Thursday, May 31, 2012

Magic Hat Summer Variety Pack



Pistil
Stop and smell the petals Pistil is a summer beer unlike any other, brewed with a combination of dandelion petals, Pale and Acidulated malts, flaked oats, and Apollo and Northern Brewer hops that results in a one-of-a-kind beer with a slightly sour acidity and a smooth malt body. Perfect for taking down deep thirst.


TYPE: Dandelion Beer
YEAST: California Ale
HOPS: Apollo, Northern Brewer
MALTS: 2-row Pale, Acidulated, Flaked Oats




 


Elder Betty
A golden haze for a summer's daze. Elder Betty is a weiss-style ale with a bready malt flavor balanced by a touch of hops and complimented by the tart berry flavors of elderberry.

TYPE: Weiss Ale
YEAST: American Hefeweizen
HOPS: Apollo
MALTS: 2-Row Pale, Wheat








Blind Faith
An ale of enlightenment created to aid in deciphering the puzzles along life's road, and to interpret signs in the voyages of the spirit. Blind Faith is an extremely well-balanced India Pale Ale with a crisp, refreshing hop bitterness and a deep malt body to match.

 
TYPE: India Pale Ale
YEAST: English Ale
HOPS: Apollo, Cascade
MALTS: Pale, Crystal



  

#9 
A beer cloaked in secrecy. An ale whose mysterious and unusual palate will swirl across your tongue and ask more questions than it answers. A sort of dry, crisp, refreshing, not-quite pale ale. #9 is really impossible to describe because there's never been anything else quite like it.
 
TYPE: Not Quite Pale Ale
YEAST: English Ale
HOPS: Cascade, Apollo
MALTS: Pale, Crystal









Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Innis & Gunn Rum Cask

 The Innis & Gunn story begins here.....





.... and now on to their Rum Cask

 The first thing you'll note about the beer is its packaging. Defying popular opinion that the brown bottle is the best shade of bottle for beer, Innis & Gunn has chosen what most of us have come to know as the worst bottle color, clear. And why you may ask? It's because Innis & Gunn feel that their beers color is an integral part of the packaging. Rum Cask pours a deep mahogany / red with a bone color head. This beer is aromatic with notes of sweet dried fruit, rum and spice. A low carbonation level allows the malty smooth mouth feel to transition all the wonderful flavors this rum cask ale has absorbed. So tasty in fact that you'll forget you're drinking a beer, rather more akin to a fine mellowed spirit. You know this beer was aged in rum casks. I thoroughly enjoyed Innis & Gunn's Rum Cask and hope that each of you'll give it a Cheers!


 For more information on the Innis & Gunn's fine line of  barrel aged beers visit: Innis & Gunn



Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Widmer Bros. Brewing Nelson Imperial IPA

 

 Today's selection showcases a very unique hop from New Zealand, the Nelson Sauvin. This hop's beauty comes from its ability to impart the flavors of a fine white wine without the traditional bitterness of a high end super hop. The Nelson Sauvin birth certificate reads as such, courtesy of  New Zealand Hops Limited.


New Zealand Nelson SauvinBreeding:

A triploid variety bred from New Zealand variety “Smoothcone” and a selected New Zealand male. Developed at New Zealand HortResearch and released in 2000.  The essential oil profile displays “fresh crushed gooseberries” a descriptor often used for the grape variety Sauvignon Blanc, giving  rise to this variety’s name.

Selection:

Described during selection as “breathtaking”   Nelson Sauvin has the unique ability to impart a distinctive cool climate white wine “fruitiness”. The complexity of the oils profile has seen selectors stretched looking for descriptors to document this unique new world variety.

Brewer’s notes:

A hop that requires judicious application in the brew house, this truly unique dual-purpose variety can be used to produce big punchy Ales as well as subtle yet bitter Lagers. The fruitiness may be a little overpowering for the un-initiated, however those with a penchant for bold hop character will find several applications for this true brewer's hop.
“Quintessentially New Zealand”

 

Grower comments:

Maturity Mid to late season
Yield
Moderate
Growth Habit
Late shooting, vigorous spring growth, clavate frame
Cone Structure
Compact cone, ovate shape
Disease Resistance
New Zealand is hop disease free
Storage Stability
Good



With that out of the way let's get on to the tasting notes. Nelson Imperial IPA pours a rich golden orange color, with the usual off-white head. The beer's orange radiance transfers into the 2 to 3 finger light fluffy head which takes on a light orange hue. It's aroma is sweet and full of citrus. I did detect solid grapefruit notes but without the bitterness. As the head began to dissipate, warm musty aromatics emerged. Nelson's flavor is a blend of smooth malt and big hop punch. What I found most appealing was the non-lingering bitterness on my palate. There was a slight hint of spiciness, but again not lingering. Widmer Brother's offering is brewed with  2-Row Pale, Carapils, Caramel 10-L and Alchemy, Nelson Sauvin, Cascade, Willamette hops. At 8.6% A.B.V. and 70 I.B.U.'s "Commodore" Nelson is quite sessionable. But don't let that fool ya, it still carries the "Imperial" moniker. As you can tell I really liked this beer. It's available year round so ask for it by name, Widmer Brothers Nelson Imperial IPA. Cheers!

For more info visit: Nelson Imperial IPA