricot and spice. Fairly dry and well hopped. Light to medium bodied with lots of carbonation, slightly sticky finish. An interesting European styled IPA.
8Wired Hopwired IPA
500 mL bottle. Pours a perfect amber with a pillowy beige head. Aroma is quite nice, floral, with a touch of caramel malt. Tangerine, honey and grape flavours. Moderately sweet but surprisingly clean on the palate, with moderate carbonation and an earthy bitter hop finish. A very well balanced IPA, fruity without any waxiness or cloying sugars. Annoyingly easy to drink, an interesting new world take on the IPA, would buy more.
Other
Les Trois Mousquetaires SS MaiBock
750 mL bottle. Pours a cloudy amber with a tight white head, lots of lacing. Aromas of banana, cotton candy and fresh cut grass. A little buttery diacetyl. Mildly sweet with a touch of caramel and Vienna malt flavor. A creamy mouth feel with high carbonation, sticky on the palate with a slightly sour finish and mild hop spice.
As always, check out more of my reviews here:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
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