Tasting Notes: Hatchery Series NE Style IPA from SweetWater Brewing Company

Posted on by mashingin

SWNEIPAPour_editedThings get a little hazy as we close the week with some Tasting Notes on Hatchery Series Release #5 – NE Style India Pale Ale from SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia).

Arriving as the fifth release from SweetWater’s pilot system (a.k.a. The Hatchery), NE Style India Pale Ale is the brewery’s experimental, small-batch take on the hazy IPAs that are currently running rampant throughout the country.  With a hop bill comprised of Centennial, Amarillo, Azacca, Idaho 7 and El Dorado hops, this offering is meant to be an “extremely hoppy beer” that has the New England IPA’s signature “restrained bitterness and . . . soft mouthfeel.”  Staying true to the Hatchery’s focus on experimentation, the brewers at SweetWater did take some liberties with the style by adding “flaked rye for a bit of a dirty southern twist.”  Hatchery Series Release #5 – NE Style India Pale Ale (7.5% ABV and 50 IBUs) is available now for a limited time in Tackle Box Variety 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and throughout the rest of SweetWater Brewing’s distribution area.

With those pertinent details now properly covered, I do believe it is time to work our way through this haze and put down some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Hatchery Series NE Style India Pale Ale from SweetWater Brewing Company

Appearance: SweetWater’s NE Style India Pale Ale fills the glass with a cloudy, deep golden yellow colored brew wearing just over a finger of bright white foam that is lightly stained with a streak of sediment.  The beer is more than adequate in the haze department, and that sediment turns up again as a crazy amount of floaties are suspended throughout.  Although it is a bit on the murky side, a steady carbonation can be seen coursing within.  Head retention is good, eventually falling to a lasting half finger of creamy foam that leaves chunky bands of lace behind on the glass.

Aroma:  Absolutely saturated with tropical fruits, the nose leads with a note of straight up orange juice that is followed by tones of tangerine, pineapple, apricot and grapefruit.  That fruity sweetness mellows out just enough to allow the development of a piney and dank hop presence.  The profile closes with a pleasant earthiness and a barely decipherable pale malt sweetness.

Taste:  The brewery uses the term “fruit cocktail” to describe this beer, and they are spot on as juicy fruits dominate the flavor.  Sweet mango and peach hit the tongue first and then it is awash with a variety of fruit juices: a mix of orange, pineapple and grapefruit juices spiked with a zing of lemon.  As that lemon sharpness builds, the palate encounters a dank, hoppy bite of resinous pine and the experience finishes with a tinge of earthy, spicy rye.

Mouthfeel:  Medium in both body and carbonation, this brew has a nice and soft texture to it.  Although it is gentle and pillowy on the palate, it still retains a light hoppy bite that cleans up rather quickly.  The ABV is well hidden and pretty non-existent for 7.5%.  The aftertaste is minimal, but does leave behind a bit of pine, pineapple and grapefruit.

Final Thoughts:  When all is said and done, Hatchery Series Release #5 – NE Style India Pale Ale comes together as a nice tribute to the OG New England-style IPAs that may not have been much to look at – think The Alchemist’s Heady Topper and its label directing you to “Drink From the Can” – but still have that trademark mouthfeel and reduced bitterness.  Although it may be reduced, be warned that this brew does still retain some building bitterness that acts as a constant reminder that it is indeed an IPA.  Also, the rye addition was a unique Southern touch that contributed to the haziness/cloudiness and added some earthy spice that mingled well with the beer’s overall dankness, but it could also act as a bit of surprise for those seeking a straight-up New England-style IPA.  That said, it still has that lush, juicy experience that everyone is after and . . . it just works.  If you keep the word “experimental” in mind while drinking this one, you are going to walk away from your pour a happy hop head.  Be sure to check this one out before its limited run comes to end.  Prost!

Tasting Notes: Hatchery Series #2 – Mexican Style Lager from SweetWater Brewing Company

Posted on by mashingin

hatcheryMEXlabelNow that we have successfully completed the move of Mashing In’s headquarters, it is finally time to celebrate with a little Tasting Notes action featuring Hatchery Series #2 – Mexican Style Lager from SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia).

Released as SweetWater Brewing’s official beer of Cinco de Mayo and summer (a.k.a. Lawnmower and Shower Beer Season), Mexican Style Lager is the second packaged release from the brewery’s Hatchery Series – a line of limited release beers (typically draft only) created on the brewery’s new pilot system.  For their take on the Mexican-style lager, SweetWater laid a base with a proper malt bill (2-Row, Flaked Maize, Vienna Malt, Carapils) and then dosed it with “El Dorado hops to give this brew slightly sweet, malty, and tropical fruit aromas.”  At just 4.8% ABV and 29 IBUs, Mexican Style Lager is an easy-drinking, go-to option meant for any occasion during the summer months.  12 oz. bottles of Hatchery Series #2 – Mexican Style Lager are available now exclusively in SweetWater’s Summer Variety Pack alongside Cool Breeze Cucumber Saison, Goin Coastal IPA with Pineapple, 420 Extra Pale Ale, and Hash Session IPA.

Now that the details are covered, that can only mean one thing: cerveza time!  Let’s get into these Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Hatchery Series #2 – Mexican Style Lager from SweetWater Brewing Company

Appearance: Mexican Style Lager fills the glass as a bright golden brew topped with a finger of loose, pure white foam.  When held to the light, the beer radiates with tones of rich golds and electric yellows.  The body is perfectly clear and wonderfully displays the beer’s spirited carbonation activity.  The head has decent staying power, but eventually falls to a chunky ring that notches the glass after each pull.

Aroma: The aromatic experience begins with that alluring and quintessential lager note of lightly sweet, bready grains.  A touch of corn rises up and gives way to a delightful hop character.  Notes of apricot and sweet melon easily distinguish themselves, but do so in a manner that still allows room for those gorgeous malts to remain and bloom. Beautiful.

Taste: Malts once again lead the way with notes of quality bread, sweet corn, and just a dollop of honey.  The hops play more of a role here by really showcasing a pronounced apricot character, but a touch of pineapple and watermelon can be found kicking around in the back.  The fruitiness is relatively subtle, but just forward enough to give the flavor profile a bit of added depth and complexity many may find lacking in typical Mexican-style lagers.

Mouthfeel: Just as it should be, this lager is light in body with a pretty sizable carbonation presence.  The beer is playful on the palate with a slight sweetness that is consistently canceled by just enough hop bitterness.  Skillfully balanced, incredibly clean, nicely crisp and damn refreshing.  At just 4.8%, the ABV displays zero effort to make its presence known.  Aftertaste is a slight but wonderful mix of grain and apricot.

Final Thoughts: Hatchery Series #2 – Mexican Style Lager is exactly as billed . . .  a really good take on a Mexican-style lager.  Although the El Dorado hops are a fresh (and lovely) addition to this established style, the beer remains a beautiful homage to the many beers that came before it.  It pulls this off by really emphasizing each and every aspect of its malt bill to give it that incredibly recognizable lager grain quality.  By perfectly setting the dials marked “malt” and “hops”, the brewers at SweetWater have supplied their fans with a stunning lager that is somehow both simple and dynamic.  Those terms may sound contradictory, but those descriptors are truly a requirement for any great lager of this style.  You simply do not run across many memorable Mexican-style lagers, but Hatchery Series #2 – Mexican Style Lager absolutely is one.  Be sure to check it out this summer.  Prost!

SweetWater Brewing to Hit February with Several New Releases

Posted on by mashingin

sweetwaterdyeSweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia) has announced plans to release four new offerings in February: Grass Monkey, Dank Tank Old Man Johnson’s Farm, Hatchery Series Single Hop Mosaic IPA and 20th Anniversary Ale.

Since the brewery will commemorate its 20th Anniversary during the month of February, it is clear that the folks at SweetWater Brewing Company want to provide us all with several new offerings so that we may properly celebrate this occasion.  We have quite a bit of information to cover, so let’s get at it:

Grass Monkey Hoppy Wheat Ale with Lemongrass

Arriving as SweetWater’s new Spring Seasonal, Grass Monkey is a hoppy Pale Wheat Ale that has been aggressively hopped with “a big stash of Lemondrop hops” to supply “a big citrus blast.”  To complement the hops and step up this beer’s level of refreshment, the brewers then added lemongrass herbs.  All of this is set upon a light malt base to allow “the piney, grassy, lemony notes [to] shine.” Grass Monkey officially releases on January 26 and will be available through April.

  • Release – Seasonal, February through April 2017
  • Style – American Pale Wheat Ale
  • ABV – 5.4%
  • IBUs – 35
  • Hops – Lemondrop
  • Malts – 2-Row & Wheat
  • Availability – 12 oz. bottles, 12 oz. cans, 16 oz. cans & draft

Old Man Johnson’s Farm Imperial Stout with Raspberries

SweetWater brewers have fired up the Dank Tank once again and this time it holds Old Man Johnson’s Farm, an Imperial Stout with raspberries.  To lay the foundation of this sizable Imperial Stout, a hefty malt bill is employed to impart “intense aromas of roasted coffee and chocolate.”  The beer is then elevated to true Dank Tank status with the addition of fresh raspberries during fermentation to “complement the dark chocolate with a tasty sweetness.”  Old Man Johnson’s Farm will also begin its release on January 26, but this limited release will only be available on draft.

  • Release – Dank Tank/Limited, launches at brewery on January 26
  • Style – American Imperial Stout
  • ABV – 9.6%
  • IBUs – 60
  • Malts – 2-Row, Munich, Roasted Barley, Black Malt, Chocolate, Dark Chocolate & Caramel
  • Hops – Columbus, Willamette & US Golding
  • Yeast – London Ale
  • Added Ingredients – Meeker Red Raspberries
  • Availability – Draft only

Single Hop Mosaic IPA

The first official bottle release from The Hatchery at SweetWater Brewing Company will be Single Hop Mosaic IPA.  The Hatchery is the brewery’s new pilot system where brewers will test out new recipes, ideas and brewing techniques.  Most Hatchery beers will only be available on draft at the brewery, but SweetWater plans to release one bottle per seasonal variety pack release.  Just as the name implies, this offering features the Mosaic hop’s “juicy orange, mango, citrus and passionfruit flavors.”  A very simple grain bill provides just enough biscuity notes to properly balance out the finished beer.  This limited release will be available in 12 oz. bottles found in SweetWater’s spring variety packs only (February – April).

  • Release – Limited/Hatchery Series, February through April 2017
  • Style – American India Pale Ale
  • ABV – 6%
  • Hops – Mosaic
  • Availability – 12 oz. bottles found in SweetWater spring variety packs only

20thanniversary-bottle-crop-161128-0120th Anniversary Ale

Finally, SweetWater Brewing Company will wrap up February with the release of their 20th Anniversary Ale.  This incredibly special release is an “extremely hop-forward” Imperial India Pale Ale that has been brewed with hop hash and a house Brettanomyces yeast strain.  The completed beer boasts an aroma that “is fruity, herbal, tropical and citrusy, and the Brett gives a nice touch of funk and earthy phenolics.”  20th Anniversary Ale will be officially released in 750ml cork and cage bottles at SweetWater’s 20th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, February 19.  Tickets for this event are still available and you can purchase yours by clicking here.

  • Release – Limited, to be released at SweetWater’s 20th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, February 19
  • Style – Imperial India Pale Ale with Brettanomyces
  • ABV – 9%
  • IBUs – 81
  • Malts – Pilsner, Maris Otter, Wheat, Flaked Oats & Midnight Wheat
  • Hops – Bravo, Mosaic & Citra; dry-hopped with Mosaic & Citra
  • Hop Hash – Fresh Citra Lupulin Blend
  • Yeast – Belgian Ardennes
  • Availability – 750ml bottles

For just one month of new releases, this is certainly one hell of a lineup.  Keep an eye out for these beers in February, and be sure to raise a glass of one (or many) of these brews to recognize 20 amazing years of brewing at SweetWater Brewing Company.  Prost!