Thoughts on Beer

Brew Dog Rip Tide

While at the family’s for the holidays, I had a chance to try quote a few brews, including Rip Tide, by the Scottish brewery Brew Dog.

The beer smelled a lot like coffee with hints of chocolate.  At first taste, it was a smooth, slightly sweet beer with a very roasty component.  There was a very slight amount of carbonation.  It’s a beer that will sneak up on you because it doesn’t taste very strong, but contains 8% ABV.

Coincidentally, while I was at the store, the associate mentioned that if I was interested, they had a bottle of Tactical Nuclear Penguin from Brew Dog.  At 32% ABV, it’s one of the strongest beers available, but I wasn’t willing to shell out the $100-$150 for a 12 oz bottle.  Maybe one of these days I’ll take him up on that offer.

Have you had Rip Tide?  What was your impression?

Vrienden

While in Tennesse, I had a chance to try a bottle of Vrienden (Flemish for ‘friend’), a collaboration between Belgian beer specialists New Belgium and Allagash Brewing.  It was a Belgian style ale brewed with hibiscus and endive.

It had a bit of a slight ‘funky’ Belgian smell from the Brettanomyces and Lactobacillis.  The flavor started sweet then finished with slight Belgian funkyness.  It was definitely an interesting beer, but unfortunately, not one of my favorites.  To me, it seemed that the sweetness and hibiscus flavors were overpowering.  I have a feeling that the beer may have been better if I would have been able to age it for a period of time.

Have you tried Vrienden?  What did you think?

Abita Andygator

I was working in Tennessee this past week, and I had a chance to check out a few beers I normally don’t get a chance to try.  One of the selections I had a chance to sample was Abita Andygator.

It was a helles doppelbock, making it stronger than the typical helles.  My overall impression: it was nice and malty, and was a very drinkable beer.  There was a bit of a fruity scent with an initial sweet taste.  It had a nice golden color, and a good malt flavor that carried through to the aftertaste.  There was little to no hop flavor or aroma.

Have you tried Andygator by Abita?  What did you think?

Leinenkugel's Spring Seasonal

I was browsing the beer aisle the other day when I noticed something out of the ordinary – Leinenkugel’s was selling the spring seasonal.

The brewery just finished selling the stock of Fireside Nut Brown, and decided (on the last day of November) to start selling the spring seasonal.

The 1888 Bock is nice, but is it time to sell spring beers yet?  Probably not.

Did you see the Leinie’s spring seasonal being sold already?  What do you think?

Boulevard 21st Anniversary Fresh Hop Ale

Boulevard Brewing recently celebrated their 21st anniversary, and to celebrate, the brewery created a fresh hop pale ale.  Last week, I had a chance to grab a bottle.

First off, it poured a bit darker than I expected.  It looked more in the range of an IPA color (more of a caramel color) than a pale ale color.  The first sniff gives a bit of citrus on the nose, with a hint of grassy from the fresh hops.

The taste was very similar to a pale ale, with a hop forward flavor, giving way to the malt backbone.  This was different than other fresh hop ales I have had because this beer had more of a peach flavor, with just a hint of citrus flavor.

It was a good beer that makes me want another, just to try and break down the complexity of it.

Have you tried the 21st Anniversary Ale from Boulevard?  What was your take on it?