tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70356465960472495472023-11-16T11:13:03.383-07:00My BeerspectiveThis is the world of beer through my eyes. Join me as I share my thoughts on tastings, home brews, and methods of education.Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-16400460403831635422015-05-28T23:12:00.002-06:002015-05-28T23:15:15.243-06:00Sierra Nevada Ovila Abbey Saison with Mandarin Oranges and Peppercorns<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I see it! The light at the end of this cloudy, rainy tunnel! This weekend shows promise of sunshine and 90 degree weather. I appreciate the rain, but I can't remember the last dry day we had! I enjoy NW style beer, but not NW style weather. Just to throw some figures at you, we've already had over double the monthly average rainfall in inches, and almost triple the rainfall of May 2014. Change seasons, already!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of seasons...</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PR8f6NI78VFeuBEny1mLn6ELbsQaAB0s_g9sSPEbmnGs8_beGAMB76qoLMYdwTQl7x2TEREdV2ND658Kbt8SH2ZS1U_aM2L8LTbnxGbXyi3derpZkR9upL6AJ-oKwjz2Sjahk2UwE9dp/s1600/IMG_20150528_194951902_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PR8f6NI78VFeuBEny1mLn6ELbsQaAB0s_g9sSPEbmnGs8_beGAMB76qoLMYdwTQl7x2TEREdV2ND658Kbt8SH2ZS1U_aM2L8LTbnxGbXyi3derpZkR9upL6AJ-oKwjz2Sjahk2UwE9dp/s400/IMG_20150528_194951902_HDR.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></div>
<a href="http://www.sierranevada.com/beer/specialty/ovila-abbey-saison-with-mandarin-oranges-and-peppercorns" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Sierra Nevada Ovila Abbey Saison with Mandarin Oranges and Peppercorns - Collaboration with Monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux</b></a><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(For those of you scratching your heads, "saison" mean's "season" in French.)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 12.7 fl oz cork & cage bottle into a tall stemmed tulip, 7.5% ABV, Packaged 05/05/15</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bright copper in color with almost three fingers of fluffy eggshell foam. It has better clarity than usual for a saison - only slightly hazy. Lacing is nice and sticky.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Smells like a malty orange soda! The peppercorns match well with the spicy phenols from the yeast. Sweet citrus, toffee, biscuit, stinky feet - but it’s somehow not off-putting. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hmm… it’s got a weird banana, burned caramel pudding thing going on. Sweet mandarin juice, angel food cake, over-baked cookies, lemon zest, very peppery. There’s some citrusy hops for support, but it’s fairly masked. Overall, it’s sticky sweet with a peppery zip.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creamy, sticky, a touch of alcoholic warming, moderate carbonation, med-full body</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Burnt toffee</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not a fan! But that doesn’t mean it’s not good. It’s hard to separate the yeast character from the mandarin and peppercorn, which means they’re paired very well. The combination of flavors just isn’t my thing. I think it’s the peppercorn. I like it for seasoning food, but not for seasoning saisons. One person’s meh is another person’s yeh! … or something.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Banana pancakes with walnuts and real maple syrup. Lightly panko breaded halibut and mixed greens salad with grape tomatoes, red onion, a citrus herb vinaigrette, and a generous topping of fresh cracked pepper. Crème brûlée with a citrus glaze.</span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-80226046487924761532015-05-18T08:24:00.000-06:002015-05-18T08:26:40.222-06:00Boulevard Brewing Smokestack Series Sixth Glass Quadrupel Ale<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know why, but it has been on the chillier side in Salt Lake as of late. It has sent me downing mugs of tea, layering up with blankets, and sipping on pints of stout. The swing in temperature brings a renewed appreciation for cold weather libations, and I'm happy to partake. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sZCNXTXEajgO7qICK3gHpdQMRAZvr4ByDDaaCsQc6GwMra9ILgLqFGpCAkMb62PFT_ar9Qb9GbI0g1zNo4D_sHa2oQvKpkzGhlASO4Ja7EmOdkP7Fvv1jMnOmFeiQuRpABE7xNOXxdgb/s1600/IMG_20150517_185133177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sZCNXTXEajgO7qICK3gHpdQMRAZvr4ByDDaaCsQc6GwMra9ILgLqFGpCAkMb62PFT_ar9Qb9GbI0g1zNo4D_sHa2oQvKpkzGhlASO4Ja7EmOdkP7Fvv1jMnOmFeiQuRpABE7xNOXxdgb/s400/IMG_20150517_185133177.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-2a90c3bc-64c0-f573-fbcb-d2770c3e6730"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.boulevard.com/BoulevardBeers/the-sixth-glass/">Boulevard Brewing Smokestack Series Sixth Glass Quadrupel Ale</a></b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 12 fl oz (355 ml) bottle into a snifter, 10.5% ABV, Best By 01/28/17</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coppery-orange in color with ruby highlights, and almost two fingers of sandy foam. Lacing sticks in splotches here and there. The head looks very creamy and persistent. It’s brilliant, though the color is fairly dark. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Belgian yeast phenolics, candied plums, baking spices, sticky sweet caramel, a touch of fusel alcohols, dark raisins, Portuguese bread roll, crunch berries cereal, crystal malt, a little bit of dry grass, mild floral hops for balance</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Boozy! I get strong alcohol from start to finish. It goes down like a very gentle Canadian whiskey. Equal parts caramel and dark fruit join that up front 10.5% to create a sort of bourbon caramel covered cherry chocolate experience. Bran muffin, cinnamon, toasted cashews, dark raisins, molasses. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">High carbonation creates fluffiness. Full body. Carbonation and alcohol join forces to give a decent bite. Alcoholic warmth lasts forever.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cinnamon and brown sugar oatmeal, spiced rum</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is exactly what the doctor ordered for a long bout of cooler, rainy Utah weather. There’s enough alcoholic warmth in this glass to keep me from turning the heat on in mid-May. Sounds weird, but feels weird...er. Where’s my sunshine? Why am I wearing my winter coat? It </span><span style="line-height: 22.0799999237061px; white-space: pre-wrap;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> matter. Sixth glass or first, this quad is here to warm you the whole way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apple and raisin stuffed chicken breast with rosemary mashed potatoes and buttered asparagus. French toast sticks with bourbon maple syrup for dipping. Warm bread pudding with a caramel drizzle. </span></div>
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Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-65646709391816727922015-05-07T08:43:00.001-06:002015-05-07T08:45:21.229-06:00Saison Dupont<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being really into saisons lately, it's only fitting that I finally try the benchmark of the entire style. Brasserie Dupont has been making their saison since 1844. Woo! That's only a few years younger than <a href="http://www.yuengling.com/">the oldest brewery in America</a> (1829). Nobody lasts that long unless they're doing it right!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.brasserie-dupont.com/dupont/en/6967-saison-dupont.html"><b>Brasserie Dupont Saison Dupont</b></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 750 ml (1 pt 9.4 fl oz) green glass bottle into a stemmed tulip glass, 6.5% ABV. There’s no date code, but the cork reads “2.014”. I’m not sure if this has any significance. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Golden honey in color with 2.5 fingers of soft white foam that sticks to the glass. The foam looks silky and enticing. Slightly hazy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lots of yeast-derived fruitiness - ripe apricots, late harvest white grapes, wildflower honey. Horse blanket and sweat are brought out with a gentle swirl of the glass. Light graininess, a bit of spice, mild citrus.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Funky! An off-dry impact of white grapes gives way to tangerine rind, hard graininess, and bleu cheese. It’s rather bitter without being hoppy. Dry grass, biscuit, honeydew, toastiness, some umami from the yeast. Gobs of honey on the finish, though it comes off as very dry.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">High carbonation gives a fluffy mouthfeel. Med-light body, and slightly mouth-drying.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rather bitter red apple skin, a little papery</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Very interesting! Beers infected with Brett or other wild microorganisms always leave me scrounging for words to describe what I’m tasting. I’ll have to figure out a better vocabulary for these types! I’m positive this is oxidized. It has the telltale honey/waxy/papery flavors, but I’m taking it with a grain of salt. This is a great beer, and would pair well with most meals.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Garden fresh bruschetta. Spaghetti with an herbed red sauce, green bell peppers, and browned Italian sausage. Sourdough toast topped with lightly spiced pear jam and bleu cheese crumbles.</span></div>
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Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-31766182855499479532015-05-02T12:16:00.001-06:002015-05-02T12:16:39.645-06:00Getting The Most Out Of Your BeerCheck it out! I recently wrote a blog for the Red Rock Brewing website about getting the most out of your beer. <a href="http://redrockbrewing.com/9-tips-for-getting-the-most-out-of-your-beer">You can go read it here.</a><br />
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My friend Noodle was so kind as to let me use her darling Bernese mountain dog pup for this picture. Her name is Pippa, and she has an instagram: <a href="http://www.enjoygram.com/pippatheberner">pippatheberner</a>. What a cutie!Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-17206265871534133102015-04-15T17:55:00.004-06:002015-04-15T17:57:49.954-06:00Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a strange three days it has been! Two days ago, I was hiking in 76 degree weather in shorts and a sleeveless shirt, sweating and wearing sunscreen. It has been snowing now for 24 hours, and we've seen about 10 inches of accumulation from it. This is more than I've seen it snow all winter! I've never nursed a sunburn on my shoulders in a snowstorm before.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tea has been my companion for most of the day, but it's time to switch over to beer! Thanks for this one, Eric Kammerer!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv3pfAbowEHVoUCesz_fWoLnVAcvuTRUErKBD3RcPQnLCpNSYIfK8wcalzd_TfQJRWXtSuvocw9jGV9bV4BJpRsuo6veLiZN5tf7ewbPKvF3-H4tT4zNYWXBI79MabQuWtc_JIqeW_MPl/s1600/IMG_20150415_163706136_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv3pfAbowEHVoUCesz_fWoLnVAcvuTRUErKBD3RcPQnLCpNSYIfK8wcalzd_TfQJRWXtSuvocw9jGV9bV4BJpRsuo6veLiZN5tf7ewbPKvF3-H4tT4zNYWXBI79MabQuWtc_JIqeW_MPl/s1600/IMG_20150415_163706136_HDR.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/year-round-brews/60-minute-ipa.htm"><b>Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA</b></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 12 fl oz (355ml) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 6% ABV, Bottled on 02/06/15, 9.5 weeks old</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Golden to light copper in color with a finger of snow white suds on top. It quickly shrinks down into thin layer of tiny bubbles, leaving the sides of the glass well laced. It’s brilliantly clear.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herbal and earthy hops, saltine crackers, tropical fruits like pineapple and grapefruit, gardenia, slightly toasty, Pils malt. The aroma is light. Nothing in-your-face. As it warms up a touch, more piney hop aromas are drawn out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lots more pineapple and grapefruit. Toasted honey wheat bread, sharp cheddar cheese, solid malt backbone, lots of floral notes. Mild bitterness I would better associate with a pale ale. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A little creamy, medium carbonation, the finish is a tiny bit astringent</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A bouquet of flowers… that you just ate. It’s more pleasant than it sounds. =)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a perfect example of an East Coast IPA. Compare it to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and you’ll find one beer is much hoppier than the other, and it’s probably not the one you think (SN PA is hoppier than DF IPA). In general, IPAs are more hoppy and bitter than pale ales, but East vs. West puts a different dynamic into play. West Coast cranks everything up a notch in the hop department. Is that better? No, just different. This IPA has a lovely even balance of gentle hop derived tropical fruit and bready malt backbone. It’s very sessionable, and won’t kill your palate. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tortilla chips with picante salsa. Chevre salad with pistachios, grapefruit, and a creamy herb vinaigrette. Peach pie.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Curious about the 90 minute IPA? <a href="http://mybeerspective.blogspot.com/2014/10/dogfish-head-90-minute-ipa.html">Check it out here.</a></span><br />
<br />Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-73222578508846569722015-04-05T21:25:00.002-06:002015-04-05T21:29:38.881-06:00Lindemans Faro Lambic<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faro is a substyle of lambic that was first imported to the US in 2010. It is a blended lambic that is sweetened and then pasteurized to prevent further fermentation. Sugar is added to help balance the tart acidity of the beer, and make it more palatable. The result is a fruity, sweet, spontaneously fermented lambic-style brew. The sugary, fruit-flavored lambics aren't really my thing, but I've never tried a Faro before, so I had to grab this!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eTKRxErnLYgGNqeup1R5eu49S7M_v7IjtH9RFR4QblQ2CCDqP1WH9yJ92Ad-HHnwr4jWTaO12HgriDqYfN3Prql469UElvcRxMImXwbrfft0PZBRMdmVE3KM06sJ4AKCMlJsFEaD6YAh/s1600/IMG_20150405_180137390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eTKRxErnLYgGNqeup1R5eu49S7M_v7IjtH9RFR4QblQ2CCDqP1WH9yJ92Ad-HHnwr4jWTaO12HgriDqYfN3Prql469UElvcRxMImXwbrfft0PZBRMdmVE3KM06sJ4AKCMlJsFEaD6YAh/s1600/IMG_20150405_180137390.jpg" height="400" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.merchantduvin.com/brew-lindemans-faro-lambic.php"><b>Lindemans Faro Lambic</b></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 12 fl oz (355ml) green capped and corked bottle into a Chimay chalice, 4.2% ABV, <a href="http://www.ratebeer.com/forums/bottling-codes-for-lindemans_170041.htm">"L K21LFA"</a> Bottled 11/21/12 - Good thing lambics just get better with age!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iced tea amber in color with reddish hues and fairly large chunks of sediment that eventually rest at the bottom of the glass. Not really any foam, but a film of suds is present for a few minutes after pouring. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This sucker is potent! I could almost take notes on the aroma while my nose is a foot away from the glass. Getting my nose up closer, this is double sugar-coated peach rings that have been liquefied and fermented. Red apples, raspberries, white peaches, a little bit of cherry. That lambic tartness comes through and gets my salivary glands going. When I swirl the glass, some familiar lambic sweaty gym sock stank comes through. It’s really just overwhelmingly sweet smelling.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever made sweet tea and accidentally put too much sugar in, and you don’t notice until you taste it? That’s what this is like. Sweet and tart raspberries, mango nectar, the tiniest touch of funk rests on the tongue on the finish. Artificially flavored seltzer water. It’s borderline sour, but the syrupy sweetness drowns it out. Peach pit, Arnold Palmer, fruit leather, turbinado sugar. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">High carbonation, slightly mouth puckering, surprisingly off-dry finish</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tart cherries, a little tobacco, some astringency</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is as sweet as fruit juice, and more like a wine spritzer than a beer. Nonetheless, I’m sure it’s right up someones alley, just not mine. I prefer a straight lambic or a gueuze. But I’m happy to have had the opportunity to try it! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pear and candied walnut pizza with caramelized onions. Chèvre cheesecake with graham cracker crust. Salted caramels.</span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-33397731292199714412015-04-02T23:21:00.000-06:002015-04-02T23:23:15.022-06:00Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sure many of you are familiar with how Guinness in a can works. It has what they call a <a href="http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/question446.htm">"widget"</a> inside of the can that releases nitrogen when the can is opened, effectively replicating that creamy mouthfeel and visual cascading effect that's most often enjoyed on draft. In 2011, the geniuses over at Left Hand Brewing Co. figured out a way to bottle a nitrogen beer without a widget. After an extensive 15 minute research session, I am here to tell you I have no idea how it works. I don't know if it's a dearly kept secret or something, but I wasn't able to find any sort of scientific or dumbed down explanation of this black magic. If I find one, I'll be sure to put it up here!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nitro beers are very visual, and if you pour them wrong, you're failing the beer. Pay attention, kids! This is how it's done.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lefthandbrewing.com/about/nitro/">You can read more about Left Hand's nitro beers here.</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu2dBNhUz5Fm0YQ-Af9dCs_JRU1wV-_JRPf0aG0fDjMgyw_OOangEnTdjQN_0ycU0sml3aiNbVqTYXz3-0qUQOaB1qaUHI2Hbs44_8ySPBXTLzG2W7WKsBtlb-UaBpNyukWqqWW8Rw0hA/s1600/IMG_20150402_201049012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu2dBNhUz5Fm0YQ-Af9dCs_JRU1wV-_JRPf0aG0fDjMgyw_OOangEnTdjQN_0ycU0sml3aiNbVqTYXz3-0qUQOaB1qaUHI2Hbs44_8ySPBXTLzG2W7WKsBtlb-UaBpNyukWqqWW8Rw0hA/s1600/IMG_20150402_201049012.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lefthandbrewing.com/beers/milk-stout-nitro/">Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 12 fl oz (355ml) bottle into a <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=nonic+pint&espv=2&biw=1242&bih=585&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=8f4dVd6NPMj9oASvoIHYDA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg">nonic pint</a>, 6% ABV, Enjoy By 06/11/15</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dark chestnut in color with ruby highlights. Two fingers of super thick, khaki colored froth rest on top. I could watch that gorgeous cascade of beer settle in the glass all day. Sheets of froth cover the glass as I drink, not unlike my upper lip.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_hrpVYUWv7hu8UeHxB-KT8APlG7rmR3VsivdZTm4vCnpJF8CDhgiLGle3VRJ0q1KbgWyth7ypFUngTTLZAgBZhMnwzmCV8kLR-0TLtSW-F_-vTZe_-yvufdQl1lpI_BFQVy1nHjVM5PC/s1600/IMG_20150402_201104812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_hrpVYUWv7hu8UeHxB-KT8APlG7rmR3VsivdZTm4vCnpJF8CDhgiLGle3VRJ0q1KbgWyth7ypFUngTTLZAgBZhMnwzmCV8kLR-0TLtSW-F_-vTZe_-yvufdQl1lpI_BFQVy1nHjVM5PC/s1600/IMG_20150402_201104812.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Equal parts sweet and roasted malt. Plenty of coffee, nuttiness, and a hint of oak.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh my… a great sadness has just come upon me. I have found another favorite beer that doesn’t distribute to Utah. This. Is. Incredible! Vanilla bean, coffee, and dark chocolate all wrapped up in a soft blanket of sweet lactose. Walnuts, fresh cream, roastiness. And everything is so perfectly balanced. This is actually perfect. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The mouthfeel of this beer contributes tremendously to the overall impression. Nitrogen gives beer a silky, milkshake texture that you simply never get from carbon dioxide alone. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cafe latte, nougat</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is as close to a beer milkshake as you will ever get. This just might be a perfect beer. I lend not just my left hand, by my right as well in applauding the creators of this masterful milk stout! This isn’t an extreme beer. The subtleties of flavor are all in balance, creating a flavorful but not overwhelming beer. I wouldn’t change a thing. Bravo Left Hand Brewing!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buttered whole grain toast with avocados and a dash of salt and pepper. Fish and chips, no sauce. Angel food cake. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_QLwkNBwrJQH7oLxwXNqqP-SRsHK7iX3CB0jR2acxYaX9Xrp2YK4oSBwV6nGseSZRnhFuiPW7IioCEwjNLbau4R-u-XPMk27_kkwPmYAK1PGhxSHk1WwAZczpwRXmgM8k8-nsnedHi6m/s1600/IMG_20150402_205548268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_QLwkNBwrJQH7oLxwXNqqP-SRsHK7iX3CB0jR2acxYaX9Xrp2YK4oSBwV6nGseSZRnhFuiPW7IioCEwjNLbau4R-u-XPMk27_kkwPmYAK1PGhxSHk1WwAZczpwRXmgM8k8-nsnedHi6m/s1600/IMG_20150402_205548268.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-51714679181691991942015-03-31T21:51:00.000-06:002015-03-31T21:53:36.669-06:00Japanese Green Tea IPA - Collaboration between Baird, Stone, and Ishii<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm starting to wonder if it's fair to review beers that are a few months old. I'm not talking about beers that are meant to be aged for years, but beers like IPAs and weissbiers that are meant to be consumed fresh. Working at a brewery has given me the ability to experience firsthand just how different a day old IPA is from a 2 week old. It makes me wonder if reviewing an IPA that's almost three months old is giving those who read it a true representation of what the beer will taste like if they were to try it. I suppose so long as I let you all know it's approaching the three month age, then it should be ok. I think I'm at the point where I should just stop buying them so old, let alone reviewing them. Snobbery aside, who can resist buying a green tea IPA from Stone and friends???</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0affpiRyecylq0L_D6AgGajX3NkfrXToeYe40bn7lIvhUD4vNwSuvvo_5q9hUuQfmbF3x94m9UHD6FnsKINlM85yeDanNSlZ6AG6Dv1mc7ndU7OmQ4hTxh0xHyYpT3upfTzKM6vKADIx/s1600/IMG_20150331_203138287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0affpiRyecylq0L_D6AgGajX3NkfrXToeYe40bn7lIvhUD4vNwSuvvo_5q9hUuQfmbF3x94m9UHD6FnsKINlM85yeDanNSlZ6AG6Dv1mc7ndU7OmQ4hTxh0xHyYpT3upfTzKM6vKADIx/s1600/IMG_20150331_203138287.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="http://www.stonebrewing.com/collab/greentea/">Japanese Green Tea IPA</a> - Collaboration between <a href="http://bairdbeer.com/en/">Baird</a>, <a href="http://www.stonebrewing.com/collab/greentea/">Stone</a>, and <a href="http://www.ishiibrew.com/">Ishii</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 22 fl oz (650ml) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 10.1% ABV, Bottled 01/09/15</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Golden honey in color with a finger of pure white, mouse-like head. It slowly dissipates, leaving behind some nice lace. This beer is very cloudy, and I’m sure there must be a good amount of wheat in here. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grapefruit, citrus and floral hops, lightly sweet malt in the background that becomes more bready as I swirl. A touch of green grass, pineapple. The nose is on the lighter side.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Woah, there are two completely different levels of flavor happening throughout the entire palate. The top level is a citrusy hop bitterness that firmly grabs the tongue and doesn’t let go until well after I’ve swallowed. The lower level is more dynamic, gently introducing softer citrus flavors of pineapple and mandarin with the roundness of green tea before more assertive hop flavor joins the ranks of the top level. There’s certainly a good level of yeast-derived spiciness that gives the hops some oomph. Biscuit malt holds down the fort, and subtly stands out underneath the citrus-fest. There’s some sweetness mid-palate, but the finish is dry. This has Stone’s fingerprints all over it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creamy, yet biting. It dries out the mouth just a touch, and gives the tart impression of grapefruit. Medium-high carbonation. Medium-full body.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bitter citrus hops for daaaays. There’s also a strange impression of bitter dark chocolate I’m feeling on the aftertaste. It’s basically a chocolate orange. I might be imagining it, or simply craving it. Food pairing, anyone?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I feel like this is more of a double IPA with subtle hints of green tea and nearly overwhelming amounts of citrus than it is a green tea IPA. That being said, I’m not drinking this beer anywhere near its prime time for consumption, as it’s 11.5 weeks old. It’s amazing how just a few days can change the flavors of the beer, especially the subtle ones. Months down the line, it comes off as an extremely strong citrus bomb of a DIPA. My nose and mouth are doing the equivalent of when I squint my eyes so I can see things far away. I think the subtleties are just too far gone here. But for what it is, I think it’s pretty tasty! What I hope for and what I perceive is all part of the tasting game, and why I sometimes like to not have any idea what I’m drinking. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fried calamari with chipotle aioli and a squeeze of lemon. Asian greens salad with baby spinach, carrots, grated ginger, mandarins, and a sesame vinaigrette. Dark chocolate covered ritz crackers. </span></span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-60376010684360334612015-03-28T18:59:00.002-06:002015-03-28T19:06:33.690-06:00Epic Elder Brett Saison-Brett Golden Ale<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Tis the season for Brett!... or something. The Brett I'm referring to isn't a person, but a strain of wild yeast that normally lives on the skins of fruit. Its full name, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brettanomyces">Brettanomyces</a>, is Greek for "British fungus". Who knew such a wretched-sounding thing could make beer taste so good?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, it's not really Brett season. It just so happens that I've had access to such brews as of late. Wild yeast FTW!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlYQ8DgljRgjL27FRuBTt6kJ_zyQ3zg6GtOJxKYsdvLdvGW8krasHD5habmc4CTIDkUHaRNgo3_xNWI5M-ENDdW9ZaOl2XnleQa6Gtl2xSqqObBArkg2zdgR2UWdY6oqqMiFYbAKfh8V5/s1600/IMG_20150327_205131365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlYQ8DgljRgjL27FRuBTt6kJ_zyQ3zg6GtOJxKYsdvLdvGW8krasHD5habmc4CTIDkUHaRNgo3_xNWI5M-ENDdW9ZaOl2XnleQa6Gtl2xSqqObBArkg2zdgR2UWdY6oqqMiFYbAKfh8V5/s1600/IMG_20150327_205131365.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="http://www.epicbrewing.com/the-beers/exponential-series/item/639-elder-brett-saison-brett-golden-ale">Epic Elder Brett Saison-Brett Golden Ale</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 22 fl oz (650ml) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 9.1% ABV, Release #7, Brewed 11/02/14, Bottled 11/24/14</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Golden yellow in color with little to no foam. It’s brilliantly clear. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh, yeah! There’s that mouth watering Brettanomyces again! Tart green apples, golden honey, bread crust, peary, lemon zest, hint of sweet stone fruit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is much more gentle than what I was bracing myself for. But it’s nice! I wasn’t zapped in the face by a sour lightning bolt. This is slightly tart, not sour. Tart apples and pears wash over the palate and make way for buttery chardonnay and crusty honey wheat bread. There’s a touch of spiciness, and a little grainy. The finish has a steady umami quality, and also reminds me of Sauvignon Blanc.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slightly waxy, moderately high carbonation, medium-light body</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strong diacetyl and green apples</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This tastes closer to an effervescent white wine more than any beer I’ve ever had. Seriously, is EPIC playing a trick on all of us? Is this wine instead of beer? I would love to see what people think of this in a blind tasting. It’s really enjoyable and light. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bruschetta. Broccoli and brie stuffed chicken on a bed of polenta with a red wine ju and kalamata olives. Shortbread cookies.</span></span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-34203479187922997832015-03-26T23:33:00.000-06:002015-03-28T19:05:06.768-06:00Cuvée des Jacobins Flanders Red Ale<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing makes my mouth water quite like a sour beer. It's usually the first whiff that sends my eyes to the back of my skull and the glands under my tongue gushing. The same thing that makes others squirm and scoff brings me true delight in the form of turning my head inside out. Hah!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA-2XHRPxly9WZx1-LwlV2c1s4wKK3zFZD3Jefia6HjY5ajqFl7RQFsAUkKTPsP7dKuq2f6drqrd82xAr2cIPDcn8BIqm4fs7UtkeFyMCLb0kxSZr1yXX_LqAs029PKbQMFEp6lmhrLp6/s1600/IMG_20150326_222708180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA-2XHRPxly9WZx1-LwlV2c1s4wKK3zFZD3Jefia6HjY5ajqFl7RQFsAUkKTPsP7dKuq2f6drqrd82xAr2cIPDcn8BIqm4fs7UtkeFyMCLb0kxSZr1yXX_LqAs029PKbQMFEp6lmhrLp6/s1600/IMG_20150326_222708180.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.omervanderghinste.be/en/our-beers/cuv%C3%A9e-des-jacobins"><b>Cuvée des Jacobins</b></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 11.2 fl oz (331ml) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 5.5% ABV, 06/14 - I don’t know if that date refers to bottling or importation. It probably </span><span style="line-height: 22.0799999237061px; white-space: pre-wrap;">isn't</span><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a best by date. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ruby in color with dark hues of maroon. A half finger of creamy white foam springs up as I pour, but it quickly dissipates to a thin ring clinging to the side of the glass. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dark cherries, smarties candy, red lifesavers, plenty of sour Brett, honeyed bread crust, Macintosh apples</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh my god… it’s so sour I feel like sneezing! This is bliss! My mouth is watering so much that my eyes are watering, too. This is a sour cherry bomb! There’s a savory, bready malt character on the front, and then you’re suddenly being walloped in the kisser with a boatload of sour cherries. This is a full head experience. My mouth puckers hard, and I ache behind my eyes like a </span><span style="line-height: 22.0799999237061px; white-space: pre-wrap;">brain freeze</span><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It takes some concentration, but beyond the eye-squinting sourness lies a woodsy, herbal, nutty character. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s a mouth coating, warming cherry cough syrup-like action mid-palate, but then it’s </span><span style="line-height: 22.0799999237061px; white-space: pre-wrap;">rudely</span><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> stripped off by the sourness. My mouth is left quivering from the hard pucker. My brain hurts. I’m in love.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fighting through the sour apple toward some semblance of balance in my head. I think this is a form of masochism. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mouthfeel takes the cake on this one. The sourness is so commanding that I have a hard time picking out the different flavors under it. My vocabulary is also very limited when it comes to sour thrashers like this. There’s a bunch of stuff going on here I just don’t know how to describe. But what I do know is that I like it! I also know this is but the tip of the sour iceberg. I need to get on my sour game!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Margherita pizza with the freshest possible ingredients. Apple glazed pork tenderloin with deep fried rosemary potato wedges. The richest chocolate cake you can find.</span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-56302810085311609792015-03-22T12:42:00.000-06:002015-03-22T12:45:39.067-06:00Epic Straight Up Saison<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been on a bit of a saison kick lately. I can't get enough of those Belgian yeasty characters of citrus, spicy phenols, and bubblegum. It's intensely refreshing, and feels like the perfect celebration beer for having such lovely 70 degree weather at the end of March. This summer will likely make Utah pay for the early warmth and very mild winter we had, but for now, I'm loving the weather.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXkxUqdqkuLWaVusmBhhtKhUiPkSJvmJ4te6BgDogwK9D_Qose0h5IpNt8uJgw6taS6-ssS5HIeBG4WVqv29m3TLNMHeMXWv1MFmmjNexrdI5S253reJ8meNPO-dCZHltlVK9XTRDwOfs/s1600/IMG_20150321_202040237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXkxUqdqkuLWaVusmBhhtKhUiPkSJvmJ4te6BgDogwK9D_Qose0h5IpNt8uJgw6taS6-ssS5HIeBG4WVqv29m3TLNMHeMXWv1MFmmjNexrdI5S253reJ8meNPO-dCZHltlVK9XTRDwOfs/s1600/IMG_20150321_202040237.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.epicbrewing.com/the-beers/exponential-series/item/629-straight-up-saison#" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Epic Straight Up Saison</a></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 22 fl oz (650ml) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 7.6% ABV, Release #21. They don’t have info up on their site for Release #21 yet, so I’m guessing it was bottled very recently. I purchased it on 3/21/15. It annoys me that you have to go online to figure out the bottling date. That being said, they do have lots of other cool info online for each release (Specific malt and hops used, when and where it was brewed and packaged). It's pretty cool, and I don't know any other brewery that does that.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Golden yellow in color with a finger of white suds on top. The foam quickly fades into a thin film. The beer is quite hazy, and glows like sunshine even in low light. There’s a splotch here and there of lacing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strong belgian yeast character of bubblegum and spicy phenols, fresh orange and pineapple juice with spritz of lime, tartness that makes my mouth water, a hint of barnyard</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Again - fresh citrus juices, gently tart, spicy, green grass, dried mango, a hint of banana, some clove. It’s just loads of sweet citrus and spice.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The body is much lighter than I anticipated, but still slightly creamy. Moderate carbonation, refreshingly dry finish.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yeast derived green grassy bitterness - it’s pretty bold and long lasting. Quite nice!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This isn’t a bad saison at all! It’s fairly sweet mid-palate, but finishes dry with a grassy quality that goes on for days. I’d be downright thrilled to have this on a hot day! Given, at 7.6% ABV it’s more of a post-lawn mowing beer than a pre or mid, but it’s refreshing all the same!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bitter greens salad with carrots, radishes, a hard boiled egg, and a ginger citrus vinaigrette. Cilantro shrimp tacos with fresh pico de gallo and lime. Pizzelle cookies dusted with powdered sugar.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm very much looking forward to drinking the Saison Dupont from my last haul. I've never had it before, and it's considered the benchmark for all saisons. Woo!</span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-87876467827387192852015-03-20T21:43:00.000-06:002015-03-20T21:52:04.933-06:00Founder's Breakfast Stout, Mystery 12 Pack Update, and East Coast Haul<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finally got through the mystery 12 pack! Took me long enough, right? It's hard when my fridge looks like this. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, these are my thoughts on the last three!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">River Horse Hop Hazard brings a hefty helping of earthy/piney hops to the table, with a solid crystal malt backbone. The fact that it’s unfiltered gives it a lightly creamy mouthfeel, which pairs nicely with the full flavored body. I’d drink it again! </span><br />
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<br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stone IPA has a unique hop character of equal parts pine and citrus. I feel like this is probably one of those beers you could easily pick out in a blind tasting. Bread crust maltiness lays a sound foundation, while a long bitter finish leaves you ready for the next taste. This is well balanced, and well deserving of your attention!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">I saved what I thought would be best for last. Founder's Breakfast Stout has been on my wish list for quite sometime, and the one I was most excited about from the 12 pack. I decided to do full notes on this one!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://foundersbrewing.com/our-beer/breakfast-stout/">Founders Breakfast Stout (Double Chocolate Coffee Oatmeal Stout)</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 12 fl oz (355ml) bottle into a tulip glass, 8.3% ABV, 60 IBU, Bottled 10/26/14, Served at the appropriate temperature of 60°F</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dark as onyx with a tint of deep mahogany. A modest half-finger of gingerbread colored foam caps the brew. It may be small, but it remains for several minutes while hardly diminishing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This smells incredibly similar to Samuel Smith’s Chocolate Stout, but with heavy coffee notes. Sticky toffee, rich coffee with cream and sugar, crushed cacao nibs, lactose, both dark and milk chocolate, candied nuts, wood smoke, nutmeg, a touch of cinnamon. I’m not leaving myself many adjectives for the taste... There’s just a symphony of sweet, dark flavors in here!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes!!! This is everything from the aroma and more. All the flavors are in such balance that I can pick out each one, but not so much that I can’t distinguish them from one another. A spoonful of oatmeal greets the tongue and is immediately washed down with equally sweet and bitter coffee. Toffee is the resulting flavor, with bits of nuts sprinkled throughout. Dark honey coats the tongue before bitter chocolate and smoke wash down the finish not unlike an Irish carbomb. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creamy oatmeal, moderately low carbonation. Alcohol/smoke warms the back of my throat. After getting halfway through the glass, my stomach actually feels the same warmth.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chocolate and coffee bitterness resound with the lightest hint of caramelized banana </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are any sort of dark beer fan, this needs to be in at least the top five of your beer bucket list. If you’re not a dark beer fan, then it should be in the top eight. Seriously, stop pussyfooting around and get your hands on this beer (so it’s in your possession, and so you warm it up after taking it out of the fridge). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chocolate peanut butter brownies with walnuts, fresh from the oven with a scoop of <a href="http://www.benjerry.com/flavors/half-baked-ice-cream">Half Baked</a> on top. Deep fried oreos - maybe dip them in? Nothing - just drink it for breakfast.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Utah has more than a few fantastic breweries churning out some delicious brews, but it's always nice to break out of the bubble and try something out of state. I'm happy to have more where that came from...</span>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's my haul from PA/NJ! I've been looking forward to some of these for a long time. And there are a few thrown in there that looked too interesting to pass up. In addition to these, I have </span>Cuvée Des Jacobins, Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro, and a few of Weyerbacher's barrel aged stuff.<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I'll try to do full notes on most of these, so check back soon! </span></span></div>
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Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-61712365572431821242015-03-11T22:48:00.000-06:002015-03-12T09:52:03.160-06:00Mystery 12 Pack and East Coast Trip Update<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though snowstorm and sickness ridden, I had a lovely week and a half trip to PA/NJ! Let me fill you in on the Philly Craft Beer Festival I attended last Saturday. Note first that it was outdoors. In February. In the dead of East Coast winter. Even though it was the second warmest day of my stay, it was chilly enough to shake the alcoholic warmth right off my bones. I have certainly become weak to this weather in my years of absence. I thought they would have those tall propane heaters scattered about, but my only luck at finding warmth was in the middle of the tent among a crowd of pretzel necklace wearing people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, you wanted to hear about the beer? Right! There were two styles, with the exception of cider and the occasional rye, to choose from: Stout or IPA. No joke. It was kind of cool to compare different interpretations of the same style for the first hour, but after my 7th stout, my palate and I were ready for a break. I sat down at a table inside a tent for a moment and nibbled at some granola bar samples. The sides of the tent were flapping in the wind, wisps riding up the back of my shirt, and I considered my departure. I decided to take a trip to the porta potty park first, and a glance at the mob waiting for a piss made the mile walk to the light rail more appealing. As I walked out the exit, a festival volunteer said, "Leaving already? Are you crazy?" That's when I knew my blood had grown thin in the past two unseasonably warm Utah winters. I pursed my lips and sloshed my way back to the train stop.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't a bad festival by any means! There was a great attendance of breweries and cideries, and the lines weren't terribly long. Better yet, they didn't have that stupid token system. Remind me again how those make sense? Pay to get into the festival, and then pay more for the beer in the BEER festival? Yeah. Philly did it right.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most memorable brew I had there was <a href="http://terrapinbeer.com/brew/year-round/liquid-bliss/">Terrapin Liquid Bliss Peanut Butter Chocolate Porter</a>. I imagine they must have spent years trying to get it just right. This one had me at the aroma. I've never had a beer with an impressive aroma that didn't also follow through on the taste, and Liquid Bliss is no exception. Everything was on point, and I'm saddened to know it might be some time before I can enjoy a bottle to myself. Get on it, Utah!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I need not pout. I have a few brews left from that Mystery 12 Pack that require attention...</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXuvsYBb9_Ynk-z8FpiC3HCqKE4mX4nvCDFIVV_5zBLx1upcH_okmubyI2jZxxreUMDfHqZaF5ru8xXdt2jg_yF7Y3teRvJYV23tv5c66Xgq95uq3GDsal-qSD6k7gbAMJvjirg-yiij7/s1600/IMG_20150311_205503778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXuvsYBb9_Ynk-z8FpiC3HCqKE4mX4nvCDFIVV_5zBLx1upcH_okmubyI2jZxxreUMDfHqZaF5ru8xXdt2jg_yF7Y3teRvJYV23tv5c66Xgq95uq3GDsal-qSD6k7gbAMJvjirg-yiij7/s1600/IMG_20150311_205503778.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://21st-amendment.com/beers/back-in-black/">21st Amendment Back in Black IPA</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 12 oz (355ml) can into a <a href="http://www.spiegelau.com/craft-beer-glasses/craft-beer-glasses/ipa/">Spiegelau style (kind of) glass</a>, 6.8 ABV, 65 IBU, Enjoy By 04/02/15</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chestnut in color with three fingers of pillowy, long-lasting mocha foam. If this glass was opaque and I was only looking at this brew from the top, I might swear it was coffee. The lacing looks nice enough to be one of my great grandma’s doilies. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roasted malt, citrus hops, pineapple, tangerines, hints of light roast coffee, a touch of dark chocolate</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Smooth chocolate melts into graham cracker and crisp toffee. A delightful burst of coffee flowers right before a gentle hop bitterness finish. Everything is wrapped in a blanket of mild citrusy hop from impact to aftertaste. This is art in a glass, my friends. More of the hop character shines through as I drink (piney/herby). It seems to build like the heat of a chili pepper - deceivingly mild at first, but gains potency exponentially as time goes on. Have no fear, it doesn’t build THAT much. ;)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creamy and guinness-like, full bodied, medium-low carbonation</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bitter dark chocolate, dank NW hop bitterness</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">21st Amendment isn’t messing around here! I like to think of this as a well balanced, less extreme version of Lagunitas Night Time Ale. Not to discredit Lagunitas, but my personal taste leans toward subtle notes. On first sip, I hardly get any hop flavor or bitterness. But 10 minutes later, and I’m tonsils deep in both. The bitter characters of hops and malt - pine and coffee, herb and dark chocolate - resonate off one another to create a meaningful beer. I see this as a perfect night cap to a long day of an early season hiking/camping trip. Mmmm….zzzz</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iron skillet pepperoni pizza with red pepper flakes, beef stroganoff with homemade pasta, s’mores over a campfire with peter pan peanut butter and a flask of bourbon</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you ready to go camping now?</span></span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-81896916000775186162015-03-05T20:37:00.000-07:002015-03-05T20:37:04.895-07:00Mystery 12 Pack UpdateHail from the far away (or perhaps much closer than usual) winter wonderland known as Phillipsburg, NJ! Brought to you today by the color white, and the number 7 (inches).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVmTbZq-RHGK6SKNcM22ar84d-7GmYwYbmp3zNXpbi6zIWmUYv5TcHHxRz5C3bTHDySkhJh1efypxjw3fg0JqOgcROKIx2-JdUXyUSlMWlGmWcOKXcaExkmmmyvOD-w9VTZ0Rkjouq9sA/s1600/winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVmTbZq-RHGK6SKNcM22ar84d-7GmYwYbmp3zNXpbi6zIWmUYv5TcHHxRz5C3bTHDySkhJh1efypxjw3fg0JqOgcROKIx2-JdUXyUSlMWlGmWcOKXcaExkmmmyvOD-w9VTZ0Rkjouq9sA/s1600/winter.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've been chipping away at the mystery 12 pack I picked up the other day, and this is what I've found.<br />
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I had the Summit Winter Ale the other night. It was surprisingly good! I've never heard of Summit before, but this winter ale had a great nutty complexity with notes of chocolate and pine cone hops. I'm not feeling the Christmas spirit anymore, but this beer is pulling me back! Well done, <a href="http://www.summitbrewing.com/brews/winter-ale">Summit</a>!<br />
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Smuttynose also did a great job with their <a href="https://smuttynose.com/beer/vunderbar-pilsner/">Vunderbar! Pilsner</a>. It's very light straw in color, with a hefty helping of noble hop bitterness and aroma. The bready Pilsner malt plays along quite nicely with the floral hop notes. I must say, das ist vunderbar!<br />
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<a href="http://www.weyerbacher.com/beers/year-round/last-chance-ipa/">Weyerbacher Last Chance IPA</a> is all about two things: a bold piney, grapefruit, citrus hop character, and donating a portion of the proceeds to local animal rescue organizations. The sharp bitterness on this one is bound to hook a few hop heads. These guys help quench the thirst of their customers while simultaneously helping animals in need. What a swell brewery!<br />
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Today I've had the delight of drinking Chimay Premeire (Red) on tap, and now I'm drinking the <a href="http://www.chimay.com/en/chimay-doree.html?IDD=21031&IDC=287">Chimay Doree (Gold)</a>. It's an ale brewed with spices, and its availability here in the states is a bit confusing for me. This is a beer I previously thought was only available at the Trappist brewery, but it seems they've decided to share this Belgian "single" with a select few distributors. Nonetheless, I'm happy to have stumbled upon a bottle, as it's quite quaffable! This baby is far less filling and flavorful than its stronger siblings, and rings in at 4.8% ABV. Coriander and champagne-like carbonation zips on the tongue, making it the perfect session Chimay. Yummy!<br />
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As for the remaining 4, I'll have to take them home to Utah, and hope the journey doesn't affect them too much.<br />
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Tomorrow, I hop on a bus back to Philadelphia where I'll spend the next few days doing plenty of beer research. And on Saturday I'll be attending the Philly Craft Beer Festival! I'll let you know how it goes! =)Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-25004896710965720542015-03-02T19:35:00.002-07:002015-03-02T19:38:24.502-07:00Weyerbacher Tarte Nouveau<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other day while I was working at the beer store, someone brought in this tiny, adorable little half growler. I had never seen one before. It was cute, practical, and I had to have one. Drinking a whole 64 ounces (half gallon) of beer in one night requires effort, but a 32 ouncer? That I can do. But I've never seen one for sale in Utah. Lucky for me, I'm in NJ and PA is a short 8 minute drive. I took a stroll by my old hometown brewery Weyerbacher today, and what did they have? That's right - child sized 32 oz growlers. I grabbed one of those along with a few bottles to take home, and scurried off with my treasures. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's how she tastes...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsksm0dVvn6he6nRnr7mMFfP3DcOLvVWrtLx1YRdBs2GV9B8GJBgVVr8jSb0BFtDLdV8FRs6mCRdd1IsOkOxayPLCw0q3Q5VPczl8gV6W3XKemiUOs708qCsms0WvjwKJgzM-BNcQEt13v/s1600/tarte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsksm0dVvn6he6nRnr7mMFfP3DcOLvVWrtLx1YRdBs2GV9B8GJBgVVr8jSb0BFtDLdV8FRs6mCRdd1IsOkOxayPLCw0q3Q5VPczl8gV6W3XKemiUOs708qCsms0WvjwKJgzM-BNcQEt13v/s1600/tarte.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-39048a2c-dd5b-d3b9-955c-838f51ca8964"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.weyerbacher.com/beers/special-release/tarte-nouveau/">Weyerbacher Tarte Nouveau</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=what+is+kettle+souring">Kettle-Soured Beer</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from an adorable 32oz (¼ gallon) growler into a stemmed tulip glass, 3.9% ABV, fresh from draft, consumed 8 hours after the growler was sealed</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Golden in color with a slight haze. No head, but a tiny ring of fuzz clings to the edges of the glass. The growler seal may not have been very tight. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ripe peaches, tart, wheat, concord grape juice, lactic acid, lightly sweet, peach rings</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tart, lemons, mild sour patch kids. It has a very light fruitiness (apples, peaches, pears, coconut), but no one fruit in particular, and it’s very subtle. There’s a wheat graininess on the finish.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tart without being puckering or mouth drying, no astringency, almost a little slick, very smooth. Low carbonation, but that’s due to a poorly sealed growler. I had it on tap earlier, and the effervescence was quite nice!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Very light wheat, a little bit of lemon</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I was day drinking in the summer, this would be my go to. It’s incredibly light and refreshing. It’s a shame the carbonation didn't hold up over the past 8 hours. This makes me want to grab a lawn chair, an umbrella, and a good book, and go sit outside in the sun sh--oh yeah… it’s 12 degrees in NJ. I look forward to Utah’s unusually warmer winter weather! I’ll have to look for a kettle sour like this one over there, too. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grilled lemon ginger tilapia with asparagus and clarified butter. Tortilla chips with homemade pico de gallo and guacamole. Sugar cookies with lemon icing. </span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To anyone who might consider buying - or regularly buys - growler fills, beware! It's in your best interest to check that seal as soon as it's in your hands. Give it a good twist and make sure that baby is tight! And if you go for regular fills, you might even consider a better container than the traditional glass jugs with a twist cap. They're much better than walking it home in a pale like the old days, but they're far from great. Be kind to your beer, and your beer will be kind to you!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And for those of you who read my last post, I've got an update on that mystery 12 pack I bought. I mentioned that there were one or two in there I thought might taste like doggie doo doo, and my thoughts were true. The Saucony Sessions Ale tasted like grapefruit juice and orange juice poured into an unfiltered wheat ale with a distasteful amount of citrusy hops. Nothing was in balance, and I dumped the rest of the can. I was kind of surprised by that one, because I thought it would at least be drinkable. The other beer I tried (right after the Saucony failure) was the St. John Brewery Tropical Mango. It was predictably sweet, fruity, and gross. I dumped that one too. I have high hopes for the rest of the pack, though! I'll keep you all updated.</span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-59048426315128566812015-02-28T22:51:00.000-07:002015-02-28T22:55:25.384-07:00Mystery 12 Pack and Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry for the unintended hiatus! I have very recently regained my sense of taste and smell after having sinusitis for about a week. And it's just in time to enjoy the many beers that grace my home region of the Lehigh Valley (mid PA/NJ). The hardest part about buying beer is choosing what to get. Very few beers of the Utah and PA/NJ market overlap, leaving me with an incredible variety. It's is absolutely wonderful and intensely overwhelming! I want to try everything, but I simply don't have the time or alcohol tolerance. So what do I do?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was perusing the liquor store, when I stumbled upon a stack of boxes labeled only as "Craft Beer Variety Pack". I asked a nearby attendant, "How do I know what's in here?" to which he replied, "That's the beauty of it. You don't." I'm a sucker for three things: beer, puppies, and the potential for finding diamonds in the ruff. Five minutes later, I was hauling my $16 mystery 12 pack out to the car. I brought it back to my parents house, and slid it onto the table with a giddy grin. Zoe the adolescent yellow lab mirrored my Christmas morning-like excitement, and gave a nice pose next to my prize. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1528Ro6SvSzcS9YKgpCVANfn0uIAsCSxR7Pr_j44UhfkJ35yu3n53_by7V_EUPjCW5y6AsF29OC7Qh6ujnZbTyFn1JuEFzcDeOMwj6MCoHI3Wx9hiFvfVobOGDK7edIXEa_C3lKvydfcI/s1600/phl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1528Ro6SvSzcS9YKgpCVANfn0uIAsCSxR7Pr_j44UhfkJ35yu3n53_by7V_EUPjCW5y6AsF29OC7Qh6ujnZbTyFn1JuEFzcDeOMwj6MCoHI3Wx9hiFvfVobOGDK7edIXEa_C3lKvydfcI/s1600/phl1.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sliced the box open, hoping so hard that the beer-santa granted me a dope box of brews. My first hint was a top view of all the caps, most of which I recognized. It was enough to let me know I got a pretty killer box! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHM8LNxi6c2QkG92xTpSO2MUoHtLP98ioXNCQ0-j55mF0ZObi5pXs7mSq2oO0QNAVNO94xd8UOIUiV4X5LgMdA2E-ZH5xNpCB2cTIl7GvQBAbhEIxakgO_bOMcSjFOoKl97lo00pT_3yb/s1600/IMG_20150228_204109356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHM8LNxi6c2QkG92xTpSO2MUoHtLP98ioXNCQ0-j55mF0ZObi5pXs7mSq2oO0QNAVNO94xd8UOIUiV4X5LgMdA2E-ZH5xNpCB2cTIl7GvQBAbhEIxakgO_bOMcSjFOoKl97lo00pT_3yb/s1600/IMG_20150228_204109356.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pulled out the most recognizable first, and loudly exclaimed to the not nearly as interested household members each time I discovered that "I got exactly what I waaaaantedddddd!" </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's my mystery haul!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUJ8zc34q8WLAI0mf0i5wL3_rFm6CWKFWWZGIN0AFbjU1zP-wnNZgx__I7x9cRerwJNWG5F1K-dxTHbjcUdVg9if52MJ8tjcBfmRwR7q6sA2epJp_nmMVY8XEwpZGMkOBKdKU-0UU71kH/s1600/IMG_20150228_205405736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUJ8zc34q8WLAI0mf0i5wL3_rFm6CWKFWWZGIN0AFbjU1zP-wnNZgx__I7x9cRerwJNWG5F1K-dxTHbjcUdVg9if52MJ8tjcBfmRwR7q6sA2epJp_nmMVY8XEwpZGMkOBKdKU-0UU71kH/s1600/IMG_20150228_205405736.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weyerbacher Last Chance IPA, River Horse Belgian Freeze, River Horse Hop Hazard, Stone IPA</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_urU8fEQUnBus4IkAi8bn56sJ9qa8_VCRxuOhI3aJFkkX7QlcjWjqLu7Wn_KfyjHX_7vL25nnceZIqVvPGwBxpT6eNln-NAeBkLVQZ2yjzi4g82YOVilkzainLb8RYUzosuSIqyJK3DQ/s1600/IMG_20150228_205450054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_urU8fEQUnBus4IkAi8bn56sJ9qa8_VCRxuOhI3aJFkkX7QlcjWjqLu7Wn_KfyjHX_7vL25nnceZIqVvPGwBxpT6eNln-NAeBkLVQZ2yjzi4g82YOVilkzainLb8RYUzosuSIqyJK3DQ/s1600/IMG_20150228_205450054.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virgin Island Tropical Mango (is this even beer?), Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale, Founders Breakfast Stout, Saucony Brewery The Saucony Sessions</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXB_AzAomuYL_vJ90l4oD_1RWme0T_slbh2aEaT1YLi3aY5YfXNdDaDivUw74uamhGtg5bLVzJshoC4YDWYLem13ryrMLcbLr9-fNzK0v5QOfL5OsDqyJpwBShXs0wqZgaa9zKWx-Kthj3/s1600/IMG_20150228_205526575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXB_AzAomuYL_vJ90l4oD_1RWme0T_slbh2aEaT1YLi3aY5YfXNdDaDivUw74uamhGtg5bLVzJshoC4YDWYLem13ryrMLcbLr9-fNzK0v5QOfL5OsDqyJpwBShXs0wqZgaa9zKWx-Kthj3/s1600/IMG_20150228_205526575.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Smuttynose Vunderbar! Pilsner, Summit Winter Ale, Chimay Doree, 21st Amendment Back In Black IPA</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's lots of awesome breweries, and I've only had two of these (a few years back, though!). There's one or two I'm certain will taste like doggie doo doo, but there's more than a few I think will taste great! These beers would have cost me upwards of $25-$30 separately, so I think I've lucked out! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's my first taste of the box...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCt1QB2ubZtFl2C6ljheaE9VfqMAm1aDers3gPJxHzi-MLHG60htewujla24zU92svVz8iXtKuZ0Pwkfrsi8Pi_p2u9DszwjQjvtT548lxAYIRTrNhIOvOb_9fa2G1JAf7oi_po7tAlCGB/s1600/IMG_20150228_220116743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCt1QB2ubZtFl2C6ljheaE9VfqMAm1aDers3gPJxHzi-MLHG60htewujla24zU92svVz8iXtKuZ0Pwkfrsi8Pi_p2u9DszwjQjvtT548lxAYIRTrNhIOvOb_9fa2G1JAf7oi_po7tAlCGB/s1600/IMG_20150228_220116743.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/year-round-brews/indian-brown-ale.htm"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 12 fl oz (355ml) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 7.2% ABV, Bottled 12/11/14</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ebony in color with deep ruby highlights. Half a finger of head shows up momentarily and leaves the party just as fast. I noticed the absence of strong “fzzzsstt” when I opened this one, and there’s some dried gunk around where the cap was set. Maybe it had a bad seal? We’ll soon find out. (Light carbonation doesn't mean the beer is off.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.picobrewery.com/askarchive/melanoidin.htm">Melanoidin</a>, raisins, caramel malt, dark plum skin, a hint of chocolate, brown sugar. There’s some hefty floral/piney hops hiding beneath that malt, too! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hints of roasted malts and lightly sweet, burnt sugar balance on the front before the bold, piney/herbal hops smash through like the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar6xC8KM-jk">kool-aid man</a>. Toffee, toasted walnuts, those blackened bottom-of-the-pan scrapings that taste so good, almost mint-like hops, and finally smooth coffee.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creamy, low carbonation, full body, the hops are a bit tingly!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Long aftertaste of fresh coffee</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Malt bomb meets hop bomb! It’s delicious, but prepare for your palate to be destroyed! Piney/herbal hops punch right through the middle of this roasted malt fest, and a delicate balance is achieved between the two extremes. A gentle, roasted coffee flavor rounds out the finish. This is on the bold end of IBAs. Could this be a double IBA? Let’s not give anyone any crazy ideas… But do let this warm up a bit before you imbibe. It gives the malt characters a chance at balancing the explosive hops. =)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rosemary lamb chops cooked rare with roasted fingerling potatoes and mint pesto. Loaded potato skins (no green onion). Rich chocolate cake with espresso bean dust.</span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-72015152685355029192015-02-18T20:22:00.000-07:002015-02-18T20:24:45.430-07:00Lagunitas Night Time Ale<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have mentioned previously that I enjoy tasting beer without knowing what to expect. But it's usually pretty easy to figure out what a beer will taste like according to the label. You might figure out what the beer's style is, what brewery it's from, and maybe what some of the ingredient are. But for this bottle, I could only tell it was from Lagunitas. And for the rest, I was left in the dark.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRbs2zQmbSaRKlLHSlK0iqIHn5jbidZ0dzPjZI-xnjwJ4vTO7SwStG3t-yt0Bn4iYCAdKJTQb8LoHlmUIzjpHMh4lNpSgvCWBxmD3EgmS6DAgYIcQpa4RBYu2HCTnHZgK-hizf5MOHzMD/s1600/LagNight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRbs2zQmbSaRKlLHSlK0iqIHn5jbidZ0dzPjZI-xnjwJ4vTO7SwStG3t-yt0Bn4iYCAdKJTQb8LoHlmUIzjpHMh4lNpSgvCWBxmD3EgmS6DAgYIcQpa4RBYu2HCTnHZgK-hizf5MOHzMD/s1600/LagNight.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="https://lagunitas.com/beers/nighttime/" style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lagunitas Night Time Ale</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 12 oz (355ml) glass into a stemmed tulip, 7.9% ABV, Bottled 01/20/15, <a href="http://beer.about.com/od/glossary/g/OG.htm">O.G. 1.075</a>, 74 IBU</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dark chocolate in color with three fingers of mocha, rocky head. It settles down to a dollop of crema. Medium-thin lacing is left behind.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Burnt grass, charred meat, a touch of pineapple, citrus hops. This is one of the strangest smelling beers ever. It smells like pineapple that you’re cooking on a well used grill that hasn’t been cleaned in years. I’m not sure what to think of this.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Loads and loads of charred citrus: orange rind, juicy red apples, and pineapple, all of which are juiced and then charred to crispy bits. This is unique, terrifying, and surprisingly delightful. The use of roasted barley is quite clear. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Med-light carbonation, medium bodied, slightly drying</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Capri sun, hockey puck burgers, powdery potato hamburger buns - my childhood</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What on earth… is this? I’m disgusted and delighted at the same time. Half of me wants to spit this out, and the other half wants to keep drinking. It’s juicy, citrusy goodness wrapped in a burnt-to-hell outer shell. I can taste the flakes of carbon. I don’t think this could ever be my go-to, but it certainly has a ton of originality points!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Portobello burger with roasted red peppers, carmelized onions, ancho chilli aioli and well done fries. Bitter greens salad with bleu cheese crumble, red onion, roasted parsnip, pine nuts and an herb vinaigrette. Blueberry cupcakes made in orange rinds wrapped in foil over a campfire. </span>Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-34192092871712428632015-02-12T23:00:00.000-07:002015-02-12T23:06:34.217-07:00Samuel Smith Organic Chocolate Stout<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's no time for chit-chat! That is, unless you have nothing to do <a href="http://craftbeertemple.com/videoblog/serving-beer/">while your stout reaches room temperature.</a> I suggest watching this video in the meantime. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ready?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HNzYTzvT8Hhg4eO3LaLh8flxMZ-FgxaWkBKDJiTUHvneCYUAprt-ySfZemx-mMWsJ_3541Waaok0eo-CJcqg6Ybnt6x9zX9NrqFTD1DVASHEYnKXU41jYMe5smHD__LhHlio3CntIu7n/s1600/sschocstout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HNzYTzvT8Hhg4eO3LaLh8flxMZ-FgxaWkBKDJiTUHvneCYUAprt-ySfZemx-mMWsJ_3541Waaok0eo-CJcqg6Ybnt6x9zX9NrqFTD1DVASHEYnKXU41jYMe5smHD__LhHlio3CntIu7n/s1600/sschocstout.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="http://www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk/organicchocolatestout.html" style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Samuel Smith Organic Chocolate Stout</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 18.7 fl oz (550ml) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 5% ABV, Bottled 08/26/14 (<a href="http://freshbeeronly.com/Intl_Breweries.html#S">Date code reads "SH26N1"</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is about as brown as you can get before being considered black. Deep ruby highlights gleam when held up to the light. An aggressive pour produces three fingers of billowing, coffee crema colored foam. It settles down at a moderate pace until a creamy film rests on top. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh my lord. That’s the best chocolate aroma I’ve ever experienced from beer! It’s straight up cocoa nibs with loads of sugar and cream. I’m also getting toasted marshmallow, peanut brittle, graham cracker, and a touch of whiskey. This is s'mores in a glass. I would be content to just sit here and smell it for the rest of the night. I’m going to be so sad if this doesn’t taste as good as it smells...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yep. Just found my favorite chocolate stout ever ever ever ever ever. Sticky caramel joins sweet milk chocolate and hints of roasted nuts. It tastes just like a chocolate and caramel covered pretzel. I wouldn’t be surprised if this spent time in charred oak barrels, but I don’t think it did. There’s a little lactose in here, too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lightly carbonated and full bodied. It’s so silky and creamy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sweet marshmallows toasted over a campfire</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a unique masterpiece. It’s somehow very sweet without being cloying, and full bodied without being too filling. How you do this Samuel Smith!? This is still very much a dessert beer. I took it out of the fridge and left in on the counter for 15 mins while I ate my dinner so it could warm up. Don’t you dare drink this straight from the fridge! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drop a scoop of vanilla ice cream in it!!! Make a chocolate 4-way with this beer and a triple chocolate cake (chocolate frosting, chocolate cake batter, chocolate chips). Spicy mole chicken.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MP = Music Pairing. Why the heck not? Howlin’ Wolf - Built For Comfort</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-72663806219679303962015-02-06T20:52:00.003-07:002015-02-06T20:56:58.986-07:00Red Rock Le Quatre Saison<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I probably should have saved this for the week I'm studying saisons, but it was in my fridge, and I couldn't resist! After all, it was in the mid 60s today. Did I mention it's February in Utah? Yes, I believe a saison is in order!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJriKywRZ8Twyl4RRDEGujlxMpLtWFHbil9gY9y9wUk4Eyeak4rOUk-F3ZCgnfrf5whSDzPyCc3vV8fbjIeKGaW8JxnQq3cZb_3Cp8IEW1ba9-kquaEOSD3p74QL1LIH4i9Tq1LKUvXII/s1600/RRsaison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJriKywRZ8Twyl4RRDEGujlxMpLtWFHbil9gY9y9wUk4Eyeak4rOUk-F3ZCgnfrf5whSDzPyCc3vV8fbjIeKGaW8JxnQq3cZb_3Cp8IEW1ba9-kquaEOSD3p74QL1LIH4i9Tq1LKUvXII/s1600/RRsaison.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://redrockbrewing.com/le-quatre-saison">Red Rock Le Quatre Saison</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 16.9 fl oz (500ml) bottle into a Red Rock stemmed tulip, 6.2% ABV, Bottled 02/03/15, Lot 698</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Straw to light gold in color with 2.5 fingers of fluffy, cotton white head. Lacing lines the glass, and looks like frosting dripping down the side of a freshly decorated cupcake. The beer is quite cloudy, and creates a sort of glow.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This beer is all about that bubblegum yeast character. Tartness, tangerines, blood orange, bread dough, the gentlest hint of floral hops, lemon zest.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fresh squeezed tangerines, hints of clove, pepper, <a href="http://www.winning-homebrew.com/phenolic-flavors.html">spicy phenols</a>, pita bread, a touch of funk, finishes slightly sweet</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tart, medium bodied, moderate carbonation</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Orange rind, mild floral hop bitterness</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a gorgeous farmhouse ale. I’ve had limited release farmhouse ales from other breweries that aren’t half as good as this. And I swear, I’m being as unbiased as possible. Yeast rules the roost here, and dishes up flavors like fresh, tart citrus and light spices to keep your taste buds happy. The yeast is balanced by bready malt and floral hops to create a very quaffable French-Belgian treat. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roasted lemon chicken with truffle mashed potatoes and braised carrots with thyme. Cauliflower soup with green onions and crumbled bleu cheese. Key lime pie.</span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-41523340660958237232015-02-03T20:58:00.000-07:002015-02-03T21:03:02.904-07:00Sierra Nevada 2015 Beer Camp Hoppy Lager<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other day I was in the liquor store (the only place, besides local breweries, where you can purchase bottles of beer higher than 4% ABV to take home), and my eyes were ensnared by a lone six-pack of beer on the floor in between two stacks of other common Utah brews. The thing that caught my eye was the unmistakable "Sierra Nevada Beer Camp" label that was no where to be seen this past summer in Utah, though it toured cities left and right of the state. I thought it might be something left over from the summer that someone special ordered but never picked up. As I crouched down and plucked a bottle from the pack, I read with wide-eyes that this was actually something new. Though I had originally hoped it was some rare, random left over from the summer, I was content to leave the store with something fresh and likely tasty. After all, Sierra Nevada never disappoints.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBL72gAqSFxaRvTEeqMz3SdZa2p2eZ5m9AqfOnaKX_P62IquqOrGAu9TR8qoenq42PCCnYEDVawGPU7EVv2GWvBMCktDY5DEe-vB8X__xbX27tBvoP0IsXJ0NE8Txxt14qlwcT6LlSDvt/s1600/SNhoplag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBL72gAqSFxaRvTEeqMz3SdZa2p2eZ5m9AqfOnaKX_P62IquqOrGAu9TR8qoenq42PCCnYEDVawGPU7EVv2GWvBMCktDY5DEe-vB8X__xbX27tBvoP0IsXJ0NE8Txxt14qlwcT6LlSDvt/s1600/SNhoplag.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sierranevada.com/beer/seasonal/beer-camp-hoppy-lager">Sierra Nevada 2015 Beer Camp Hoppy Lager</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 12 fl oz (355 ml) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 7% ABV, Packaged 01/09/15, <a href="http://beer.about.com/od/glossary/g/ibudefined.htm">55 IBU</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Light gold in color with two fingers of long-lasting, beige head. Tiny bubbles stream up from the bottom of the glass to replenish it. It’s super clear. Lots of sticky lacing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Woah, this is definitely Sierra Nevada. Lemon hoppiness nips at my nostrils as it wafts above the suds. Strong floral hops, cheese-like aromas, dank, the lightest bit of bready malt.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sweet malt with a hint of toast. But man, that hop character is explosive! It’s a bit piney, not back-of-the-mouth bitter like most IPAs, but still very present. <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=port%20salut">Port Salut cheese</a>, toast fresh from the toaster, there’s even a touch of pineapple and a little grapefruit.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The finish is dry, and slightly cottony. Med-light bodied, with moderate carbonation.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Firm, yellow cheese. Dank hops. A little bit of toasted malt. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is an incredibly pleasant IPL (India Pale Lager). It’s very tasty, but maintains moderate drinkability. You can knock a few of these back without too much palate fatigue, and you can also have one and be satisfied with the flavor. The bready malt provides an awesome saddle for those dank hops to ride on all day long. I just love this hybrid style. The only thing that I find distasteful about it is the “Available One-Time Only” posted on the front of the bottle. Even if it’s true, it makes me think of infomercials that say, “Limited time only!” or “Call in the next 5 minutes, and get not one, but two blahblahblah”. Everything else about this beer is exactly what I’d expect from SN… nothing less than delicious!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=port%20salut">Port Salut cheese</a> on garlic crackers. Short rib polenta poutine. NY style cheesecake topped with spicy Mexican chocolate shavings.</span></span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-23581059066543030342015-01-29T22:25:00.000-07:002015-01-29T22:27:55.472-07:00Squatters Fifth Element Farmhouse Ale<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going to kick this one off by giving a little lesson on an off-flavor called <a href="http://beersmith.com/blog/2012/04/21/diacetyl-in-home-brewed-beer-the-butterscotch-flavor/">diacetyl</a>. Off-flavors are presented as an undesirable, unfortunate development of beer, but are actually acceptable to a certain extent in some beer styles. Diacetyl is a natural by-product of fermentation best described as butter or butterscotch. It may destroy the flavor profile of some beers, but enhance that of a few others.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t7JurD_9-nqr59kZL-XDr-XYNAvF0MZ8miJUkLRAdzVUzOnZDV7F-VQs-TzHRkm8WmfDvhdlwZWkj09AWbJTmi5gCPocT3aiLTXq-jz7oz3S6TVo-rq61FfOvOXDyYjuT06KEiGSz8Dj/s1600/IMG_20150129_210733776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t7JurD_9-nqr59kZL-XDr-XYNAvF0MZ8miJUkLRAdzVUzOnZDV7F-VQs-TzHRkm8WmfDvhdlwZWkj09AWbJTmi5gCPocT3aiLTXq-jz7oz3S6TVo-rq61FfOvOXDyYjuT06KEiGSz8Dj/s1600/IMG_20150129_210733776.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Squatters Fifth Element Farmhouse Ale</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 25 fl oz (750 ml) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 8% ABV, Bottled “12/14”</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Straw in color with two fingers of quickly dissipating, white cotton head. It settles down to a thin blanket of bubbles. Hardly any lacing. This beer is very clear on the first pour, but secondary and tertiary pours look more and more cloudy with yeast. Looks refreshing! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tart Granny Smith apples, spicy phenols, a little funk, jolly ranchers, golden hay</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Very cider-like, <a href="http://www.jellybelly.com/buttered-popcorn-jelly-beans-16-oz-re-sealable-bag/p/9000_BUTERD_POP">popcorn jelly bellys</a>, chardonnay-like, tart, oaky, light brett, like biting into a mushy apple, tons and tons of diacetyl on the finish</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Med-high carbonation, slick from the diacetyl, tingly from the carbonation</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Diacetyl, diacetyl, diacetyl, hint of apples</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This beer represents movie theatre snacks in a glass. You start off with some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujube_%28confectionery%29#How_they_are_eaten">jujubes</a><span id="goog_254842967"></span><span id="goog_254842968"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>, jam a handful of popcorn that has been generously doused with artificial butter into your mouth, and wash it all down with a cherry pepsi. I’m sure this is someone's cup of tea, but it surely isn’t mine. I’m not repulsed, nor am I enticed. I simply am content without this beer, which is a shame considering it’s a premium, limited release. Perhaps my expectations were set a bit too high? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I double doggie dare you to sneak this 750 ml bottle into a movie theatre and enjoy with your super sugary and/or salty movie snacks. Bonus points if you don’t get caught. Seriously, pair this with anything you would eat in a room where one of the walls is a projector screen.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">I looked up tasting notes on this beer, and it seems no one else picked up on the diacetyl detail. Sooo, I'm wondering if, perhaps, I have an infected bottle? This is one of the problems I come across as I study alone. It could just be me. Anyone else pick up some diacetyl???</span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-49228540473196833612015-01-28T22:41:00.000-07:002015-01-28T22:46:55.291-07:00Sierra Nevada Harvest Wild Hop IPA<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.sierranevada.com/beer/specialty/harvest-wild-hop-ipa-neomexicanus-varietal">Sierra Nevada Harvest Wild Hop IPA with Neomexicanus Hops</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 655ml (1pt 8 fl oz) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 6.5% ABV, packaged 11/10/14, marked as a 100-day IPA, consumed 79 days past the packaged date</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gold to light amber in color with 1.5 fingers of rocky white head. It’s very clear, and lacing is abundant and beautiful. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Green grass, light tropical fruit, bread crust, piney hops, sweet cereal grains</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Woah, this has a twangy, funky hop character. It’s usually a yeast derived flavor, but it’s very clearly coming from the hops. It’s similar to the slightly tart, funk you would find in a saison. Super grassy, dried hay, very earthy, a touch of raw honey, a little malt sweetness on the finish.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slightly creamy, medium carbonation</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Funk, assertive hop bitterness</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would almost call this a Belgian IPA because of the funky flavors, but it’s 100% wild American hops that make this brew so unique! This is for sure my favorite of the Sierra Nevada Harvest series. It’s like rolling up a meadow burrito style and making a beer out of it. Delicious!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Corn nuts. Spicy teriyaki chicken over white rice with broccoli and baby corn. Carrot cake with rich, cream cheese icing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">It seems I've only been able to try anything from this series after it has been around for about 71-80 days. I'd love to taste the 2015 series a bit fresher, UDABC! *cough* *cough* *fingers crossed*</span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-39512604607712167932015-01-26T15:36:00.000-07:002015-01-26T15:42:04.507-07:00No Style Left Behind - Week 2<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two weeks down of intensive beer style study! Wooo! This past week, I studied Vienna Lager, Märzen/Oktoberfest, Munich Dunkel, and Schwarzbier. The examples I was able to find for these are Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Gordon Biersch Märzen, Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel, and Squatters Black Forest, respectively. I've been a bit surprised, while looking up some of the most popular examples of a style, to find beers like Sam Adams Boston Lager and Negro Modelo fall under the category of Vienna Lager. Given, those are different interpretations of the same style, I found it quite interesting! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my favorite parts about studying beer styles is looking up the history of how each style came into existence. It gives roots and meaning to something I formerly had no connection to. When I'm able to link heritage to the brew in my glass, it becomes a whole lot more than something bubbly that gets me buzzed. As if drinking beer wasn't enough to keep this method of study interesting, this history stuff sure keeps me hooked! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's an example of what I put together as a study guide for myself for each style:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Märzen/Oktoberfest</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SRM:</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7-14 Gold to Amber</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dark gold to deep orange-red</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IBU: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">20-28</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PB:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moderate</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ABV:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4.8-5.7%</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OG:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.050-1.057</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FG:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.012-1.016</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Examples: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ayinger Oktoberfest-Märzen, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Hofbräu Oktoberfest</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ingredients: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">German Vienna malt backbone, some Munich, Pils, and crystal malt, all of which are of the highest quality two-row. Continental hops, somewhat alkaline water with significant carbonate content, decoction mash helps the rich malt profile</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aroma: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rich German malt, moderate toasted malt, No: hop aroma, fruity esters, diacetyl, caramel aroma</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flavor: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Malty sweet with a dry finish, complex malt character (sometimes toasty) with moderate hop bitterness and little to no Noble hop flavor. Caramel or roasted flavors are inappropriate. No diacetyl or fruity esters. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mouthfeel: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Med body, creamy texture, med carb, smooth, no cloying finish</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Region: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Münich, Germany</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">History: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Traditionally brewed in the spring (March) at the end of the traditional brewing season, and stored in caves/cellars through the summer. It is served throughout the late spring and summer, and come October, must be completely consumed so the casks may be used for beer created from the fall harvest. This rush to consume the remaining casks of Märzen beer resulted in a version of Oktoberfest as early as the 15th century. The transformation of Oktoberfest into what we know it as today occurred on October 12th, 1810 for the marriage of Bavarian King Ludwig I and Queen Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. Only breweries within the city limits of Münich may call their beer “Oktoberfest”, and these are also the only breweries able to participate at the yearly Münich Oktoberfest.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall: </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soft, complex, elegant, but not cloying malt character. Smooth, clean, and rather rich. Like a Vienna Lager but lighter in color, with more malt character and alcohol. </span></span>Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-57798359689097413872015-01-22T20:57:00.002-07:002015-01-22T20:59:51.815-07:00Spaten Premium Lager (Munich Helles)<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's such a shame that beer is still being sold in green glass bottles when there is hard evidence of how UV rays from sunlight or even florescent light bulbs in supermarkets can easily cause beer to skunk. It's even more appalling how clear glass is still used for <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=growler&espv=2&biw=1242&bih=585&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=wsPBVPjVIbHisATJq4CoAg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg">growlers</a> or even beer bottles (I'm looking at you, Corona!). I understand some breweries are compelled to stick with tradition, but science is knocking at the door, and wants all the breweries to make better business decisions! Please, my friends, go green for the environment and such, but keep that color away from my beer. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOXD1IbWMrqGR9AE6pMthZC8Qaqar3iUFL3PtNp_9GhR89XPvJa_1QOOY18OWh-NSP8A-z9UYUAsi5e8VViuiP6slek69jyeMvCQcBSn8RwWU0PJ_VdirHF-kE8VbgWJMR3Zsyx3CBVX1/s1600/IMG_20150122_195909322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOXD1IbWMrqGR9AE6pMthZC8Qaqar3iUFL3PtNp_9GhR89XPvJa_1QOOY18OWh-NSP8A-z9UYUAsi5e8VViuiP6slek69jyeMvCQcBSn8RwWU0PJ_VdirHF-kE8VbgWJMR3Zsyx3CBVX1/s1600/IMG_20150122_195909322.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.spatenbeer.com/biers-lager.html">Spaten Premium Lager (Munich Helles)</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> P</span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">oured from a 12 fl oz (355ml) green glass bottle into a stemmed tulip, 5.2% ABV, Bottled 09/09/14 at 9:16AM</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Straw to light gold in color with hardly any head. A tiny splotch of white suds rests in its place. Completely clear. No lacing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Skunk dominates the nose, bread dough, floral and spicy hops, a little bit of diacetyl, there's a certain bready sweetness</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gentle doughy malt, very light hop bitterness for balance, a touch of malt sweetness</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Med-light carbonation, light body</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pizza dough with a hint of spicy hops for balance</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is about as gentle a pilsner you can get before you branch into American pilsners. If only they would drop the green glass and join the brown bottle-utilizing 21st century, the aroma might stand a chance at being pleasant. It’s still quite nice to sample the original Munich Helles. One day, I’ll get myself over there to experience one before sunlight spoils it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pepperoni pizza with red pepper flakes and plenty of parmesan. Fresh baked honey wheat bread with pads of melting butter. Handfuls of <a href="http://www.totalcereal.com/">Total cereal</a>, no milk.</span>Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7035646596047249547.post-46023645283581332842015-01-21T17:23:00.000-07:002015-01-21T17:24:34.301-07:00Deschutes Jubelale<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know why it's popular, especially in the cooler months, for seasonal beer to be pumped full of artificial-tasting fruit or other sticky-sweet flavors. That's not beer. They do, however, cause the beer-tasting seasonal beers to be shrouded in a sort of heavenly light. You know, the same kind that shines when you find your lost phone underneath the driver's seat or when little puppies are born. That's how I felt the first time I tried this...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLSq2hp2z0dvWOnmZnrgVSblfbzIMZ6IT15g8JyalkUb5GFV4dC2P9idhByjUcVW4CD37u9rZQrMLhGdy5Jy4QxxHNxPwe0bBTYJagmWJHSrV6u7aONHhvV-6_Qo4xSsIVhnlkzz1EGIy/s1600/IMG_20150121_160356818_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLSq2hp2z0dvWOnmZnrgVSblfbzIMZ6IT15g8JyalkUb5GFV4dC2P9idhByjUcVW4CD37u9rZQrMLhGdy5Jy4QxxHNxPwe0bBTYJagmWJHSrV6u7aONHhvV-6_Qo4xSsIVhnlkzz1EGIy/s1600/IMG_20150121_160356818_HDR.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brew/jubelale">Deschutes Jubelale Festive Winter Ale</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BG</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poured from a 12 fl oz (355 ml) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 6.7% ABV, Best By 05/18/15</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ruby in color with two fingers of dense, persistent head. Lovely blankets of teeny-tiny bubbles cling to the glass as the foam gradually dissipates. This is a gorgeous looking beer!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cherry wood, sticky red apple lollipops, walnut raisin bread, hints of tropical fruit from the hops</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dark bread, tart black cherries, earthy hops, nutty, woody, roasty, spice</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">M</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creamy until a slightly chalky finish, med-light carbonation, very similar to that of a stout</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Earthy hop bitterness, cherry pits</span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let this beer warm up a bit, and you've got yourself a festive winter ale that acts like a stout. The roasty characters along with the creaminess is very pleasing in a lighter style beer (lighter than a stout, that is)! This is the best winter ale I’ve been able to get my hands on this winter, hands down… no wait, hands holding beer! Yeah. And can I just say the artwork is super adorable? I must make that little floppy-eared dog mine. Deschutes is solid. They've never done me wrong!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FP</span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cherry pie with espresso mousse. Turkey burger with sharp cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, and smoky BBQ. Bloomin onion with tangy ranch and chipotle dipping sauces.</span></div>
Lauren Lerchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384717922739015463noreply@blogger.com0