548. Sixpoint Diesel

Each dawn is clear
Cold air bites the throat.

Thick frost on the pine bough

Leaps from the tree snapped by the deisel

The above are the opening lines from the eighth poem in the “Logging” section of Gary Snyder’s Myths and Texts; it is also the excerpt Sixpoint uses to keep their poetry-theme going with Diesel. How can anyone not love beer and poetry? Well, I mean, as long as you have a soul. Our previous dalliances with Sixpoint include Apollo, Bengali Tiger IPA,  Righteous Rye, that sweet, Sweet Action, and Signal.

Diesel pours a clear chocolate with some light red highlights and a cafe au lait-colored head that manages to hang around for a while, and even provide some lacing on the glass along the way. It also rouses rather easily when swirled. The nose is a mix of roast and pine, with the pine rather faint and in the background; as it warms, there is also some caramel sweetness and a more pronounced bitterness. Flavors start with roast, caramel, dark chocolate, and a touch of brown sugar, leading into pine and hop bitterness in the middle. The finish is dry and crisp, with residual caramel flavor mixed in with creaminess and even more bitterness; there is also a touch of mineral chalkiness and burnt toast, and maybe a hint of alcohol buried behind the bitterness. The body is thin, with more bitterness than roastiness, and none of the weird sourness found in some of the other Black IPAs we’ve sampled: it strikes us as more Black IPA than stout—even if we were pretending it was a dry stout—regardless of Sixpoint’s description on the website. There is some lingering astringent roast that is the last remaining flavor on the back of the throat—it almost comes across as alcohol heat, if that makes any sense. Nonetheless, a solid beer from a solid brewery: the emphasis on bitterness got good marks from Elli, and I found both the bitterness and the dark flavors with a light body enjoyable and refreshing. Word.

From the can: “On the darkest days of the year, light becomes a luxury. Just when you think you cannot penetrate the darkness. . .SNAP! Light pierces through the roasted pine forest.”

From the Sixpoint website: “This undefinable black brew is part black IPA, part American Stout, but 100% Diesel powered. Robust chocolate and roasted flavors, with thick pine hop flavor and aroma.”

ABV: 6.3%
IBU: 69
SRM: 33

(12/15/2012)

528. Ommegang Biere d’Hougoumont

Ah, Ommegang, how we’ve missed you. We drank this while watching eleven hours of the Olympics on fast forward. How else are we supposed to fit it all in? We’ll add this to the list, which includes Tripel Perfection, Zuur, Three Philosophers, Hennepin, Bière de Mars, and Witte. Bring on more.

Described as a biere de garde aged on maple and oak wood staves, Biere d’Hougoumont pours a brilliantly clear amber and has a white head that is small, tight, and fine with excellent staying power. The nose opens with a distinct cellar must and cork character (yes, I’m going with that; that phrase came to my head while smelling the beer, and it seemed appropriate, so I’m sticking with it) followed by candy malt; as the beer opens up, the candy sweetness comes to the forefront and the must disappears. There are also hints of caramel and perfume from the yeast esters. Flavors start with a dry biscuit and cracker malt, giving way to caramel and pleasant spicy yeast phenols accompanied with just a touch of hop bitterness. The finish is sweet, creamy, and dry at first; a touch of alcohol flavor and warmth emerge as the beer rounds in body. Bright carbonation blends well with the dry, slightly creamy but chewy mouthfeel; as noted above, there is some alcohol, but nothing harsh or sharp. This is a well-balanced beer as a whole, although it does become less even as it warms—the youth of the beer starts to come out with some time spent in the glass. Surprisingly, there is not much discernible in regards to the wood presence in the beer. As it stands, it is currently a good beer for not having any real distinct character—there are no flaws, but nothing really stands out. And I would agree with the language on the bottle indicating this beer is a good candidate for aging, as a couple of years should give this beer depth and complexity, making it splendid.

From the bottle: “Hougoumont is brewed with French ale yeast, eight malts, French Strisselspalt hops, and aged on wood. A traditional biere de garde style, this malty French-styled farmhouse ale is brewed to be aged. The name honors the Hougoumont farmstead at the pivotal center of the Waterloo Battlefield. Napoleon repeatedly failed to take the farmstead, then lost the battle, and ‘met his Waterloo.’”

ABV: 7.3%

And sorry, I forgot to take a picture. Really, you’re better off that way.

(8/5/2012)

513. Sixpoint Apollo

More sweet can action from Sixpoint, this one being their summer wheat beer. And more poetry: “A something in a summer’s Day/ As slow her flambeaux burn away/ Which solemnizes me./ A something in a summer’s noon—/ A depth—an Azure—a perfume—/ Transcending ecstasy.” Hot damn—Emily Dickinson! What’s not to love about Sixpoint? And if you know something, like they secretly grind up babies and add them to the mash, please don’t tell me. This is the one rare case where I’m pretty certain that ignorance is bliss. And I’d like to keep it that way, if you know what I mean. Previous encounters with the feng shui of beer brewing include Bengali Tiger IPA,  Righteous Rye, Sweet Action (which could possibly be the best beer name ever), and Signal. Babies in the mash. Dag. Color me awesome.

Apollo pours a hazy, dusky gold with a white head that falls to lingering wisps. The nose is bubblegum and wheat doughiness; there is banana and clove (with more banana than clove), but it comes after the initial thrust of the bubblegum. Further in the background is some light spicy phenols and sugary sweet candy aromas. Flavors follow the nose; bubblegum, banana, and candy wheat sweetness in the front, clove and zesty bread dough in the middle, and a slight tart bite in the finish followed by a smooth banana cream pie flavor coupled with a slight spiciness. I’d make some sort of “happy endings” joke, but that would be inappropriate. The bubblegum does scrub out a bit as the beer warms, leaving more banana, which is a shame as the Bazooka Joe flavor played well across the entire profile. The body is gummy and doughy—in the nose, in the flavor, and on the palate—while the carbonation is medium: It adds slightly to the zing in the finish, but mostly rounds the beer as a whole. Certainly not your average American wheat, thank goodness! Apollo is crisp, bright, and refreshing with subtlety and depth. My only critique would be that they could dial down the gumminess (and maybe the sweetness) of the body a touch to make this even brisker and brighter, and up the zingy tang at the finish—currently the banana covers over too much of the tartness in the finish. Nonetheless, delicious: another solid beer from Sixpoint.

From the Sixpoint website: “The unmistakable flavor of a Bavarian Wheat, but with a clear golden brilliance and a Sixpoint twist. An entirely unique canned offering for the sun-worshipping ale lovers.”

ABV: 5.2%
IBU: 11

(5/16/2012)

512. Sixpoint Bengali Tiger IPA

Sixpoint cans are now available in Dayton. It’s like a little slice of heaven for those of us in the hinterlands. Yes, I speak pejoratively about Dayton. And no, I don’t feel bad about it—if Dayton can’t take some legitimate criticism, then shit is worse than I imagined. Because let’s be honest: Sixpoint brings it. Between Bengali Tiger and Sweet Action, Sixpoint is all up front. There ain’t no lay-away, there ain’t no “can I pay you next Tuesday,” there ain’t no phone soliciting for a free cruise. And there certainly ain’t no half-steppin’. No image or aura to boast about but not follow through on. Straight proper product. For your smooth sippin’ pleasure. It’s like the Wu Tang Clan in cold liquid form. Sixpoint even slips in the smooth literary reference on the can: “What immortal hand or eye / Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” Sure, William Blake is a bit of a ponce, but damn, poetry on cans? That’s something I can get behind. What with the “Beer is Culture” reference on the can, me thinks Sixpoint is taking the high road in the low brow beer culture wars. And for that, I raise my glass to Sixpoint. Sure, we’ve drank Sixpoint before, but not in town and not on any damn night we felt like. And let me tell you, it feels good. Our previous scions of illustrious worth include Righteous Rye, Sweet Action (which could possibly be the best beer name ever), and Signal. And now a little of the Bengali Tiger. Colonial English references never tasted so good.

Bengali Tiger IPA pours a hazy orange copper with a lustrous white head that holds on like the foam of whisked egg whites. The nose is a mix of hops and malt: on the hop side there is citrus and resin, with orange jam and marmalade aroma coming out the strongest, while on the malt side, there is both graininess and huskiness doused with a touch of caramel. There is a touch of hop grassiness that sneaks in on the side, but nothing distracting. Flavors start with orange hop bitterness and husky bread dough—the hop flavor reinforces the jammy orange resin of the nose as well as the dry grainy bread malt character. There is some evergreen hop flavors that dances along the edges that eases the transition into the bitterness of the middle, which bites clean with a touch of hop spiciness as it continues on into the finish. I get a touch of biscuit in the final bit of flavor before the beer gives way to the lingering pine and resin bitterness. The body is medium with a slightly sharp carbonation; the mouthfeel is doughy but bright, and it lightens on the palate via both the carbonation and the hop bitterness. I’m left with a slight evergreen bitterness and freshness in my mouth after the beer is gone. Which, whether my description conveys it or not, is delightful. Because let’s be honest—this is precisely the taste everyone wishes was left in their mouth after they used mouthwash, not that medicinal mint and burning that is supposed to signify “fresh breath.” Which is only another way of saying that if I could start my day with Bengali Tiger IPA, I would. Damn, I love you Sixpoint.

From the Sixpoint website: “The Sixpoint homebrewed IPA interpretation. Blaze orange in color, with an abundance of citrus hop bitterness, and a full pine and grapefruit bouquet in the aroma.”

ABV: 6.4%

IBU: 62

(4/30/2012)

466. Ommegang Tripel Perfection

It looks like that whole hiding beer in the basement is paying dividends again. This is our latest from Brewery Ommegang. We’ve been sitting on it for a while, although it would appear that we didn’t sit on it quite enough. Alas, alas, with that 20/15 hindsight. Previous exercises in libation consumption include Zuur, Three Philosophers, Hennepin, Bière de Mars, and Witte. Ah, the tasty, tasty solace...

Tripel Perfection, a limited release from Ommegang, pours a hazy golden orange with a spritzy white head that doesn’t have much volume but does have good staying power along with plentiful small white bubbles. The nose consists of juicy fruit esters, spices, and a delicate floral perfume-y character. Elli adds “it also smells like bananas that someone needs to throw away.” Flavors start with light malt and Belgian candy sweetness before moving into a fruity middle that features hints of banana, apple, and apricot. There is also some stickiness in the middle and finish, although as the beer warms, the overly sweet components drop off. The finish is sweet but dry, and there is a slight metallic tinge at the back of the tongue. There is also a touch of alcohol in the finish, both in flavor and in warmth; it . The mouthfeel is sweet, doughy, and sticky—it tastes not quite finished; while the flavors are good, it is still a bit uneven in regards to the malt stickiness and the alcohol warmth. We probably should have waited longer before drinking this—the bottle says best by 2013—but we figured we should give it a run. And, after all, any beer from Ommegang is pretty much worth drinking.

From the bottle: “The tripel is among the most popular of Belgian ales. Brewed with simple ingredients and fierce attention to detail, there is little room for error—but lots of opportunity. Perfection isn’t easily achieved—but once achieved it is always memorable.”

Bottled: 3/15/2010

ABV: 8.9%

Where can I find me some of that Gnomegang?

(3/28/2011)

420. Brooklyn Detonation Double IPA

I scored this at the Party Source in Newport, KY; we swung by there after Oktoberbest yesterday and I couldn’t say no—Brooklyn Brewmaster’s Series on tap? Hello, that’s why growlers were invented! Previously, we’ve tried Brooklyn Katz, Summer Ale, Sorachi Ace, Black Ops 2010, East India Pale Ale and Pennant Ale ’55. That makes Detonation lucky number 7. True that.

Pouring a hazy rich and bright copper, Detonation has a thin ivory head that hangs around—it rings the glass, but still has a light cover even half way through the glass. The nose is spicy and piney with some citrus underneath; there is a fair amount of sweet maltiness to balance the hop presence, and a gentle soft creamy aroma that rounds things out. Once it is in the mouth, soft biscuit sweetness covers the tongue followed quickly by an evergreen and citrus hop tang that envelopes the mouth. As the hop flavors recede, a pleasant bitterness emerges, balancing well with the creamy biscuit malt flavors and the mineral tang that rises with the carbonation bite as the beer turns to the finish. Resin, pine, and spicy hop flavor makes up the finish, although there is a touch of citrus—lemon, orange, and grapefruit—adding their zing to the beer. There is a long, lingering bitterness as the flavors recede, and just a touch of alcohol warmth. With a medium to heavy body and a medium carbonation, Detonation has chewy mouthfeel made lighter by both the hop bitterness and carbonation. There is a bit of hop grassiness and sharpness that develops in the beer as it warms; while there are some of the hallmarks of a bigger beer—heavier mouthfeel, large hop presence, and the alcohol warmth at the end—Detonation goes down smooth and easy. If I was out and found this on tap, I could easily see me getting myself in trouble. But my behavior (or lack thereof) is not the point here—it is, rather, the beer. And Detonation is just about perfect for that lazy Sunday afternoon, out on the back porch enjoying one of the last waning days of summer, the bite of fall already creeping into the early evening. Detonation takes the chill off, or, to put it into a metaphoric construction more in keeping with the name, Detonation is droppin’ bombs on your moms.

From the Brooklyn website: “For about eight years now, we’ve brewed a Brooklyn-style hop monster called BLAST! It’s a robust IPA using both British and Pacific Northwest hops. We haven’t had enough space to brew much of it, but we hear that people really enjoy BLAST! when it shows up. And it’s one of our favorite beers here at the brewery. Well, now we’d like more of you to see our hoppier side. Meet BLAST!’s big brother, Brooklyn Detonation Ale. It’s a copper-colored pale ale with British malt character, American hop ebullience, Brooklyn attitude and disturbing drinkability. British caramel malts lend richness and depth, while a blend of American hops give the beer a minerally backbone and explosive aromatics (with a special guest appearance by our pal East Kent Golding as ‘The English Aristocrat’). Brooklyn Detonation Ale is mighty tasty. It probably even gives you fresher breath and whiter teeth, but we can’t prove that part. Nor can we support the claim that it concentrates the mind on life’s better aspects. However, we can guarantee that it’s terrific with pork tacos, Thai food, Indian dishes, burgers, and sharp cheeses. So have yourself some Brooklyn Detonation Ale–after all, isn’t it about time you blew up?”

Malts: British floor malted Maris Otter, German pilsner malt, British crystal malt

Other sugars: First pressing Demerara sugar, Mauritius

Hops: Willamette, Amarillo, Palisade, Sorachi Ace, Simcoe, Cascade & East Kent Golding

O.G.: 21.5° P

ABV: 10.2%

You check out that crazy fool the English Aristocrat? Yo, that’s who’s dropping those bombs on your moms...

(10/17/2010)

399. Southern Tier IPA

It’s the return of the non-imperial. Another rare appearance of the small beer from Southern Tier here on what we’re drinking—I know, I know, will such shocks never end. Added to Pale Ale, Krampus, Old Man Winter, Crème Brûlée, Mokah, and Jah*va, this makes seven from Southern Tier. And that’s the money number...

Described on the website as “the iso-alpha acid experience,” STIPA pours a lightly hazy but mostly clear copper with an ivory head that also laces the glass quite nicely. The nose is an even mix or caramel and bread maltiness coupled with spicy, resiny, and piney hop aromas. In other words, the nose is tasty smelling—even Elli approves of this nose. The flavors start bright on the mouth, helped in part by the carbonation—the carbonation hits the front of the mouth early and then bites a bit more on the final third, giving STIPA a slightly spritzy start that works nicely. The bready caramel front also carries a touch of spicy resin hop flavor before giving way to the bitterness of the middle, which has some of the initial hoppiness along with some additional pine hop flavor and a bit of biscuit malt. The finish is pleasantly bitter mixed with more of the hop spiciness and some caramel flavors, the bitterness lingering lightly on the palate. STIPA has a medium body with a balanced mouthfeel—the hop profile is both complex and nuanced, but works in tandem with the hop profile. As noted above, the carbonation enhances and builds the flavor and mouthfeel; STIPA is smooth, and very, very quaffable. And, might I add, well done.

From the Southern Tier website: “IPA stands for India Pale Ale and ours is an American version of the classic style. IPA’s namesake lies in its colonial roots. British soldiers on their way to India drank a lot of beer, but found it would go stale on the long voyages. Meanwhile, brewers knew that by adding more hops the beer would stay fresh. Voila! A new style was born and it is one we are proud to brew. Southern Tier IPA is triple hopped on its journey to your glass for a fully aromatic experience.”

ABV: 7.4%

(8/3/2010)

398. Captain Lawrence Captain’s Reserve Imperial IPA

Thank fucking goodness for home. After yesterday’s fiasco, I was verily ready for something distinctly better. Captain Lawrence Brewing Company is located in Pleasantville, NY; I scored this at Bierkraft while I was visiting Adam and Jenn. Isn’t that what Brooklyn is for?

Pouring a lightly hazy gold, Captain’s Reserve Imperial IPA has a fine white head that laces the glass rather well. The nose is a lightly bready malt that also has a touch of caramel sweetness, and there is a generous amount of pine and resin hop aromas that accompany the malt. The beer drinks light for an imperial IPA; while there is the slightest warming touch in the back of the mouth at the end, it is otherwise smooth and easy drinking. Flavors open with a dry bready and bread crust malt flavor before moving into the bitterness of the middle. The middle also has good hop flavor—there is a lot of hop resin flavor that works well with the bitterness. The finish is dry and bitter, with the bitterness lingering, but only lightly. While neither the malt nor hop profile are very complex, both are well done and exceedingly well-balanced, giving this beer some sweet easy-drinkin’ action. The body is medium to heavy with a sweet and almost chewy mouthfeel, while the carbonation is medium to heavy—the brightness in the final third helps lighten the beer on the palate as well as cleaning and rounding the beer. Quite a nice beer overall—we could happily put down a couple of these, as it is very well-balanced for an imperial IPA, which is saying something. Nice job, Captain Lawrence—you can pilot my evening any time you like.

From the bottle: “Imperial India Pale Ale. Even the name sounds impressive. But what should really impress you is the hoppy nectar that is held within this bottle. A true testament to the ingenuity of the American craft brewers; this style of beer concentrates more hop character than any style before it. Created from a blend of different hop varieties, this beer is the ultimate hop lover’s dream come true. Cheers.”

From the Captain Lawrence website: “This beer is a salute to the ingenuity and creativity of the American craft brewers. A uniquely American style of beer, the Double or Imperial IPA, has become the calling card of many craft brewers who aren't afraid to push the limits of what hops can add to a beer. This beer is big and hoppy - not for the faint of heart! Be prepared to experience sensory overload as you savor this Imperial IPA. Hops, and lots of them. The aroma is bursting with the classic citrus and pine aroma of American-grown hops. The flavor is dominated by a hoppy bitterness, with just enough malt to make you want to take another sip.”

Hops: Columbus, Chinook, & Cascade

Malts: Domestic Pale, English Pale, & English Crystal

IBU: 80

OG: 20° P

(8/2/2010)

395. Ommegang Zuur and Brooklyn Kats

Today’s wandering tour of New York with Adam included a stop at the New Museum to see the Brion Gysin: Dream Machine exhibition (which was phenomenal), lunch at Katz’s Delicatessen, a quick matinee of Exit Through the Gift Shop, meeting up with Jenn, Stephen, and Stacy at d.b.a. for some beer sampling, and finally dinner at a restaurant whose name currently escapes me. So much culture, so little time...

We had our first beer of the day at Katz’s Delicatessen; listed as Katz’s Ale, it is made by Brooklyn Brewing. So pretty much a good call right of the bat. While the server didn’t know exactly what kind of beer it was, the easy money bet would be an American Brown. Whatever it was, it went perfect with the hot pastrami sandwich.

Adam in the background...

After a brief respite to take in Exit Through the Gift Shop—which, might I add, is a fantastic film—we wandered over to d.b.a. to meet up with Jenn as well as Stephen and Stacy, some more graduate school friends who have ended up in the greater NYC area. While I sampled the Pretty Things Baby Tree, and it was delicious, a quad on a warm afternoon doesn’t sit so well. Plus, the Ommegang Zuur was hard to resist—I mean, come on. Ommegang AND sour? Hot-diggety dog. I also got to try the Blaugies Saison D’Epeautre again, this time on tap, but I didn’t want to rub it in.

Ah, the big board.

I couldn’t find any descriptions of Brooklyn Katz’s Ale on the website, although I did find these pearls of wisdom from a drunk and surly Adam Goldfarb.

From Stan Hieronymus’s Brew Like a Monk website: “The Brewery Ommegang sour beer mentioned in the previous post now has a name: Ommegang Zuur. Larry Bennett, the minister of propaganda, provides some details about the beer brewed in collaboration with Liefmans in Belgium: ‘It’s a blended Flemish Sour brown. It’s a blend of two Liefmans beers: Oud Bruin, which is open fermented and then aged 6-8 months, and Liefmans Cuvee Brut, a new, fairly dry, kriek-style beer coming from Liefmans. The Cuvee Brut begins with Oud Bruin, then sits on cherries and is aged for a year. It’s then blended with more Oud Bruin and Goudenband.’”

Go Banksy!

(7/30/2010)

394. Sixpoint Righteous Rye and Sweet Action

A nice mellow vacation would fit the bill

So I’ll just be chillin’ in good ol’ Clinton Hill...

Tonight’s escapades include something of a mini Sixpoint marathon. Adam took me down to the Brooklyn Public House for dinner, and lo and behold: lots ’o Sixpoint on tap. Color me served. With beer. Both were delicious. But I’m still not taking notes. You’ll have to beg better than that, my pretties. I did find all y’all some nice descriptions from the internet, however.

From an interview with Shane Welch: “Righteous Ale – a unique style all its own. This beer is made with a significant proportion or rye malt, which lends a distinct sharpness. I ferment it with a blend of yeast – the Belgian Dubbel yeast and our IPA yeast – which adds an extra dimension of complexity. A small contribution of chocolate rye lends a distinct nuttiness. The second beer by Sixpoint to receive a cult following. 8.4% ABV, 64 IBU.”

From the same interview: “Sweet Action – a hard one to describe, simply because it doesn’t fit into any particular style. It’s made with Pilsner and Pale Malts, but is hopped with only noble hops. It’s fermented with a Belgian yeast that provides a dry spiciness. Look for a unique orange taste underneath it all. 6.9% ABV, 33 IBU.”

The ABV listings are all over the map for these two beers, so I’ll leave it at that. Plus, Sixpoint is soon to be launching a Mad Scientists Series. Word!

(7/29/2010)

392. Sixpoint Signal

Since I like to pretend I’m a jet-setting trendsetter, this Tuesday found me flying to Brooklyn (well La Guardia, actually) to harass my friends Adam and Jenn. While Brooklyn means many things to many people, to me it spells good food and good drink. And not necessarily in that order. Adam and my initial wanderings post-airport pickup led us to some afternoon barhopping, including a stop at the Pacific Standard, a delightful bar with a stellar line-up of options (see also here). My choice was Sixpoint Signal from Sixpoint Craft Ales, which is located in Brooklyn, NY (don’t worry, there’ll be more from them soon). As for my notes on the beer, I didn’t take any. Let’s just say the beer was good. I did steal one of the bar menus, so I’ve included their description of the beer below. Sorry, but it’s called a vacation for a reason.

From the Pacific Standard bar menu: “Signal, a very-limited edition beer that was brewed in honor of New York City’s official Good Beer Month, and debuted at the Meatopia BBQ, is a light, fruity beer that’s good summer drinking, with just a faint note of smoke that helps it to go with barbecued meats. Get it while you can, because it won’t be around much longer. ABV unknown, probably low.”

I found this variously listed as an APA and an American IPA. Anyone want to help out here?

(7/27/2010)

366. Brooklyn Summer Ale

This beers marks the start of a new year, and since we had so much fun last year, we’ll at least give it the ol’ college try of doing it again. And what better way to set the pace of summer than with something from Brooklyn Brewing? This is our fifth beer from them, including Sorachi Ace, Black Ops 2010, East India Pale Ale and Pennant Ale ’55. Ah yeah. Beertastic.

Summer Ale is a clear must gold with a creamy white head that laces the glass rather well. With a grainy and bready nose that carries both a slight bitterness and sourness, the beer starts out smelling something a bit more like a lager than an ale (albeit a malty lager). There could also be some mustiness in the nose. Flavors begin bready with just a touch of sweetness; the middle has a touch of sourness mixed with low levels of bitterness, and the finish brings with it some musty and grainy flavors couple with slight sweetness and creaminess. There is also a return of some of the bready flavors from the start, and a bit of lingering bitterness to close things out. Summer Ale has a medium body with a soft, creamy, and bready body that is just short of chewy, while the carbonation is low to medium; it is generally soft on the palate, with a bit of a bite as the beer transitions into the final third. Pretty good as summer beers go, although the slight sourness makes this beer less thirst-quenching—if it was nice and hot, we’re sure it would go down smooth, but as is, it is a bit distracting. As well, the hop levels do fall short of what is indicated on the bottle—unless mustiness and sourness are new hop aromas we’ve missed, the “bright hop aroma” appears to be incognito. Nonetheless, as with all things Brooklyn, a well-crafted beer.

From the bottle: “Brooklyn Summer Ale is a summer refresher with difference. The difference comes from the malt-100% British two-row barley, prized for superior taste. Our Summer Ale is gold in color, with a soft bready flavor, snappy clean bitterness and bright hop aroma, and will taste best before the freshness date indicated. Please write or visit the brewery Saturdays noon to 5 p.m., at #1 Brewers Row, 79 North 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211, or our web site as www.brooklynbrewery.com”

From the Brooklyn website: “Available from April through July, Brooklyn Summer Ale is a modern rendition on the ‘Light Dinner Ale’ brewed in England throughout the 1800’s right up until the 1940’s. They were also called ‘luncheon ales,’ because they were refreshing and flavorful without being too heavy. We brew our Brooklyn Summer Ale from premium English barley malt, which gives this light-bodied beer a fresh bready flavor. German and American hops lend a light crisp bitterness and a citrus/floral aroma, resulting in a beer with a very sunny disposition.”

ABV: 5.0%
Malt: British 2-row
Hops: German Perle and American Cascade, Fuggle, and Amarillo
OG: 11° P
Best Before: Sept. 2010

Merciful matching glassware!

(7/1/2010)

355. Brooklyn Sorachi Ace

Another little something from Brooklyn Brewing—this is our fourth beer, including Black Ops 2010, East India Pale Ale and Pennant Ale ’55. Sorachi Ace pours a soft hazy straw with a white pillow-y head; the nose is tart, dry, creamy, and slightly earthy with some yeast esters dancing around to complicate things. Flavors are crisp and dry across the palate; the front is soft and cracker-y, moving into a slight bit of sweetness in the middle combined with yeast ester flavors (perceived mostly via a light fruitiness) and bitterness from the hops. The finish is slightly paper-y with some lingering bitterness. Sorachi Ace has a medium body; as saisons go, it is dry, but not as highly attenuated as some of the other ones that we’ve had—some of the dryness here may be attributable to the malt and hops. There is also some creaminess in the flavor and mouthfeel, along with dryness and softness. The carbonation is medium with a decent bite in the middle that does set up the bitterness nicely; it helps to clear the palate and round the beer. The balance and the body are good; it could be lighter in the body, and the carbonation could be a bit more effervescent to brighten and lighten the beer. A good beer overall; we’d be happy to drink more, and would like to try it on tap to see how it compares.

From the bottle: “Brooklyn Sorachi Ace is a classic saison, a cracklingly dry, hoppy unfiltered golden farmhouse ale, but featuring the rare Sorachi Ace hop. Fermented with our special Belgian ale strain, we add more Sorachi Ace hops post-fermentation. After 100% bottle re-fermentation with Champagne yeast, the beer emerges with a bright spicy lemon zest aroma. It tastes like sunshine in a glass, and that suits us just fine, especially with seafood dishes and fresh cheeses.”

From the Brooklyn website: “As a chef does with spices, we look to get the best qualities of each hop and create a harmony of flavors and aromas. However, a few years ago, we ran into a hop unique enough to deserve its own moment in the sun. A large Japanese brewery first developed the hop variety Sorachi ace in 1988. A cross between British Brewers Gold and the Czech Saaz varieties, it exhibited a quality that was unexpected—it smelled really lemony. The unique flavor of Sorachi Ace was bypassed by hte big breweries, but we think it is pretty cool. ”

ABV: 7.6%
Malts: German 2-row Pilsner

Hops: Oregon grown Sorachi Ace

Initial release date: 7/23/2009

(6/20/10)

314. Ommegang Three Philosophers 2009

“And remember: philosophy begins in wonder.” Plato

If we were counting, we would say that this is our fourth beer from Brewery Ommegang, and that we’ve previously tried and imbibed Hennepin, Bière de Mars, and Witte. But we’re not, so let’s just get to the beer, shall we?

Three Philosophers sits a hazy caramel in the glass; there are also red highlights that sparkle along the edges. The nose is dark pitted fruit and caramel maltiness mixed with some Belgian yeast esters—the fruits are cherry and possibly plum and raisin. With warmth, a slight creaminess also emerges. Three Philosophers starts with a bit of sourness coupled with sweet fruitiness and some yeast esters; the middle is a good dose of richer, darker fruit flavor—with cherry to the forefront and some plum in the background—mixed with some tobacco and/or leathery flavors. The finish has a return of the sweetness that is close to Belgian candy—it is sweeter than the front or the nose—but then drops off to finish rather dry. As it warms, the finish does take on a slight citric tartness that lingers on the palate. Although there is a medium to medium heavy body, Three Philosophers does have some dryness in the mouthfeel. The carbonation starts soft in the front, but picks up strength towards the back of the beer, becoming lightly sparkling. And excellent and intriguing beer, although not one we could drink everyday.

My Three Philosophers glass is finally paying some dividends...

From the Ommegang website: “Cynics can’t believe it, Epicures hail it a sensation, and Pythagoreans just can’t add up what makes this luscious blend of rich malty ale and cherry lambic so delightful. It might be the flavor of dark chocolate and cherry cordials; it could be the way it acquires wisdom and grace in the cellar. Maybe it’s a conundrum. What’s your theory? The essence of wonder is a unique and masterful blend of strong malty ale and authentic Belgian Kriek. Our philosophers deduce that this powerful marriage of cherries, roasted malts, and dark chocolate will only achieve more wisdom and coherence as it broods in the dark recesses of your cellar.” My theory is you need some better ad copy...

ABV: 9.8%

And what does wonder begin in?

(5/10/2010)

307. Southern Tier Pale Ale

Another non-imperial from Southern Tier (our other non-imperial was Old Man Winter); we had this on tap at South Park Tavern. Our previous Southern Tier victims include Krampus, Old Man Winter, Crème Brûlée, Mokah, and Jah*va, making this our sixth beer from Southern Tier. Chalk up another illustrious rhyme to Tom.

Southern Tier Pale Ale pours a golden straw with a thin white head; the nose is dominated by hops, with resin, herbal, and earthy hops predominating, some lower levels of floral hops hiding around the edges, and a bit of malt sweetness in the backdrop. Opening with a soft sweet malt front before moving into an assertive hop bitterness accompanied by resin and floral hop flavors, Southern Tier Pale Ale finishes with lingering herbal flavors and bitterness, but overall rather clean. The body is medium with medium to low carbonation, and there is a fair amount of tongue puckering from the bitterness. Delicious beer with a very wide ranging and interesting hop profile that might almost push this into the IPA category, although the cleaner finish helps keep it within the pale ale category (well, at least mostly). Nice job here, Southern Tier. And more sweet sweet rhymes...

From the Southern Tier website: “Our Pale is an aggressively hopped, with immense overtones of grapefruit and tangerine wrapped in a delicately refined body of pale barley and wheat.”

ABV: 6.0%

(5/3/2010)

263. Brooklyn Black Ops 2010

This is our third beer from Brooklyn—previously on what we’re drinking, we explored the joys of both East India Pale Ale and Pennant Ale ’55. Our friends Jeff and Jeffrey were over to sample some beers and to play Brewmaster, a card game where you brew beers and collect beer festival trophies—the one who collects the most trophies wins the game. The game was pretty fun, but it could have used a bit more complexity—while you had to collect two yeasts to brew a Belgian beer, there was no reciprocal need to collect extra hop cards to brew an IPA. And I do need someone to explain to me why there was no hop shortage card as one of the cards that made you lose brewing materials or your turn. I know, I know, it’s just a card game. Anyway, Elli ended up winning the game, and we tried a couple of tidbits along the way.

Jeffrey with the sweet beer festival trophy!

Black Ops pours an opaque black with a thick brown creamy head; the nose includes plenty of oak and bourbon, as well as plenty of roasted malt and smaller amounts of vanilla. Beginning with a rich roasty front, Black Ops has an oaky and bourbon middle with some of the vanilla from the nose; there is some alcohol flavor in the end, although the beer finishes dry and creamy. The mouthfeel is creamy, thick, and chewy, although the body is only medium, and the carbonation helps smooth out the beer across the profile. There is a bit of alcohol warmth at the end, but nothing overbearing. The balance of the oak flavors in the beer is a real plus; mixed with the roasted malt and vanilla, the subtlety is already apparent in this beer. Black Ops is a delicious beer; while it could use a bit more age to limit the alcohol flavor and warmth at the end, this would only be to make an already good beer better. And besides, what do you think our second bottle is doing right now?

From the bottle: “Brooklyn Black Ops does not exist. However, if it did exist, it would be a robust stout concocted by the Brooklyn brewing team under the cover of secrecy and hidden from everyone else at the brewery. Supposedly ‘Black Ops’ was aged for four months in bourbon barrels, bottled flat, and re-fermented with Champagne yeast, creating big chocolate and coffee flavors with a rich underpinning of vanilla-like oak notes. They say there are only 1000 cases. We have no idea what they’re talking about.”

Not so excited anymore, huh, tough guy?

Given the above description, it is not surprising that there is nothing on the Brooklyn website.

ABV: 11.6%

Jeff also brought over another beer from Jackie O’s—some sort of Orange Wheat Funk. It had a bretty-funky nose, some still discernable orange flavor, and a dry and slightly sour profile. Good, but we don’t have much in the way of notes—we were all concentrating on the Brewmaster game.

(3/20/2010)

261. Southern Tier Krampus

“Are you naughty or nice?”

Another imperial beer from Southern Tier; we’ve had three other big beers from Southern Tier, including through Crème Brûlée, Mokah, and Jah*va, and we’ve also had Old Man Winter, their Winter Ale. This is their Christmas seasonal, so we are drinking it a little out of season, but there’s nothing new about that with us...

Krampus has a clear copper color with a light but persistent white head. The nose is lightly caramel and grainy, mixed with Chinook hops aroma, giving it some spicey and piney hop notes. Opening with caramel malt flavor in the front, Krampus quickly moves into hop flavor and bitterness middle; there are resin and pine hop flavors before ending crisp and dry with some lingering bitterness. The body is medium with some light tongue curling from the hops, and the carbonation is medium. Overall, not what we expected—Krampus has very few of the lager characteristics we thought we’d find. While it is an Imperial Helles, the hop presence is much larger than any lager we’ve come across. There is a crispness to the finish, but it has the hop and malt balance of an IPA without the syrupy nature of some of the bigger DIPAs and Imperial IPAs. The 9.0% ABV is pretty muted as well; it is not until it gets decently warm that any alcohol flavor or mouthfeel makes its presence known. Interesting and enjoyable, although I’m not sure if we’d pull the trigger on this one again. Bottle number two is still lurking in the back of the fridge...

From the bottle: “St. Nicholas, aka Santa Claus, is a magical figure, the bringer of gifts and an icon of holiday spirit. Forgotten by most is his evil side kick and enforcer of ‘the list.’ European tradition says while St. Nick is busy delivering presents to good little boys and girls, Krampus hands out punishments to the bad. A fanged, goat-horned bully, the Christmas Devil uses sticks and chains to beat the naughty children. Dark malts and aromatic hops create the diabolical spirit of this brew. It is finished with lager yeast and aged cold for no less than 30 days. This Imperial Helles Lager will warm even the darkest hearts. This season, replace the cookies with a bottle of Krampus. If he happens to pay a visit, toast to him with this devilish brew. Merry Kramp-mas to all, and to all a good pint!”

ABV: 9.0%
OG: 20° P

(3/18/2010)