This evening Tyler and I got together to assemble some reviews of our first five home brews. We noticed a distinct increase in quality as our experience waxed; our latest brew is extremely flavorful. Hopefully those of you who had the opportunity to enjoy our beer liked it, and for those of you who didn't, this could be your sneak peek!
AlphaBeer American Pale Ale:
Pours hazy, light amber with a thick lasting head, lots of soapy lacing. Aromas of light citrus, pine, candle wax and mild malt. Fairly dry with a long bitter finish. Medium bodied with a sticky mouth feel.
Not-so-Weizen German Wheat:
Pours a hazy orange straw with a big rocky head. Aromas of banana, clove, orange, wheat malt and yeasty esters. Dry and highly carbonated with a smooth mouth feel. Thin bodied with a mildly spiced aftertaste.
OAKville Imperial Stout:
Pours opaque black with a thin beige cap. Largely oak on the nose with a touch of earthy hop, deep roasted malt, coffee and chocolate. A touch of sherry like sweetness with a hit of bitter hop and roasty malt on the finish. Mild carbonation, full and layered on the palate with a long lingering finish.
Brohemian Rhapsody California Common:
Pours a clear dark amber with a thin white head, minimal lacing. Herbal hop nose with hints of thyme, allspice, wood and caramel malt. A touch of sweetness, high carbonation and a hint of hop bitterness. Smooth and sessionable with lingering malt sweetness.
Saison du Maison:
Pours murky orange amber with a thick white head. Nose is very estery, banana, clove, honeycomb and black pepper. Dry with a touch of zesty sourness on the finish. High carbonation with a thin mouth feel and lingering noble hop bitterness on the finish.
It has been a blast brewing all these beers, we have both learned a lot and are continuing to learn more. Anyone interested in brewing with us or enjoying a sample please feel free to drop me a line!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Hoyo de Monterrey Coronations Tubo
I have always enjoyed Hoyo cigars, with their staple salt and mineral character; when I found this little beauty at The Village Cigar Co in Burlington I didn't hesitate to buy. A little darker than tan with no visible veins and a firm pack, the pre-light draw was a little tight but pleasantly earthy and floral. Lit, this petit corona let out a wispy stream of white smoke and exuded lovely flavors of chalk, leather and mild tobacco. The ash was tight and perfectly cement colored. A bit tight on the draw, but a razor sharp burn. Continuing birch and herb notes. A delicate smoke for the early afternoon.
The Village Cigar Co.
2049 Pine St
Burlington
Thursday, June 6, 2013
More beer ratings!
Summer beers are out at the LCBO! Here are a few, I'd shy away from the Bush/Scaldi's Triple and the Abbaye des Rocs, but everything else thus far has been very good. There's an exciting semi-sour from Amsterdam/Great Lakes and a full sour from Bockor that make great complex and refreshing drinks, while the Beau's Festivale and Lone Pine IPA are good matches for food. Also, one beer from the summer brewery feature, Renaissance of New Zealand.
Sawdust City Lone Pine IPA
500 mL bottle. Pours clear amber with a foamy white head. Caramel toffee nose with earthy pine, citrus zest, honey and wax. Mildly sweet and medium carbonation, sticky mouth feel and a long bitter finish. A well balanced IPA, much better on cask, but what isn’t?
Beau's Festivale Plus
600 mL bottle. Pours red amber with a thick white head. Aromas of berry, crystal malt, earthy hops and brown butter nuttiness. Well rounded, medium body with a slick mouthfeel, nice hop bite. A tasty malt forward beer.
Bush/Scaldi's Blonde Tripel
750 mL bottle. Pours straw with a thick white head. Aroma of banana, cotton candy, clove and floral hop. Aggressively sweet and a bit of alcohol bite. High carbonation with medium body. Too sweet and hot for me.
Abbaye des Rocs Blanche des Honnelles
330 mL bottle. Pours a hazy honey orange color with a thin white head. Nose is wheat and citrus, wildflower honey and floral musty hop. Slightly sweet with layered notes of yeast spice and aroma hop. High carbonation and thick wheaty mouthfeel. Well rounded and balanced but not outstanding.
Renaissance Discovery American Pale Ale
500 mL bottle. Pours amber with a thin white head. Fruity with a touch of Vienna/Munich malt on the nose, berry, light caramel and floral hop. Mildly bitter, dry and clean. A great session ale.
Amsterdam/Great Lakes Maverick & Gose
500 mL bottle. Pours a hazy yellow orange with a blotchy white head. Aromas of orange, coriander, lemon zest, mineral and floral hop notes. Taste is crisp and dry, with a light easy drinking body and a clean, slightly saline and tart finish. Unique and refreshing.
Bockor Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge
330 mL bottle. Pours a reddish brown with a thin white head. Aromas of apple, sour cherry, nectarine, a touch of vanilla and oak, and a fragrant tea-like note. Full on sour with a fine mouth feel and medium body. Lingering sourness and minimal hop bitterness or aroma. Complex and smooth, undoubtedly well made. A great sour.
As always:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
Sawdust City Lone Pine IPA
500 mL bottle. Pours clear amber with a foamy white head. Caramel toffee nose with earthy pine, citrus zest, honey and wax. Mildly sweet and medium carbonation, sticky mouth feel and a long bitter finish. A well balanced IPA, much better on cask, but what isn’t?
Beau's Festivale Plus
600 mL bottle. Pours red amber with a thick white head. Aromas of berry, crystal malt, earthy hops and brown butter nuttiness. Well rounded, medium body with a slick mouthfeel, nice hop bite. A tasty malt forward beer.
Bush/Scaldi's Blonde Tripel
750 mL bottle. Pours straw with a thick white head. Aroma of banana, cotton candy, clove and floral hop. Aggressively sweet and a bit of alcohol bite. High carbonation with medium body. Too sweet and hot for me.
Abbaye des Rocs Blanche des Honnelles
330 mL bottle. Pours a hazy honey orange color with a thin white head. Nose is wheat and citrus, wildflower honey and floral musty hop. Slightly sweet with layered notes of yeast spice and aroma hop. High carbonation and thick wheaty mouthfeel. Well rounded and balanced but not outstanding.
Renaissance Discovery American Pale Ale
500 mL bottle. Pours amber with a thin white head. Fruity with a touch of Vienna/Munich malt on the nose, berry, light caramel and floral hop. Mildly bitter, dry and clean. A great session ale.
Amsterdam/Great Lakes Maverick & Gose
500 mL bottle. Pours a hazy yellow orange with a blotchy white head. Aromas of orange, coriander, lemon zest, mineral and floral hop notes. Taste is crisp and dry, with a light easy drinking body and a clean, slightly saline and tart finish. Unique and refreshing.
Bockor Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge
330 mL bottle. Pours a reddish brown with a thin white head. Aromas of apple, sour cherry, nectarine, a touch of vanilla and oak, and a fragrant tea-like note. Full on sour with a fine mouth feel and medium body. Lingering sourness and minimal hop bitterness or aroma. Complex and smooth, undoubtedly well made. A great sour.
As always:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
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