IPA, if you live in California and drink something other than Lucky is what I would call a well used or abused term. I have had IPA's from all over and IPA's that shouldn't have been bottled at all. IPA can be to a new drinker of fine brews, a daunting thing, especially if the new drinker has had an IPA from Triple Rock. My god, those people are hop insane. But good...
I think Sierra Nevada is well versed at making me go ooh and aah over their beers. The term Harvest is a nice one and the label attracted me at first glance as it was one that you can't get in ND. I cracked her open and smelled the earthy scents of malt presence and said to myself, this beer is too cold. I let her sit for 5 minutes and was rewarded with a bouquet of hops that made me feel that they had a winner once again. Now I will tell you that first of all, this is a fine ale. I will also tell you that I think that all this wet/not wet hop malarkey is just that. The hop flavor is good and very present and I am sure they spent lots on the hops for this ale. It is an IPA, it is good, but it is an IPA in every area of taste. I think that Sierra Nevada thinks like I do that to call this special ale an IPA would be to call it ordinary, which it isn't. It is very good. I like it. It is an IPA in my mind.
4.75 out of 5 points
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Racer 5 IPA
I have looked at this beer on the shelf at this same store many times. The problem was that I had to roll and beer had no part for my plans at the time. Last night, was a different story as my work day ended where the store was and the planets aligned at the same time for the benefit of me and me alone I tell you.
I bought a 24 ounce bottle of this ale with the intention of pouring and enjoying it for what it is. It is on first smell a very hoppy ale. In fact, my first impression of its hoppy smell was of a batch of home brew I made many years ago where my hop dealer mislabeled my purchase and instead of cascade at 5.4, it was centennial at 14.5...I added 3 ounces wanting a strong cascade presence and ended up with a well rounded institutional strength tongue cleaner. I did however make some neat half and half recipes with it. That is another story altogether.
My point with this and other IPA's is that when it comes to hop presence, there should be almost too much to be a really good IPA. A good IPA is like sex with a very demanding lover. You will have to work hard to enjoy it, but at all angles it is all good. At first taste, I was overwhelmed with hop madness for a moment then the malt, and I must say malty joy comes right in and balances the whole thing. The IPA is not made for balance in the basic sense, it must lean toward the bitter hops and this one does nicely. I found this ale to be a pleasant, overwhelming for the senses joy to drink. I had never really heard on Bear Republic except that maybe they have won some awards in this or that category. If you are ever in California, WWW.bearrepublic.com 707-433-2337. I wish they had this in North Dakota.
5 out of 5 points
I bought a 24 ounce bottle of this ale with the intention of pouring and enjoying it for what it is. It is on first smell a very hoppy ale. In fact, my first impression of its hoppy smell was of a batch of home brew I made many years ago where my hop dealer mislabeled my purchase and instead of cascade at 5.4, it was centennial at 14.5...I added 3 ounces wanting a strong cascade presence and ended up with a well rounded institutional strength tongue cleaner. I did however make some neat half and half recipes with it. That is another story altogether.
My point with this and other IPA's is that when it comes to hop presence, there should be almost too much to be a really good IPA. A good IPA is like sex with a very demanding lover. You will have to work hard to enjoy it, but at all angles it is all good. At first taste, I was overwhelmed with hop madness for a moment then the malt, and I must say malty joy comes right in and balances the whole thing. The IPA is not made for balance in the basic sense, it must lean toward the bitter hops and this one does nicely. I found this ale to be a pleasant, overwhelming for the senses joy to drink. I had never really heard on Bear Republic except that maybe they have won some awards in this or that category. If you are ever in California, WWW.bearrepublic.com 707-433-2337. I wish they had this in North Dakota.
5 out of 5 points
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Bayern Amber Lager
Bayern Amber Lager...God, I hate the term Amber. I know what you might be saying...You can't say that, amber is good, it is at least darker than pale. I know, I know, but whenever it seems that a brewer has nothing to offer, they offer a non descript piece of crap, usually called amber or red or some other crap because they refuse to stand for something.
That is not this beer at all. This beer represents the entry into a new market. When Jurgen Knoller arrived in Montana in 1987, He was given the task of creating a beer that would win the hearts and taste buds of Montanans who wanted, according to popular demand, a beer that is "darker than domestic beer but not too dark, and hoppier than domestic beers, but not too hoppy"
After some consideration, Jurgen came up with Bayern Amber, a traditional American amber lager with a distinct hoppy flavor. To reach this delicate middle ground, Bayern Amber is made with the same type and quantity of malted barly used in German Marzenbiers, and then hopped in the manner of Czech-style pilseners.
I feel that this beer is easy to enjoy. And like other Bayern brews, offers a fine balance that shows me that they pay one heck of a lot of attention to balance in their beers. I like it. I wish it were the rules that if you are to call your beer amber that at least you would have the same distinction as this fine beer.
4.0 points out of five
www.bayernbrewery.com
That is not this beer at all. This beer represents the entry into a new market. When Jurgen Knoller arrived in Montana in 1987, He was given the task of creating a beer that would win the hearts and taste buds of Montanans who wanted, according to popular demand, a beer that is "darker than domestic beer but not too dark, and hoppier than domestic beers, but not too hoppy"
After some consideration, Jurgen came up with Bayern Amber, a traditional American amber lager with a distinct hoppy flavor. To reach this delicate middle ground, Bayern Amber is made with the same type and quantity of malted barly used in German Marzenbiers, and then hopped in the manner of Czech-style pilseners.
I feel that this beer is easy to enjoy. And like other Bayern brews, offers a fine balance that shows me that they pay one heck of a lot of attention to balance in their beers. I like it. I wish it were the rules that if you are to call your beer amber that at least you would have the same distinction as this fine beer.
4.0 points out of five
www.bayernbrewery.com
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Moose Drool Brown Ale
I have always liked the products from Big Sky Brewing Company in Missoula, Montana. They have been around for awhile and have a pretty consistent product. The other thing that I like about the Missoula Breweries in general is that they just brew their product and let it stand at that. I like that in a company. So often it is the rule of business that in order to make a profit, one must sell ones soul and pander to the masses in order to gain acceptance. Some have done just that and prospered and some have rightfully fallen by the wayside. Meanwhile, breweries like Bayern and Big Sky in little Missoula, Montana have been doing themselves and beer drinkers proud by serving up some pretty respectful beer.
Lets visit this current example. First of all, when I read on the label that what I am drinking is a brown ale, I tend to think in my mind about the standards in the brown ale business. Samuel Smith and Newcastle come to mind as good tasting, pleasant drinking brown ales. The brown ale is not to be too ungodly hoppy and represents a working mans beer in its structure and alcohol content. I am not getting technical to be sure but when you brew a beer and declare that it is this brew or that, you have to go back to the originals and determine in your mind whether or not that the beer in your hand actually starts in that same arena.
Clearly, this beer does come from the same pedigree as the others I have mentioned. With a smooth, sweet, mild smoky beginning at first sip segues into the hop profile which is crisp and present but not overpowering. The mouth feel reminds me of Newcastle but yet more so and I am left with a nice satisfying finish. This is a wonderful beer and with winter coming on, I sure wish I had a case of this at home now. There are a bunch of people that favor the barleywine style beers for the winter months and that is fine but I can drink one heck of a lot more of this and I feel that I look better without the bitter beer face. Look them up at www.bigskybrew.com
Lets visit this current example. First of all, when I read on the label that what I am drinking is a brown ale, I tend to think in my mind about the standards in the brown ale business. Samuel Smith and Newcastle come to mind as good tasting, pleasant drinking brown ales. The brown ale is not to be too ungodly hoppy and represents a working mans beer in its structure and alcohol content. I am not getting technical to be sure but when you brew a beer and declare that it is this brew or that, you have to go back to the originals and determine in your mind whether or not that the beer in your hand actually starts in that same arena.
Clearly, this beer does come from the same pedigree as the others I have mentioned. With a smooth, sweet, mild smoky beginning at first sip segues into the hop profile which is crisp and present but not overpowering. The mouth feel reminds me of Newcastle but yet more so and I am left with a nice satisfying finish. This is a wonderful beer and with winter coming on, I sure wish I had a case of this at home now. There are a bunch of people that favor the barleywine style beers for the winter months and that is fine but I can drink one heck of a lot more of this and I feel that I look better without the bitter beer face. Look them up at www.bigskybrew.com
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