June 19th, 2008 beckel
A raspberry ale wouldn’t normally catch my attention, but Great Divide makes some beautiful beers. So when I saw this ale at the store I had to pick it up. This is a beer I have been meaning to try for some time and I must say it does not disappoint. It is fermented with hundreds of pounds of red and black raspberries because Great Divide does not joke around with their beers and this is no exception. Pours a lovely bright raspberry color, quite deep in color but definitely filtered. Head is decent if poured properly in the middle of the glass but settles quite quickly, very white in color. Smells strongly of fresh raspberries not syrupy at all, with a hint of malt coming through to smoothen out the scent. Incredibly aromatic even from a decent distance. Tastes strongly of raspberries with a nice simple malt after taste. Very well balanced for a fruit beer, does not seem fruity at all. Clocking in at 5.6% this is definitely a real ale (with fruit flavor…). Mouthfeel is very smooth. This beer is not overly complex but it is certainly very tasty. The raspberry tones can be a bit tart here and there, but it is not a sour beer. Over all a quality beer, would definitely hit the spot for someone who does not like an overly complex beer, but wants something flavorful and a bit fruity. Even if you do not like fruity beers this one is worth trying as well as many other grand Great Divide beers from Colorado that I’m sure I will write about in the near future. Drink the beer and ride your bike.
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June 17th, 2008 beckel
I was turned on to Southern Tier on my birthday when I had a goblet of Hoppe their Imperial EPA which was quite flavorful and complex. So when I saw a number of their bottles at The Four Firkins I had to try some more of their beers. This Imperial IPA pours a slightly hazy but filtered looking light orange color. The smell is quite complex, very hop filled with slight orange marmalade scent in the end. This beer produces a surprisingly little amount of head with a light tan color. Packing in a mega 11% ABV and an insane 153 IBU the scent of this beer is amazingly smooth. Tastes strongly of hops of a number of varieties with a little bite towards the end that is then smoothed out by the malt flavor. A very well balanced beer and surprisingly unbitter, an impressive feat considering the ABV and hop profile. The mouthfeel is relatively smooth but a bit stickier than expected. If your looking for a strong beer this is not a bad choice, though it is very intense and perhaps even more hoppy and alcoholic than I care for, which is surprising but I would definitely drink it again. I look forward to trying some more of their beers. Give it a shot and ride your bike.
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June 15th, 2008 beckel
The Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale is part of Sierra Nevada’s Hemisphere series. It consists of 3 beers that doing creative things with fresh hops. This beer was brewed with fresh hops from New Zealand that were used about one week after being harvested. Pours a beautiful deep amber, it is filtered but still displays a very rich color. Good few inch head is quite light in color. Smells very strongly of hops, a bit bitter with a little hint of sweetness in the end. Not surprising considering its 66 IBU. Flavor is incredibly hop filled, especially for a pale ale and the taste will linger in your mouth for quite some time. It is rather bitter but the mouthfeel is smooth and the malt balances out the flavor decently. At 6.7% this beer is surprisingly nonalcoholic for the strong flavor it portrays, it is obvious the freshness of the hops really has an effect on this beer. I would encourage anyone who enjoys hops to try this beer if for nothing more than to experience the hop profile. It is probably one of the most complex pale ale’s I have ever been able try, though with its price tag I don’t think I would drink it regularly.
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June 13th, 2008 beckel
Yesterday was the 1st day that the liquor stores were willing to accept my money. So without further ado we shall discuss the wonderful IPA from Bells, Two Hearted Ale from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Pours a nice slightly hazy apricot color with a solid very white head. Smells slightly fruity with a touch of bitterness present. Slight fruit taste is present but finishes a bit bitter, very nice hoppy flavors. Smooth light mouthfeel. This is one of my favorite beers it is simple and well balanced but still manages to pack a good punch with its hop filled flavor and 7% ABV. Perhaps not the kind of beer you want to drink too many of too quickly but this beer hits my palate just right. Would taste even better with some nice spicy food. Give it a shot and ride your bike.
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