Archive for the month “August, 2012”

20 Aug 2012

He’Brew Origin Pomegranate Ale – Shmaltz Brewing

8.0% ABV
Purchased at BevMo ($5.39/22 oz. bottle) and poured into mason jars.

His Notes:

This “Imperial Amber brewed with luscious pomegranate juice” pours a marmalade orange with a bubbly, light tan head and lots of silt-like bubbles floating to the top. Its unfocused nose is a blend of various fruit juices – pomegranate aromas are present, but so are grapes, pears, melons, and citrus. He’Brew Origin is initially very bitter on the palette, more raw grapefruit than pomegranate, with some malt and fermented grape flavors playing back-up  The taste grows more citrus-y and mellow on subsequent swallows, with some grass and caramelized apricot notes entering on the finish. Although Origin was initially pretty unpleasant, it ended with some complex, refreshing flavors and an un-sticky finish.  

  3.5 Toasts

Her Notes:

  3 Toasts

Posted in Beer Review, Strong Ale and tagged , , , , | Leave a comment
10 Aug 2012

BRUX – Russian River/Sierra Nevada

8.3% ABV
Purchased at Taylor’s Market ($15.99/25.4 oz. bottle) and poured into flute glasses.

His Notes:

This collaboration between NorCal brewing legends Russian River and Sierra Nevada pours a burnished gold with a sizable off-white head.  The bottle describes Brux as a “domesticated wild ale”, and indeed it offers the expected barnyard funk aromas along with some citrus zest and tangerine.  It is spectacularly dry on the palette – the body is visibly similar to prosecco – with notes of citrus fruit, melon, and grass. There is some funk on the tongue, but the lasting impression is a dry, cracker-like bitterness offset by oranges, tangerines, and melon.   Brux has an interesting, fruit-forward complexity, with bready yeast flavors (and even a little saltiness) on the retreat, but the higher-than-average ABV makes it a little heavier than necessary.

  4 Toasts

Her Notes:

  4.5 Toasts

Posted in Beer Review, Saison, Wild Ale and tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment
06 Aug 2012

Seizoen Bretta – Logsdon Farmhouse Ales

8.0% ABV
Purchased at Pangaea Bottle Shoppe ($11.49/25.4 oz. bottle) and poured into pint glasses.

His Notes:

Logsdon of Hood River, Oregon produces this saison, which pours a clear, bubbly platinum with a voluminous and persistent white head.  It offers an inviting tropical nose of guava, banana, green grass, and candy, but the first swallow offers more spice and depth of flavor than indicated by the aroma. There are tropical notes present, but they’re tempered and given complexity by that rustic spice flavor.  Farmhouse funk adds some tangy bite to the long and dusky finish, with pineapple also eventually entering the profile.  Seizoen Bretta is impressive on the palette but neutral enough to pair with a variety of dishes, offering lots of balanced complexity inside of a refreshing, summer-y farmhouse brew.

  4.5 Toasts

Her Notes:

  4.5 Toasts

Posted in Beer Review, Saison and tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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