Sierra Nevada Stout and the Looming Promise of Fall

I recently discovered the beauty of Sierra Nevada beers. I realize I am a little late to the scene, but I was busy enjoying lesser known (at least to me) breweries. Yesterday I glanced at the Wasatch Mountains and realized my favorite time of the year is upon us. Football is in full swing, leaves are changing colors, and the nights are a little cooler.

The Sierra Nevada Stout is a dream in a glass. It simmingly encoumpasses all of my favorite smells and flavors of Fall in one bottle. The smell alone is almost enough to make me realize the brewers at Sierra Nevada are world-class. The suttle notes of raisen are overwhelmed by the roasted malt. The initial taste instantly relaxes me in my chair. The sweet malty flavors are balanced well with a slight bittering that ends with a dry coffee note on the tongue. The mouth-feel is rich and creamy. At 5.8% alcohol, this certainly is not a big stout, but is not to be taken lightly.

Hell's Keep by Squatter's Brewery

This beer is devilishly good! Ok ok, so it is my first Belgian Strong Ale beer, so my pallet is not finely tuned to the sour beers, but it is delicious none-the-less. It has a strong aroma that is very fruity. I get a lot of banana, but it is more complex than that. I cannot quite put my finger on it. Typically, I do not like tasting the head on a beer, but Hell's Keep has a large and flavorful head on it that really speaks to the style. The initial banana flavor notes give way to just a tinge of sourness. The softer finish has a strong white grape flavor. I would say this beer tastes very much like a champagne. It would go well with seafood.

Rating: 8 of 10

Aroma: fruity

Appearance: golden

Flavor: banana, white grape, slightly sour

Mouthfeel: soft and light

Overall Impression: a great start into Belgian beers

The Winds of Casper and a Heineken Draughtkeg

Visiting the grandparents is always fun. It appears no matter how old I've gotten, they still have treats waiting for me. Over the weekend, Rachel and I visited her grandparents in Casper, Wyoming. One night her grandpa and I even got a glow on drinking Heineken beer. I was hesitant to drink it. I had Heineken once before and thought it was a little "skunky". With an open mind and a better appreciation for the subtleties of beer, I consumed glass after glass of the crisp light-bodied beer. The large head created by the Draughtkeg tested my patience as I waited for it to settle. The bready aroma is not complex or very enticing. The flavor is surprisingly pleasant. I picked up banana notes. The light malt comes through nicely. I am not sure of the specs of the beer.

Rating: 7 of 10

Aroma: bready with very subtle hop notes

Appearance: light gold

Flavor: banana, light malts

Mouthfeel: light

Overall Impression: refreshing and crisp

Pyramid Apricot Ale

A week in Austin, Texas was exactly what the doctor ordered. Here in Utah it doesn't seem like it's even hit spring compared to the beautiful warm weather in Texas. My wife and I (yes, someone married me) enjoyed our first wedding anniversary boating, golfing, dining, and of course drinking.

Before we left, I tried getting myself in the summer mindset by enjoying an Apricot Ale by Pyramid Brewing. The Apricot Ale has great head retention and a strong apricot smell. Though it has a lower alcohol content, the beer tastes "hot" to me. The alcohol notes came across very strong and really hendered my ability to enjoy the other flavor notes that were very suttle. Obviously, the beer had a good apricot flavor. For an unfiltered beer, the body is very clear and clean with a light mouthfeel. I have not tried very many fruit beers. I think I'll keep looking before I settle on a favorite.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Aroma: apricot

Appearance: light golden

Flavor: alcohol, apricot, some spice

Mouthfeel: light

Overall Impression: there has to be better fruit beers

ABV: 5.1%

Leinenkugel's Classic Amber

My venture into the ever expanding realm of beer styles, tastes and aromas has been rewarding. I've enjoyed many good beers and have not found one that I simply can't finish. Over the Memorial Day weekend, I sat down to crack open a book and a beer. The care that is taken when brewing at Leinenkugel's Brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin is quite obvious. Their Classic Amber is complex and refreshing. The beer does not fit into the traditional Amber beer style as outlined by the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The color is a very clear light amber. The aroma begins with a strong banana note and finishes with a citrus kick. The taste is quite the opposite. It jump starts the palate with strong citrus flavors that finish nicely with banana notes and, to a lesser degree, hop notes. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and smooth. The Classic Amber would go great with light summary lunch foods.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Aroma: banana, citrus

Appearance: light amber

Flavor: citrus, banana, some hops

Mouthfeel: medium-bodied and smooth

Overall Impression: well crafted beer; I can't wait to try more from this brewery

ABV: 4.9%

Squatters Hop Rising

Tonight, my wife and I spent a beautiful evening outside reading. The weather was perfect as I cracked open Squatters Hop Rising. Typically, I absolutely love hoppy beers. I do not love this beer. Don't get me wrong, it is a quality beer. The brewers put a lot of thought into the beer. The only aroma notes I can pick out are hops. It has a very bitter and hoppy flavor with a sweet finish. I can't say I will ever buy this beer again, but it is a hop lovers dream.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Aroma: HOP!!!

Appearence: deep amber

Flavor: hoppy and bitter with a sweet finish

Mouthfeel: medium

Overall Impression: well crafted beer, but not for me

ABV: 9%

Red Tail Ale

It has been a crazy week. Between my last week of school and a hectic work schedule gearing up for a convention, I haven’t had any time to rest. I did get some good news today. I’ll be coaching high school football again this fall.

I’m not really sure if it was for celebration or as a means to relax, but I cracked open a very refreshing beer tonight. Mendocino Brewing Company brews a nice American Amber Ale called Red Tail Ale. I have to admit, it isn’t what I expected. It is a beautiful coppery-brown color with decent head retention. A strong citrusy aroma is complemented with caramel notes. Initially, the beer has a strong hop flavor that dissipates further along in the beer. It is very sweet, but not offensively so. The other flavor notes I pick up are indicative of the aroma.

 I see myself enjoying this beer on hot summer days. In fact, I may go buy a 24-pack of this beer to help me cool off after two-a-days in mid-August.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Aroma: citrus and caramel notes; some hop aroma detected

Appearance: copper brown

Flavor: a strong initial hop flavor calmed down with citrus and caramel notes

Mouthfeel: medium

Overall Impression: light in flavor, but complex and refreshing; for this beer, less is more

ABV: 6.1%