Tasting Notes: Dry Hopped Censored Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Posted on by mashingin

LagunitasCensoredPour1000For this edition of Tasting Notes, we ease into the workweek with a little help from the “kroniky krunk” Dry Hopped Censored Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California).

Born out of a happy accident, the aptly named Dry Hopped Censored Ale entered this world as a normal batch of the classic Censored Ale and was then given new dimension when it was unintentionally “brightened up with a generous dry-hopping of Centennial, Chinook, Simcoe, and Citra hops” meant for another tank.  Being the laid back, cool kids that they are, the folks at Lagunitas decided to roll with this “mistake” and ultimately discovered that the additional hops supplied a pleasant bite to the beer’s “malty, roasty, and deceptively smooth” character.  It was so good that they eventually brewed more and sent Dry Hopped Censored Ale out as a Limited Release.  This tasty little number is available now for a limited time in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles at select craft beer retailers located in Alabama, Florida, California, Illinois and throughout the rest of Lagunitas Brewing Company’s distribution network.

Now that we have cleared our way through the background information, let’s get an uncensored look at this brew with some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Dry Hopped Censored Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Appearance:  This brew pours a caramel laced amber in color and has over a finger of slightly off-white foam resting on top.  When held to a light source, deep orange tones push through to create a vibrant copper look.  The beer is completely clear and displays a bountiful carbonation presence streaming within.  The head has fantastic retention and coats the glass with some seriously chunky lace patterns.

Aroma: The dry-hopping has worked wonders here as the aromatics lead with incredibly inviting notes of citrus (aromas of orange peel and grapefruit) and floral hops. That hop presence does soften a bit to expose a lightly sweet malt character of caramel, honey, and toasted bread.

Taste:  The malts take point in this department and treat the taste buds to notes of lightly roasted grain, caramel, toffee and just a slight undercurrent of chocolate.  The hops advance at the perfect moment and balance the experience out with floral tones, resinous pine, grapefruit, passion fruit, and a touch of earthiness.

Mouthfeel:  On the lighter side of medium in body with a bright carbonation, this beer is just a touch creamy in texture but retains an incredibly easy drinking nature.  Sublimely balanced and clean, this experience teeters gracefully between sweet and hoppy/bitter on the palate.  The ABV is deceptive for 6.7%, and it drinks like a much smaller beer.  Aftertaste leaves behind some notes of pine and caramel.

Final Thoughts:  Dry Hopped Censored Ale is a happy accident indeed as its dry-hop addition is dialed in to perfectly interlace with the malty goodness that was lying in wait within the original Censored.  The piney and citrusy hops are definitely there, but the toffee and caramel-filled malt notes are still allowed to step forward and own an equal share of the overall experience.  This beer’s balance is a thing of beauty and it results in a dangerously drinkable brew that simply should not be missed.  Make sure you get your hands on some Dry Hopped Censored Ale before its Limited Release runs its course.  Prost!

 

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: Partner Ships Wee Heavy from Heavy Seas & MadTree Brewing

Posted on by mashingin

HSBWeeHeavyPour1000For this week’s installment of Tasting Notes, we recognize Tampa’s Gasparilla festivities in our own little way by getting into a bottle of The Partner Ships Wee Heavy from Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, Maryland) and MadTree Brewing Company (Cincinnati, Ohio).

Brewed as a locally-infused collaboration with MadTree Brewing Company, this Wee Heavy comes to us as Heavy Seas Beer’s latest release from The Partner Ships Series, a line of Limited Release “beers produced in collaboration with other regionally and nationally recognized brewers in the spirit of friendship, creativity, and adventure.”  To create this offering, the brewing team began with a pretty straightforward recipe for a Scottish-style Wee Heavy and then “loaded [it] with local flavor” by adding Burundi Mpanga coffee from Deeper Roots in Cincinnati, Ethiopian Harrar coffee from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co. in Baltimore, and cocoa nibs from Maverick Chocolate in Cincinnati.  This creative approach resulted in a robust, 8.25% ABV Wee Heavy that is “deep mahogany in color with layers of malt, chocolate, and roasted complexity.”  A limited supply of The Partner Ships Wee Heavy was released back in November, but there still might be a few bombers and kegs floating around out there at craft beer establishments located within Heavy Seas Beer’s distribution footprint.

Now that all the background information on this brew has been properly handled, what do you say we lay siege to this bottle and get into some Tasting Notes?

Tasting Notes for Partner Ships Wee Heavy from Heavy Seas Beer & MadTree Brewing Company

Appearance: Partner Ships Wee Heavy pours as a dark brown, nearly black brew that is wearing a half finger of brown sugar colored foam.  Other than a touch of light forcing its way through at the edges, the beer remains mostly opaque.  With that said, a slow but dutiful carbonation presence can be seen feeding the head at the top of the pour.  Despite the effort, that head does quickly fall to a thin but lasting ring that leaves some spotty lacing on the glass.

Aroma:  Sweet caramel and chocolate notes rise up first before being overtaken by a gorgeous layer of roast.  The roastiness has qualities of coffee, grain, toasted bread and just a touch of smoky peat.  Dark fruits then surface with tones of prune and plum.  The aromatics ultimately close with a parting waft of milk chocolate.

Taste:  The flavor profile nearly mirrors the nose, but the cocoa and chocolate notes have more of a foothold in this arena.  Lovely tones of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, light fudge, and cocoa powder are all accounted for.  Caramel, toffee, vanilla and almonds then move in to support.  A comforting presence of roasted coffee and grain then saturates the previous flavors to cut away at the sweetness.  Earthy hops and a touch of dark fruit (plum and date) supply further balance and close the profile.

Mouthfeel:  Medium to full in body with a light carbonation, this Wee Heavy is smooth and slightly creamy in texture.  Although most of our descriptors would lead you to believe this beer is sweet, earthy hops and ample roastiness balance the ship and avoid any possibility of cloying.  At 8.25%, a warming ABV presence builds in the throat and settles in the belly.  Aftertaste allows dark fruit, roast and chocolate to linger.

Final Thoughts:  This is an incredibly nice, subtly dynamic Wee Heavy.  What we mean by that is the first sip seems innocent and direct, but each subsequent sip builds upon the experience with a growing complexity.  Most of that complexity resides in the roast as the coffee acts as more of a complementary note that accentuates the roasty characteristics of the grain bill.  That deeply layered roastiness is skillfully achieved, but in a manner that never forces the beer to declare itself a “coffee beer”.  Although this clever approach results in a truly unique Wee Heavy, it remains respectful of tradition and values the expected characteristics of the style.  I guess what we are ultimately trying to say here is that The Partner Ships Wee Heavy is a hidden gem that you need to seek out.  Prost!

 

Tasting Notes: Radegast Triple IPA from New Realm Brewing Company

Posted on by mashingin

RadegastPortrait1000This week gets a double dose of Tasting Notes as we get into a celebratory bottle of Radegast Triple IPA from New Realm Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia).

Arriving as New Realm’s first packaged Specialty Release offering, Radegast – named for the ancient god of brewing and hospitality – was specifically brewed to honor the grand opening of their beautiful new facility on Atlanta’s Beltline and serve as a proper introduction to the area’s craft beer community.  With a hop bill showcasing Warrior, Citra, Mosaic and El Dorado hops, this Triple IPA promises to be a “wonderfully aromatic, . . . incredibly citrusy and extremely juicy hop nectar [that] lingers just long enough to tempt another sip.”

Radegast Triple IPA officially released at New Realm Brewing Company on Saturday, January 13 with availability in 750ml bottles and 4-packs of 16 oz. cans, and it appears – at the time this post was published – a limited supply is still available for purchase at the brewery.  Radegast is also available on draft at New Realm and select craft beer establishments located throughout Atlanta.  This is a one-time release that is meant to be consumed fresh, so be sure to get your fill of Radegast while you still have the chance.

Speaking of getting one’s fill, I do believe it is time to get into some Tasting Notes so that we can finally experience the Radegast for ourselves.

Tasting Notes for Radegast Triple IPA from New Realm Brewing Company

Appearance:  Radegast fills the glass with a deep, honey gold-colored brew that is wearing two fingers of pristine white foam.  When held to direct light, the color brightens and intensifies to become more of a pure yellow gold.  The body is perfectly clear and displays an ample carbonation presence coursing throughout.  Head retention is good, but it eventually fall to a lasting 1/4 finger or so. The foam does attempt to put some lace on the glass, but the slick nature of the beer forces each web to eventually slip back down into the top cap.

Aroma:  An unabashed and pronounced hop aroma proudly billows from the glass.  We are talking about notes of citrus & tropical fruits; mostly grapefruit, tangerine, melon and a touch of stone fruit.  A light malt character brings up the back end with a nondescript sweetness and subtle hint of alcohol.  The nose is basically all hops, and we have no problem with that.

Taste:  That big hop presence carries over into the flavor and it is absolutely laden with orange, tangerine, and grapefruit.  A slight resinous character builds with tones of pine, grass, and pure dankness.  A tropical wave then moves in with a slight dose of passionfruit, berry and papaya.  As the hop profile closes with an interesting pop of peach candies, the malts then interject with a slight thread of balancing sweetness that is just enough to keep the bitterness/hoppiness from completely overwhelming the experience.  Damn, this is good.

Mouthfeel:  This Triple IPA falls on the heavier side of medium in body and has a bright carbonation level that keeps it surprisingly refreshing and easy drinking.  Hoppy bitterness gets unlimited access to the palate, but there is just enough malt backbone to clean up the finish.  For 11.5% ABV, the alcohol is incredibly well hidden and only surfaces with a tinge of heat from time to time.  The aftertaste is an abundance of tropical and citrus fruits.

Final Thoughts:  From top to bottom . . . aroma to flavor . . . look to mouthfeel, Radegast can easily be summed up with one word: “masterful”.  Now that is not a word that we like to throw around, but it absolutely applies here.  For a Triple IPA, this beer has more than enough hop bite to make you feel alive while a ridiculously juicy hop flavor has just as much opportunity to please the taste buds.  Seriously, you will be hard-pressed to find a rival for this hop experience. With that said, the impressive nature of this beer does not stop there.  The aroma is lovely and clean, the massive ABV is muted, the feel is gorgeous, and this enormous IPA somehow remains refreshing.  A lot of the Triple IPAs out there can make a case for themselves having one or maybe two of these attributes, but Radegast can claim them all.  That’s special.  That’s masterful, and that fact makes Radegast the perfect beer for New Realm to send out first to confidently announce, “This is just the beginning.”  Prost!

Tasting Notes: Orgine from Saint Somewhere Brewing & Tampa Bay BEERS

Posted on by mashingin

originepour1000We are kicking off the 2018 series of Tasting Notes this week with a serendipitously provided bottle of Orgine, a collaboration beer between Saint Somewhere Brewing Company (Tarpon Springs, Florida) and Tampa Bay BEERS.

Orgine came to be as a Saint Somewhere collaboration brewed to recognize the 25th Anniversary of Tampa Bay BEERS, the Gambrinus Club Award winning homebrew club that has produced “many brewers and brewery owners including Saint Somewhere, 7venth Sun Brewery, Green Bench Brewing Co., Cigar City Brewing, Six Ten Brewing, and too many others to list, locally and nationally.” With a recipe provided by Rob Roberson, Orgine “started life as Belgian Dark Strong” before taking on the added character of Saint Somewhere’s brewery and brewing techniques.   This offering experienced limited availability in 750ml bottles at the start of 2017.

The background information on Orgine may be a bit sparse, but I (Guillermo) do have a good story to tell about how we happened across this bottle.  The situation actually started at another Tampa-area brewery during a random introduction to its head brewer.  While we were going back and forth with me describing what Mashing In is all about and him explaining his approach to brewing, he abruptly stopped to ask if we did reviews on the site.  I showed him an example of Tasting Notes, and he quickly responded by reaching into a cooler, pulling out this bottle and saying, “My friend Bob at Saint Somewhere made this beer.  He is a world-class brewer and this beer is fantastic.  Would you be willing to write about Bob’s beer?”  Already being a huge fan of Saint Somewhere and their gorgeous taproom in Tarpon Springs, I was more than happy to oblige this request.  As I walked the bottle back to my car, I could not help but reflect on how crazy that whole exchange was considering this brewer could have easily used that opportunity to gain some free publicity for his beers and brewery. With that thought seemingly never crossing his mind, he instead took that moment to laud the work of a fellow brewer in the hope that it would gain another brewery some recognition.  It was an incredible act of respect and a literal display of the camaraderie that we all talk about existing in the craft beer community.  In fact, moments such as that define craft beer better than anything you will ever find in a glass.

Now that the heartwarming anecdote above has been recounted, it is finally time to make good on our promise by popping this cork and getting into some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Orgine from Saint Somewhere Brewing Company and Tampa Bay BEERS

Appearance:  Orgine presents itself as a medium brown colored brew that holds some soft orange tones.  When held to direct light, those oranges gain some vibrancy, pull out some reddish hues and result in a rich mahogany look.  The body is mostly clear and displays a gentle carbonation level working about within.  A solid finger of off-white foam was produced from a cautious pour.  Retention is absolutely fantastic, eventually falling to an everlasting, lush half finger that consistently notches the glass with chunks of lace after each sip.

Aroma:  Belgian yeast character and dark fruits lead the way.  Bready tones emerge along with a touch of candi sugar, caramel and toffee.  The profile closes with a growing waft of farmhouse funk and earthiness that just simply pulls everything together.

Taste:  The Belgian characteristics are beautifully presented up front with notes of Belgian yeast, candi sugar, a bit of spice, and loads of dark fruit.  The fruits are many: raisin, prune, plum, and fig.  Toffee sweetness builds and brings with it a lovely dried apricot presence.  That apricot note then lays a foundation for some light funk, leather, wet wood and musty hay.  Complexity abounds, and it is just exquisite.

Mouthfeel:  Full bodied with a soft carbonation level, this beer is lightly silken in texture.  The ABV is subtle, bringing just a touch of warmth that builds on the throat.  Mostly sweet, Orgine is gracefully patient on the palate and allows the flavors to linger and last.  The aftertaste leaves behind notes of apricot and leather.

Final Thoughts:  Simply put, Orgine is elegantly complex and artfully composed.  Each sip is a proud piece of evidence that this beer was important to all those that had a hand in brewing it.  It does a fantastic job showing off the traditional beauty of Belgian styles while still possessing a subtle but unmistakable infusion of Saint Somewhere’s soul.  In a word, it is divine.

Although Orgine may be a little tough to come by these days, you will have the opportunity to try a wealth of magnificent European-style beers from Saint Somewhere and other breweries from across the world at Brasserie Saint Somewhere’s First Anniversary Party on Saturday, January 20.   This event’s featured tap list and spread of bottles will certainly be can’t miss, and . . . who knows . . . you just might happen across a bottle of Orgine being opened at the bottle share.  What we do know is that you will absolutely regret it if you miss this event on Saturday.  With that in mind, just go ahead and make plans now so that you can be in attendance to raise a glass with the crew at Saint Somewhere and experience the truly special beers that they are brewing out in Tarpon Springs.  Prost!

Tasting Notes: Santa’s Private Reserve 2017 from Rogue Ales

Posted on by mashingin

RogueSantasPour1000As we eagerly await the arrival of Kris Kringle, we have decided to keep ourselves busy by getting into some Tasting Notes on Santa’s Private Reserve 2017 from Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon).

In case you missed it, a few weeks ago we hit you with the news that Rogue Ales is taking a new approach to this year’s release of Santa’s Private Reserve.  Instead of going with the long-running, “double-hopped” Amber Ale that is typically brewed as their Holiday Ale, the brewers at Rogue decided to go in a new direction by creating a “Belgian Strong Ale made with cherries, raspberries, Belgian Candi sugar and Imperial Gnome Yeast.”  This results in a 7.8% ABV Santa’s Private Reserve 2017 that “delivers a delicious sweet and tart flavor.”

Santa’s Private Reserve 2017 is available now in 22 oz. bottles and on draft.  If you feel the holiday spirit take hold and wish to seek this brew out, you can find this Limited Release available at craft beer establishments in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Rogue’s nationwide distribution network.

That should be just about enough chatter concerning background information.  What do you say we just cut to those Tasting Notes so that we can see what this new and improved Santa’s Private Reserve is all about?

Tasting Notes for Santa’s Private Reserve 2017 from Rogue Ales

Appearance:  Santa’s Private Reserve pours up a rich, dark maple brown in color with deep red highlights.  When held to direct light, the color softens a touch to a dusky garnet that has a solid brown core.  The beer is mostly opaque, but a meandering carbonation activity can be observed moving around in there.  Well over half a finger of tan foam was built from a careful pour.  Showing some nice retention, that head eventually falls to a tight, creamy half finger that draws some elaborate lace patterns on the glass throughout the experience.

Aroma:  The nose is first greeted by big pops of Belgian yeast and Belgian candi sugar.  Caramel, light chocolate, a touch of dark fruit and some roasted malts snuggle up to that Belgian character to solidify a full-on Belgian Strong Dark Ale presence in aroma.  Things shift gears at the end of the profile as some tart and lightly sweet raspberries surface.

Taste:  The flavor picks up where the aroma left off by leading with a serious amount of tart raspberry.  That tartness is quickly tempered by some caramel, Belgian yeast and candi sugar.  This opens further to produce some rich and comforting dark fruit tones – plum, raisin and prune.  Just as you think the profile will finish sweet, a sneaky cherry presence turns up to close it out with a nice note that is lightly sweet but mostly tart.

Mouthfeel:  This brew falls on the heavier side of medium in body with a soft carbonation level.  There is a good balance of tart and sweet on the palate.  The beer’s slightly creamy texture keeps it from drying out too quickly, allowing flavors to linger.  At 7.8%, the ABV brings a welcomed element of warmth to the throat and belly.  The aftertaste leaves behind a fair amount of Belgian candi sugar and cherries.

Final Thoughts:  They may have gone in the opposite direction from their holiday-themed Amber Ale of old, but the folks at Rogue Ales absolutely justified the style change by delivering this interesting and tasty new take on Santa’s Private Reserve.  Sure, it gives you the trademark Belgian sweetness expected from so many Holiday Ales, but it shakes things up a bit by having the cherries and raspberries supply a not-so-traditional dose of tartness.  That tart quality is just enough to be different, but its intensity is dialed in to act as a complement to the Belgian yeast, dark fruit character, and candi sugar.  Above all, those flavors and aromas come together as a comforting reminder of the holidays without at all relying on the overpowering spices associated with the season.  It is subtly complex, full of surprises and unmistakably festive . . . kind of like jolly old Saint Nick himself. If you are looking for a last-minute Christmas beer or just wish to carry the holiday spirit into the New Year, you should probably be on the lookout for some Santa’s Private Reserve 2017.  Prost!

Tasting Notes: Chipotle Double Bass from Starr Hill Brewery

Posted on by mashingin

SHBChipotle1000.jpgFor this week’s installment of Tasting Notes, we unwrap a Box of Chocolates from Starr Hill Brewery (Charlottesville, Virginia) to enjoy some Chipotle Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout as a holiday treat.

Not too long ago, we brought you news of Starr Hill Brewery’s intentions to treat the craft beer community to its Box of Chocolates Stout Pack containing variants of its fan-favorite Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout.  To create this collection of liquid indulgence, the brewers at Starr Hill infused Double Bass “with all-natural ingredients including organic peppermint leaves, smoke-dried jalapeño peppers, and locally roasted whole coffee beans.”  The results were stellar, and Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout, Peppermint Double Bass, Chipotle Double Bass and Mocha Double Bass (three 12 oz. bottles of each) earned their place in a Mixed 12-pack that is guaranteed to satisfy the sweet tooth of any craft beer fan.  The Box of Chocolates Stout Pack was officially released in mid-November in limited quantities, but there are still a few packs floating around at select beer retailers located within Starr Hill Brewery’s distribution area.  (hint, hint . . . A Box of Chocolates Stout Pack would make for an amazing holiday gift if you are still out there scrambling for ideas)

To keep this post from being a novel-length read, we decided to sit down with all four Box of Chocolate offerings and pick an office favorite to feature in this week’s Tasting Notes.  Since all four Double Bass beers proved to be damn tasty, this was a difficult task that we took incredibly seriously.  Maybe too seriously.  There was much deliberation and disagreement . . . words were said . . . non-holiday appropriate gestures were exchanged . . . palates were challenged . . .  things got weird and borderline violent . . . but we eventually came to an agreement that Chipotle Double Bass has earned the spotlight.  With that now resolved, let’s get to those Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Chipotle Double Bass from Starr Hill Brewery

Appearance: Nearly black, Chipotle Double Bass is actually the darkest of browns in color.  When held to direct light, this is fully confirmed as dark cola and caramel tones push through at the top and bottom of the glass.  Even so, the beer remains completely opaque and its carbonation level is not visible.  The pour produced a solid finger of brown sugar-colored head that has decent retention.  The foam eventually falls to a thin ring that leaves behind some spotty lacing.

Aroma:  The OG Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout is alive and well here with defined notes of dark chocolate, dark roast coffee and vanilla showing up big out of the gate.  The chipotle subtly moves in with a good deal of smoke, peppery heat and just a touch of green veggie presence.  As soon as those aromas hit your nose, there is no denying that you want a sip.

Taste:  The chipotle certainly finds its footing in the flavor with pleasant, nicely developed notes of smoke and heat.  More smoke than heat really . . . and it is lovely.  Chocolate, coffee and roasted malt tones turn up in timely fashion to tame the heat and support the smoke.  The flavor profile eventually closes with a soothing presence of vanilla and cocoa.

Mouthfeel:  Medium in body with a medium carbonation level, this brew has a solid weight to it but avoids being too heavy, overbearing or sticky.  It is mostly sweet on the palate, but the chipotle actually lends a hand in creating a nice balance.  There is a slight tingle of heat on the throat . . . from the peppers.  The ABV, on the other hand, is well hidden and incredibly tame for 7.8%.  The aftertaste is a little smoke, some vanilla, and touch of peppery spice.

Final Thoughts:  “Composed.” “Complex.” “Entrancing.” “Tempting.” “Sexy AF” (told you things got weird).  These are just a few of the many descriptors that were thrown around while we discussed Chipotle Double Bass, and they are all dead on.  When you are dealing with an ingredient as powerful as chipotles, it is so easy to end up with an unrefined experience completely dominated by one note.  Not at all the case here.  Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout’s original characteristics of dark chocolate, mocha and vanilla are all here to be placed gently alongside that chipotle.  Hell, even the chipotle has a crazy amount of depth with distinguishable, stand-alone levels of gorgeous smoke and reserved heat.  The chipotles absolutely make their presence known, but they never push the boundaries, get out of hand or bully the notes that are found at the soul of Double Bass.  The base beer and the featured ingredient both end up with equal billing, resulting in an experience that is notable and praise-worthy.  Seriously, you need to check out Chipotle Double Bass and the rest of the variants found in Starr Hill’s Box of Chocolates Stout Pack while you still have the chance.  Make it happen.  Prost!

Tasting Notes: A Sneak Peek at Samuel Adams New England IPA

Posted on by mashingin
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Photo Credit: Mashing In

For this week’s edition of Tasting Notes, we somehow stumble upon the opportunity to preview the soon-to-be widely released New England IPA from Samuel Adams (Boston, Massachusetts).

Since Samuel Adams is truly synonymous with the region of New England, it only makes sense for them to get in on craft beer’s recent IPA haze craze by brewing their own New England IPA.  Staying true to the more classic representations of the style (think Heady Topper from The Alchemist), the Samuel Adams New England IPA showcases an “opaque, hazy appearance”, a fruity hop presence with minimal bitterness, and a “juicy, luscious mouthfeel.”

Please, do not be confused by the blank sample cans we received. Packaging is in place (see promo image at the top of this post, credit: Samuel Adams), and this new Year-Round offering is currently experiencing a gradual rollout in Boston and select cities/states.  New England IPA will eventually see nationwide distribution after the New Year with availability in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and on draft.

That should just about cover all of the background information on Samuel Adams New England IPA, so let’s get into some Tasting Notes to see what this new brew is all about.

Tasting Notes for New England IPA from Samuel Adams

Appearance – This brew is a sunburst orange in color that has some darker amber tones residing within the center of the pour.  When held to direct light, the oranges and yellows brighten at the edges while that amber core actually holds and deepens.  The beer has a good amount of haze to it, and a steady carbonation level can just barely be seen coursing within.  The pour built a lush two fingers of eggshell white foam.  Retention is pretty fantastic, falling ever so slowly to a creamy, lasting finger that sheets the glass with wide sweeping patterns of lace.

Aroma –   Very nice here with intensely juicy citrus and tropical fruit notes filling the air.  We are talking about massive amounts of pineapple, grapefruit, tangerine and passionfruit.  These fruity tones dominate the profile, but a bit of grassy and earthy character can be found underneath.

Taste – The flavor nearly mirrors the nose as an ample tropical fruit presence bursts with notes of passionfruit, pineapple, grapefruit, orange, papaya and berry.  A faint pine and earthy quality does eventually move in alongside a guava-like note that is further supported by a trace of non-descript malt sweetness.  This thing is basically a liquid fruit bowl.

Mouthfeel – Residing a touch on the heavier side of medium in body with a medium carbonation level, this beer is creamy and smooth in texture.  It dries out quickly, causing any hint of hop bitterness to dissipate immediately.  Its 6.8% ABV is not at all noticeable, keeping the experience refreshing and easy drinking.  The aftertaste leaves behind faint traces of pineapple and sweet citrus.

Final Thoughts – In a craft beer world gone hazy, this New England IPA from Samuel Adams certainly holds its own.  The mouthfeel is right, bitterness is minimal, the aromatics and flavors are juicy as hell, and it is definitely pretty to look at it.  By definition, this is absolutely a NE-style IPA/Hazy IPA and should be taken seriously as such.  Like all Samuel Adams beers, this offering benefits from a respected lineage that unquestionably puts quality at the forefront. That being the case, New England IPA gets some serious bonus points when you consider the fact that is about to become the most solid, consistent and easily attainable Hazy IPA on the market.  Seriously, keep an eye out for this one when it makes its full nationwide release at the start of 2018. Prost!

 

Tasting Notes: Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout from Rogue Ales

Posted on by mashingin

rogueRollingThunderPour1000In recognition of a week that is largely dedicated to big ol’, Barrel-aged Imperial Stouts, we do our part by taking down some Tasting Notes on Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout from Rogue Ales (Newport, Oregon).

We first let you know about Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout (2017) when it was released back in August, and this is certainly not your run-of-the-mill Barrel-aged Stout.  No, sir.  We are talking about an Imperial Stout that was brewed by Rogue Ales with ingredients grown at Rogue Farms, and then aged in barrels that once held Dead Guy Whiskey distilled by Rogue Spirits.  Oh . . . and those handmade Oregon Oak barrels were coopered at Rogue’s Rolling Thunder Barrel Works.  If your math is the same as ours, all of that amounts to nearly every aspect of this beer having been either handled, influenced, grown, or created by a member of the Rogue family.  That’s something truly special and definitely worth a look.

Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout (2017) officially released in August with availability on draft and in 1-liter swing-top bottles.  Quantities were extremely limited at the time of release, but we have heard reports of a few bottles and kegs still floating around out there.

Now that those details are out of the way, what do you say we activate this swing-top, pour a few glasses and get into some Tasting Notes?

Tasting Notes for Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout (2017) from Rogue Ales

Appearance:  Rolling Thunder presents itself as a glassy, obsidian black brew wearing a bubbly half finger of caramel-colored foam.  When held to direct light, the beer remains opaque but dark brown tones do push through at the extreme edges of the glass.  The appearance divulges zero hints at what the beer’s carbonation level will be.  As is often the case with higher ABV brews, head retention is weak and falters quickly to a pencil-thin ring.  This Stout is quite slick on the glass and makes it nearly impossible for any lacing to take hold.

Aroma:  The aromatics are surprisingly light in intensity but incredibly delightful.  The nose is first greeted by a waft of booze and sherry before the roasted malts settle in with gentle notes of chocolate, coffee and molasses.  The profile develops further and closes with some earthiness that is accompanied by clean oak and soft vanilla tones.

Taste:  Oh . . . this is nice.  A big pop of dark fruit and distinct wood character hits the tongue first.  This opens to expose notes of sherry and dark cherries that rounds out a robust and lovely dark fruit profile.  That fruit presence is then tempered by tones of coconut, vanilla, honey, dark chocolate and roasted grain.  Sweetness then gives way to earthiness as tobacco and coffee emerges.  The flavor profile finishes with a subtle grace of whiskey.

Mouthfeel:  Rolling Thunder is leaning toward the medium side of full bodied and has a moderate carbonation level.  Although it mostly translates as sweet on the palate, there is a nice balance here and it is not at all cloying.  Just as it should, this Imperial Stout’s 14% ABV brings the heat and constantly reminds you to slow down and sip.  Slick in texture, the beer’s flavors are allowed to linger just long enough.  Aftertaste is a bit of booze, tobacco and vanilla.

Final Thoughts:  With each sip of this beer, it is clear that Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout is more about how the barrel interacts with the beer rather than being just another beer dominated by barrel character.   The fact that this offering was made by “the first brewery-distillery-barrel maker in the country” can be read easily in each pour.  You can distinctly taste and smell the beer’s grain bill and added ingredients, and that oak barrel and the Dead Guy Whiskey ingrained within is here to only support, complement, elevate and contribute to those notes.  Everything here has equal billing.  Everything used has been showcased. This beer’s complexity is deep, and it goes far beyond what one has come to typically expect from a Barrel-aged Stout these days.  Rogue Ales promised that Rolling Thunder would be special, and they absolutely delivered with one hell of an experience.  Prost!

Tasting Notes: Boomsauce from Lord Hobo Brewing Co.

Posted on by mashingin

BoomsaucePour1000For this edition of Tasting Notes, we set those midweek doldrums ablaze by getting into some Boomsauce from Lord Hobo Brewing Co. (Woburn, Massachusetts).

When an IPA is named the flagship offering at a brewery the specializes solely in hoppy styles, that means something.  Boomsauce has achieved that status at Lord Hobo Brewing Co. by being brewed with “six hop varietals and a blend of spelt, oat and wheat.”  To attain a level of hoppiness worthy of a Lord Hobo offering, this India Pale Ale is then finished off with “a late hop addition of Mosaic, Falconer’s Flight and Amarillo [to deliver] a notable citrus and tropical fruit finish.”  Boomsauce is available year-round in 16 oz. cans and on draft at craft beer establishments located in Florida, Massachusetts and throughout the rest of Lord Hobo’s ever-growing distribution area.

With all that background info now properly covered, let’s crack these cans and get into some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Boomsauce from Lord Hobo Brewing Co.

Appearance: Boomsauce presents itself as a medium to dark honey-like-golden colored brew with over two fingers of rocky white foam resting on top.  When held to direct light, the golden hues lighten in color and brighten in intensity.  The beer is slightly hazy, but you can still observe a strong carbonation level bouncing around some floaties within.  The head has pretty fantastic retention, but it does eventually (over a great deal of time) fall to a lasting, chunky half finger that devoutly sheets the glass with lace after each sip.

Aroma:  The aromatics lead with a pronounced floral hop character before giving way to citrus and tropical fruit tones of grapefruit rind, ripe melon, tangerine and lemon.  To display added versatility and depth, the hops actually open further to give off a slight grassiness. All of this is supported by a lightly sweet undercurrent of caramel and grain.

Taste:  The citrus and tropical hop qualities move to the front of the line here with notes of orange, bitter grapefruit, papaya, passionfruit and a touch of apricot.  Those refreshingly fruity and satisfyingly dank notes eventually settle down to allow some grassy and floral tones to move forward.  A touch of caramel maltiness sneaks in just before the finish to round everything off a bit.

Mouthfeel:  Coming in on the heavier side of medium in body, this beer has some weight to it but its bright carbonation keeps things nice and easy-drinking.  It is mostly hoppy and lightly bitter on the palate, but a tinge of sweetness does hit the tongue from time to time.  The 7.8% ABV does bring a slight heat that builds a bit over time.  It cleans up pretty nicely overall, but there is some bitter grapefruit left lingering in the aftertaste.

Final Thoughts:  All in all, Boomsauce comes together to be just about anything and everything you could look for in an IPA these days.  It has that hazy quality everyone is currently obsessed with, but beyond that (and more importantly) it shows some really impressive dynamics in the hop department.  Citrusy, tropical, floral and grassy tones are all present here in one cohesively complex package.  That hop character is incredibly beautiful and alluring, but it is truly made possible by the beer’s subtle malt backbone that interjects every once in a while with a deft touch of caramel sweetness.  That faint jolt of maltiness mischievously resets the palate so that it can get hit once again with the full force of those hops.  Dank and full-flavored while still remaining easy-drinking and gulp-worthy, it is really easy to see why Lord Hobo Brewing Co. named Boomsauce their flagship. Prost!