Brewery: Clipper City Brewing Co.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Style: Barleywine
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Todays tasting is the Below Decks, which is a limited release barleywine from Clipper City's Heavy Seas line. The Below Decks is a deep reddish-amber in color. It it rather hazy and has a fair amount of sediment. Be sure to take proper pouring precautions if you don't want sediment in your glass. The head is golden tan in color and fairly short. The nose has citrus notes of grapefruit with some pineapple. There is also some yeast and an overall aroma profile similar to an off-dry white wine.
The Below Decks Barley Wine has hard cider and sweet malt flavors. Honey, apple, pear and yeast are all present on the palate. There is also a pleasant bitter kick, with some pine and floral hops flavors noticable. There is a strong alcohol component present. The Below Decks has a medium body with a bit of a drying mouthfeel. The finish has notes of sweet bread, lambic and honey.
Some barleywines are pretty drinkable right away upon their release. Many more do their best after some time to age in the bottle, much like a big red wine. The Below Decks seems to be tending toward the latter. There are some nice flavors here, but some additional time in the bottle should bring soften up the edges a bit as the sweetness starts to fade and the flavors start to marry. The label does suggest that the Heavy Seas Below Decks will age well (as many bottle-conditioned barleywines do), so I will be cellaring the rest of this 4-pack. I'll check back in a year with an update.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Style: Pale Ale
Location: Chico, CA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
The Sierra Nevada Pale ale is the flagship beer from Sierra Nevada Brewing. In recent years, I have found this beer becoming very widely available. Behind Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Sam's seasonal beers, the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is probably one of the top 2 or 3 craft beers a bar or restaurant is most likely to carry. It is quite a success story for a microbrew.
The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is golden amber in color with a slight haziness. A firm pour leaves a two-finger thick off-white head that fades slowly leaving behind a clingy lace. The nose has a bright citrus aroma along with some bready malt. There is a touch of piney hops as well.
The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale has a bready malt flavor up front with some sweetness. There is a big malt flavor in the middle of the tongue. Bitter hops starts to build as the malt rounds out. There is a wide profile of hops flavors present, but they are not as powerful as the nose would have you believe. A grapefruit-like citrus is most noticible, but there are floral hops and pine present as well. There is nice fizzy carbonation and a touch of astringency. The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is medium bodied, which is full enough to hold up to its big flavors without being too heavy. The finish is balanced between bitter and fruity hops, with some residual sweet malt notes still hanging on.
This is a good time to mention glassware for tasting beer. While I'm not a stickler for matching various types of beer to different types of glasses, I do think if you want to seriously taste a beer then you will have a better experience if you are using a glass suited to tasting beer. The key is that the glass should be big enough to hold as much beer as you're planning to pour with plentry of room left over for a good sized head and also with extra room to spare for your nose. I recently picked up a couple of slightly-oversized pilsner glasses at Pier 1 Imports for $4 apiece and they have been well worth the investment. Oversized pint glasses (the type with the bulbous top) and goblets work equally as well.
The reason I mention glassware here is because the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is one of the best smelling beers out there. It smells like walking through a Cascade hops yard. If given the opportunity, do youself a favor and pour this one in a glass instead of drinking it straight from the bottle. Also, if this has been stored in a cold fridge, let it come up a few degrees before you crack into it. The aroma will be worth the extra effort, I promise. My only qualm with the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is that for all the big hoppiness on the nose, once the beer hits the palate the hoppiness takes a big step down. I'd love to taste a version of this beer where the hops get ratcheted up a notch or two.
Style: Pale Ale
Location: Chico, CA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
The Sierra Nevada Pale ale is the flagship beer from Sierra Nevada Brewing. In recent years, I have found this beer becoming very widely available. Behind Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Sam's seasonal beers, the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is probably one of the top 2 or 3 craft beers a bar or restaurant is most likely to carry. It is quite a success story for a microbrew.
The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is golden amber in color with a slight haziness. A firm pour leaves a two-finger thick off-white head that fades slowly leaving behind a clingy lace. The nose has a bright citrus aroma along with some bready malt. There is a touch of piney hops as well.
The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale has a bready malt flavor up front with some sweetness. There is a big malt flavor in the middle of the tongue. Bitter hops starts to build as the malt rounds out. There is a wide profile of hops flavors present, but they are not as powerful as the nose would have you believe. A grapefruit-like citrus is most noticible, but there are floral hops and pine present as well. There is nice fizzy carbonation and a touch of astringency. The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is medium bodied, which is full enough to hold up to its big flavors without being too heavy. The finish is balanced between bitter and fruity hops, with some residual sweet malt notes still hanging on.
This is a good time to mention glassware for tasting beer. While I'm not a stickler for matching various types of beer to different types of glasses, I do think if you want to seriously taste a beer then you will have a better experience if you are using a glass suited to tasting beer. The key is that the glass should be big enough to hold as much beer as you're planning to pour with plentry of room left over for a good sized head and also with extra room to spare for your nose. I recently picked up a couple of slightly-oversized pilsner glasses at Pier 1 Imports for $4 apiece and they have been well worth the investment. Oversized pint glasses (the type with the bulbous top) and goblets work equally as well.
The reason I mention glassware here is because the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is one of the best smelling beers out there. It smells like walking through a Cascade hops yard. If given the opportunity, do youself a favor and pour this one in a glass instead of drinking it straight from the bottle. Also, if this has been stored in a cold fridge, let it come up a few degrees before you crack into it. The aroma will be worth the extra effort, I promise. My only qualm with the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is that for all the big hoppiness on the nose, once the beer hits the palate the hoppiness takes a big step down. I'd love to taste a version of this beer where the hops get ratcheted up a notch or two.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Pilsner Urquell
Brewery: Plzensky Prazdroj
Location: Pilsen, Czech Republic
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Since I've been in a big pilsner mood lately, I decided to head to the source for this review. The name Pilsner Urquell translates to "the pilsner from the original source". While the recipe has no doubt changed since the beer's inception in 1842, Pilsner Urquell continues to be one of Europe's best-known pilsners.
Pilsner Urquell is clear, light amber in color. There is a white, foamy head that clings to the glass. There is a stream of fine bubbles that rise similar to champagne. The nose has bread, yeast and sweet aromas. There are some floral notes on the nose as well. A faint hint of skunky sulphur aroma is present initially, but fades quickly (as opposed to many of its European green-bottle brethren).
On the palate, there is a lot of sweet cereal up front. There is a mild hoppy bitterness present as well. Mineral notes, molasses and floral hops flavors play a complimentary role. The Pilsner Urquell is light-to-medium bodied with some light fizz on the tongue. The finish has more of the sweet cereal, with bitter notes to compliment it.
While Pilsner Urquell can't compete with the big flavors of craft-brewed pilsners, it certainly rises to the top of the class when it comes to mass-market European lagers. If you're a fan of Heineken, Becks, Molsen, etc., then give Pilsner Urquell a try. It might be time for a beer upgrade.
Location: Pilsen, Czech Republic
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Since I've been in a big pilsner mood lately, I decided to head to the source for this review. The name Pilsner Urquell translates to "the pilsner from the original source". While the recipe has no doubt changed since the beer's inception in 1842, Pilsner Urquell continues to be one of Europe's best-known pilsners.
Pilsner Urquell is clear, light amber in color. There is a white, foamy head that clings to the glass. There is a stream of fine bubbles that rise similar to champagne. The nose has bread, yeast and sweet aromas. There are some floral notes on the nose as well. A faint hint of skunky sulphur aroma is present initially, but fades quickly (as opposed to many of its European green-bottle brethren).
On the palate, there is a lot of sweet cereal up front. There is a mild hoppy bitterness present as well. Mineral notes, molasses and floral hops flavors play a complimentary role. The Pilsner Urquell is light-to-medium bodied with some light fizz on the tongue. The finish has more of the sweet cereal, with bitter notes to compliment it.
While Pilsner Urquell can't compete with the big flavors of craft-brewed pilsners, it certainly rises to the top of the class when it comes to mass-market European lagers. If you're a fan of Heineken, Becks, Molsen, etc., then give Pilsner Urquell a try. It might be time for a beer upgrade.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter
Brewery: Samuel Smith's Old Brewery
Style: Porter
Location: Tadcaster, England
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Samuel Smith's The Famous Taddy Porter is one of the flagship beers from one of England's top craft breweries. The Taddy Porter is a very dark brown (nearly black) and completely opaque in the glass. The head is deep brown, like the color of chocolate milk. The foamy head hangs around for a good long while. The nose has coffee and chocolate notes detectable in the overall sweet and roasted aromas.
The initial flavors on the palate are coffee and caramel. Smoky, roasted notes start to pick up as the initial sweetness starts to fade. There are some fruity notes, like sweet cherries. There is a bit of acidity present as well. There is an initial fizziness from the carbonation that fades to a light-to-medium bodied creamy mouthfeel. The finish fades with more of the smoky, roast coffee and chocolate notes.
The Samuel Smith Taddy Porter is a world-renowned beer, and rightfully so. My only reservation is that to me this is a big beer stuck in a body that's just a bit too light. There are some big flavors here that seem a bit held back. Sometimes it's a good thing to be left wanting more, but not for me with this beer.
Style: Porter
Location: Tadcaster, England
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Samuel Smith's The Famous Taddy Porter is one of the flagship beers from one of England's top craft breweries. The Taddy Porter is a very dark brown (nearly black) and completely opaque in the glass. The head is deep brown, like the color of chocolate milk. The foamy head hangs around for a good long while. The nose has coffee and chocolate notes detectable in the overall sweet and roasted aromas.
The initial flavors on the palate are coffee and caramel. Smoky, roasted notes start to pick up as the initial sweetness starts to fade. There are some fruity notes, like sweet cherries. There is a bit of acidity present as well. There is an initial fizziness from the carbonation that fades to a light-to-medium bodied creamy mouthfeel. The finish fades with more of the smoky, roast coffee and chocolate notes.
The Samuel Smith Taddy Porter is a world-renowned beer, and rightfully so. My only reservation is that to me this is a big beer stuck in a body that's just a bit too light. There are some big flavors here that seem a bit held back. Sometimes it's a good thing to be left wanting more, but not for me with this beer.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Red Seal Ale
Brewery: North Coast Brewing Co.
Style: Amber
Location: Fort Bragg, CA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Being a New Englander, the majority of the microbrews that are available locally are from the New England and Mid-Atlantic areas. Thankfully, we can find a handful of the better west coast beers around my parts. Red Seal Ale from North Coast Brewing is a beer that's well worth searching out.
The Red Seal Ale pours a hazy amber-brown in the glass. An average pour leaves a thick, golden-tan head which leaves a sticky lacing as it subsides. The nose has fruity hops along with almond and mineral notes.
The initial flavors that show through are sweet malt and fruity hops. Bitter notes develop and pick up in intensity after a few sips. The Red Seal has some mild acidity. There are flavors of yeast, seaweed/iodine as well as mineral notes. The Red Seal Ale has a medium body with some creaminess. The finish is bitter hops with a crisp minerality.
While technically billed as an amber, the Red Seal Ale drinks like a good American Pale Ale. Fans of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale should hunt down some Red Seal (no pun intended). This is a classic American ale.
Style: Amber
Location: Fort Bragg, CA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Being a New Englander, the majority of the microbrews that are available locally are from the New England and Mid-Atlantic areas. Thankfully, we can find a handful of the better west coast beers around my parts. Red Seal Ale from North Coast Brewing is a beer that's well worth searching out.
The Red Seal Ale pours a hazy amber-brown in the glass. An average pour leaves a thick, golden-tan head which leaves a sticky lacing as it subsides. The nose has fruity hops along with almond and mineral notes.
The initial flavors that show through are sweet malt and fruity hops. Bitter notes develop and pick up in intensity after a few sips. The Red Seal has some mild acidity. There are flavors of yeast, seaweed/iodine as well as mineral notes. The Red Seal Ale has a medium body with some creaminess. The finish is bitter hops with a crisp minerality.
While technically billed as an amber, the Red Seal Ale drinks like a good American Pale Ale. Fans of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale should hunt down some Red Seal (no pun intended). This is a classic American ale.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock
Brewery: Sierra Nevada
Style: Maibock
Location: Chico, CA
Brewery Website
Rating: B-
The Sierra Nevada spring seasonal beer is the Glissade Golden Bock. The beer pours a golden yellow with a touch of reddish-tan. The white head slowly dies down to a clumpy foam. The nose has a lagery malt aroma. Floral hops and sweet corn are also detectable on the nose.
The Sierra Nevada Glissade has a strong malt character up front. There are notes of piney bitter hops and rye bread. As the malt flavors fade, the pine resin character of the hops takes over, leading to a finish with a bitter hoppy bite. The Glissade is medium-bodied with some mild acidity and astringency. The Sierra Nevada Glissade is a decent beer, but the flavor profile isn't really up my alley. It tastes like someone took a European lager and then went a little overboard on the hops.
Style: Maibock
Location: Chico, CA
Brewery Website
Rating: B-
The Sierra Nevada spring seasonal beer is the Glissade Golden Bock. The beer pours a golden yellow with a touch of reddish-tan. The white head slowly dies down to a clumpy foam. The nose has a lagery malt aroma. Floral hops and sweet corn are also detectable on the nose.
The Sierra Nevada Glissade has a strong malt character up front. There are notes of piney bitter hops and rye bread. As the malt flavors fade, the pine resin character of the hops takes over, leading to a finish with a bitter hoppy bite. The Glissade is medium-bodied with some mild acidity and astringency. The Sierra Nevada Glissade is a decent beer, but the flavor profile isn't really up my alley. It tastes like someone took a European lager and then went a little overboard on the hops.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Anchor Steam Beer
Brewery: Anchor Brewing Company
Style: Steam Beer
Location: Sanfrancisco, CA
Brewery Website
Rating: A
The Anchor Steam Beer was one of the first true craft beers of modern times, and it is still one of the best. Modern production of Anchor Steam started in the early 1970's, at a time when mass-produced beer was reaching its pinnacle. To this day, Anchor still produces all their beer using traditional techniques.
Anchor Steam beer is deep amber in color with a reddish-brown hue. It has a bubbly, light off-white head that fades rather quickly. The nose has citrus and floral notes to it. There is also a faint nutty aroma.
On the palate the Anchor Steam has a mild acidity with bready malt flavor. There is noticible bitterness, but it is well-balanced with the other flavors. There is some sweetness and a hint of alcohol. There are supporting notes of earth, nuts, berries and hop flowers. The Anchor Steam Beer is mid bodied with hints of both juiciness and astringency. The finish has bread, berries and bitter notes.
I enjoyed my Anchor Steam Beer with some leftover pizza, and it goes great with barbecue as well. This is a classic beer that everyone should try. If you haven't had one recently, it may be time to give it another visit. Your taste buds will thank you.
Style: Steam Beer
Location: Sanfrancisco, CA
Brewery Website
Rating: A
The Anchor Steam Beer was one of the first true craft beers of modern times, and it is still one of the best. Modern production of Anchor Steam started in the early 1970's, at a time when mass-produced beer was reaching its pinnacle. To this day, Anchor still produces all their beer using traditional techniques.
Anchor Steam beer is deep amber in color with a reddish-brown hue. It has a bubbly, light off-white head that fades rather quickly. The nose has citrus and floral notes to it. There is also a faint nutty aroma.
On the palate the Anchor Steam has a mild acidity with bready malt flavor. There is noticible bitterness, but it is well-balanced with the other flavors. There is some sweetness and a hint of alcohol. There are supporting notes of earth, nuts, berries and hop flowers. The Anchor Steam Beer is mid bodied with hints of both juiciness and astringency. The finish has bread, berries and bitter notes.
I enjoyed my Anchor Steam Beer with some leftover pizza, and it goes great with barbecue as well. This is a classic beer that everyone should try. If you haven't had one recently, it may be time to give it another visit. Your taste buds will thank you.
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