The Beer of the Week

Beer of the Week 122 - Cigar City Jai Alai IPA aged on White Oak

For the first Cigar City beer to appear on Beer of the Week, I chose their Jai Alai IPA that has been aged on American white oak.  The brewery states that, “[t]he white oak adds smoothing notes of vanilla and slight hints of dill to the aroma and flavor profile.  The finish is elegantly dry due to the light tannin notes from oak aging and though still loaded with hop flavor, hop bitterness is more restrained.”

Jai Alai pours a nice hazy, dark orange color with some light amber highlights.  An eggshell white head forms about 1 finger thick and slowly recedes to a pretty sturdy cap.  Nice spotty lacing that I would expect from an American IPA.  The aroma is quite different than the standard American IPA.  The oak really stands out on the nose and adds some nice nuances to the beer - mainly earthy notes, lots of vanilla and oak tannins.  The hops aren’t as in your face forward as I would’ve expected here, although, there is some citrus.  However, the oak really takes the nose by storm.

The flavor is quite different from the aroma.  Here, the hops really make their presence known.  Nice juicy, citrus hops are up front with some nice, classic bitterness as well.  A really strong malt backbone in this one mixes well with a nice earthiness from the wood.  The finish is slightly bready, dry and tannic with a slightly fruity aftertaste.  I am struggling to find the dill that the brewery noted was present in both aroma and flavor.  Jai Alai is a medium bodied beer with a moderate carbination.  It is slightly creamy which is a nice change from the often sharp and stingy bite of IPA’s

I enjoyed this one.  Although, in my opinion, the nose didn’t pack the hop aromas that I am used to, and to me, suffered a bit.  Overall, this was a nice beer that had the addition of some interesting nuances to it by the white oak aging.

Beer of the Week 121 - 5/16/2012: Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad (BBQ)

Sweeeeet.  This beer pretty much encompasses everything I love in life - in the beer world that is.  A Belgian-style quadrupel that is aged in a blend of bourbon and whiskey barrels from Jack Daniels, Templeton Rye, and Heaven Hill.  The barrels are topped up during aging with sour cherries.  Then, barrel aged and fresh brewed quadrupels areblended before bottled conditioning.  I have REALLY been looking forward to trying this one.  This is bottle # 1776 from 2010.

The beer pours a dark reddish-brown color that seems a bit murky.  A foamy, tan head forms about 2 fingers thick and fades to a cap of some frothy bubbles.  The aroma is where it is at here.  Mmmmm.  Sweet malts, toffee, cherries, some wood, and a bit of tartness as well. The quad characteristics are lighter than I expected, but the bourbon and cherry really round out the aroma and make it something special.

The cherries come out a bit more in the taste as they mix with toffee, candi sugar, dark fruits and oak. A nice sweetness from vanilla and malts come through as well. Nice flavors, but nothing that blew me away really.  The body of the beer is medium bodied, although I think I was expecting it to be a bit bigger.  The carbonation is lower, but still enough to give a tiny tingle on the tongue.  The alcohol is quite subdued here which is nice.

I enjoyed this one.  I think I expected it to really blow my mind since it has 3 of my fvaorite components a beer could have: quad, cherries, and bourbon.  I’ll have to revisit this one sometime to see if I feel any different.  Hopefully some friends in Missouri can send me some more bottles!

Beer of the Week 120 - 5/9/2012: Nebraska Brewing Co. Black Betty Imperial Stout (Ale Aged in Whiskey Barrels)

Nebraska Brewing Co. has developed a pretty serious “Reserve Series” line up, and Black Betty is one of their prized beers.  Only coming in 750 ml bottles for a slightly hefty price tag, $23.99 a bottle, I had some pretty high hopes for this one, especially since this beer was aged in Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey barrels.

Black Betty pours almost completely black to me!  Squid ink black with a nice creamy espresso colored head about 1 finger thick.  There is some nice lacing left and the head retention is actually quite good. For a barrel aged stout, a good amount of carbonation is visible.  The aroma starts off with a nice warming whiskey presence along with a strong amount of oak mixed with chocolate and roasted malts; the malts almost seem burnt or charred in a way.  Vanilla and some coffee follow things up rounding the nose out nicely.

The flavor profile starts with a hit of charred/burnt malts, whiskey, oak, vanilla, chocolate and coffee.  All of the flavors swirl around nicely and complement each other.  There is also a bit of eathiness towards the end of the profile which is quite interesting - I assume this is from the hops.  The flavor is nice.  Nothing complex or extraordinary by any means.  The body is much thinner than expected for the style being a more medium bodied beer with a moderate carbonation.  It is smooth and creamy despite it being thinner than I would want.

Pretty nice beer.  Certainly not one that I would buy again given the $23.99 price-tag, but a nice beer nonetheless.  The flavors really do all work together nicely. But, with all of the other amazing beers available out there, I probably won’t re-visit this one again for quite sometime.

Beer of the Week 119 - 5/2/2012: Hair of the Dog Cherry Adam from the Wood (Vintage 2008)

Whoa boy!!  I cannot even begin to tell you all how long I have waited to try this beer.  This has been on my “Wants” list for quite some time now, and I finally get to enjoy this luxurious beer.  Adam, the base beer for this barrel aged wonder, is one of my all time favorites from Hair of the Dog in Portland, OR and one of my top 10 favorite beers of all time (See Beer of the Week 17 Part 1). 

Cherry Adam from the Wood is aged “with locally grown black cherries in bourbon and sherry casks for 15 months.”  The brewey also states that, “the fruit lends a sweet tartness to the finish, melding with the wood and adding a new dimension of complexity.”  The description alone is enough to get me more excited than I have been in a while for a new beer.  This particular bottle is from the very first release of this beer in 2008.

I was pretty worried when I popped the cap since there was no standard “hiss” alerting the consumer that there is indeed some carbonation.  The beer pours an underwhelming dark brown, burgandy color.  There is no head or lacing to speak of at all.  Uh oooooooooh.

Ahhhh, here we go.  The aroma is VERY complex.  LOTS of bourbon and what I personally detect as sherry right up front.  This is followed by chocolate, oak, cherry, and some other dark fruits as well.  There is a nice smokey, leathery quality in there as well which really adds nicely to the profile.  The cherries do impart some slight tartness in the nose which mixes nicely with the sweetness from the base beer and the barrel treatments.

The flavor follows the nose nicely.  Flavors of bourbon, sweet sherry, chocolate covered cherries, VERY dark malts.  The bourbon and sherry weave themselves together in a wonderful way to add depth and sweetness to the beer.  There is some oaky tannins that come through as well.  A slight smokiness makes itself known in the background right at the end of the palate.  The black cherries and barrel aging treatment really add some serious complexity to an already complex base beer.  This really is something.  BUT, and this is a big BUT, this is quite flat.

There is really no carbonation whatsoever to speak of that adds something to the beer.  It just sits on the palate in a slightly watery way.  If it weren’t for the luxurious flavors and aromas, I would’ve had said this was a bust.  While this aspect of the beer didn’t ruin the experience for me, it certainly didn’t help.  I understand that the 2011 release hasn’t had this issue. 

Absolutely worth trying if you want to try something rich, decadent and luxurious.  BUT, beware that the 2008 version seems to have lost its carbonation.  Cheers!

Beer of the Week 118 - 4/25/2012: Brouwerij De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis

THIS is an intense, intense beer. One of the more intense beers I have had actually. And considering the label says it can be aged for a whopping 25 years, I guess it would need to be pretty intense. This one clocks in at 10.2% ABV, quite normal for the Russian Imperial Stouts I have come across lately. This beer pours as black as black can get. Completely opaque in color with a large, foamy, light mocha color head forms about 2.5 fingers thick; a much larger head than I anticipated.

The aroma is quite intense and in your face. Before I even put it to my nose, there were huge aromas of espresso, bitter cocoa, some grassy hops, charred woods, burnt tires, and rich roasted malts. There is some ashy, burnt notes that seem to overpower at times. Not the most complex aroma I have encountered, but the way that everything comes together makes this beer quite intimidating to the nose.

The flavor is just as intense, if not more so, than the aroma. “Severe flavors” is probably the best way to describe this flavor profile. LOTS of aromas of things burnt. Cocoa beans, coffee grounds, charred timbers, and a light ashy flavor dominates the glass. Hops try to combat the malts and cannot stand up to the maltiness; but they do give a much needed break from all the roasty, ashy, burnt flavors going on. As the beer warms, flavors of burnt currants, figs, nuts, dates, and berries come through. They are light, but make the beer somewhat more complex.

This was the first beer that I have come across that I felt paired perfectly with a cigar. It is bolf, formidable, and intense on the senses. I would highly recommend sharing this beer, as I did, due to the fact that a 12 oz bottle onslaught of intense flavors would have been too much to palate. Cheers!

Beer of the Week 117 - 4/18/2012: Firestone Walker Double Jack IPA

Now, THIS is an awesome Imperial IPA.  I was ecstatic when I heard Firestone Walker would start distributing in Philadelphia.  They make some really solid beers and I have specifically been looking forward to trying Double Jack - their Imperial IPA that is released in 22 oz bottles and on draft.  I was lucky enough to catch this on draft; finding myself having one afer the other becuase it was such an easy drinking beer.

Double Jack is a 9.5% ABV beer that is very inviting looking when presented in the glass.  The body is a nice, bright orangey-amber color with a 1 finger thick, eggshell-white head.  Before I even stick my nose in the glass I can smell aromas of citrus that cause me to almost salivate.  The nose is a beautiful display of citrus hops with notes of grapfruit, tangerine and lemon coming out first.  There is some slight pineapple notes as well adding to the tropical bouquet that I was first hit with. There is some pine present, but does not stand out as much as the citrus does. A malty backbone is distinguishable, but is slightly overpowered by the tropical fruit aromas.

The flavors follow the nose very nicely and cause me drink more and more with each sip.  Citrus flavors really takes the stage here with grapefruit and tangerine making the most notable appearance. Some slightly grassy and pine-like flavors poke through a bit after the citrus. The malt presence is much more noticeable here in the flavor and adds a nice sweetness to the beer.  I am a HUGE fan of tropical flavors and citrus flavors from hoppy beers.  That being said, this flavor profile is EXACTLY what I look for in a big bold, IPA.  Very nicely done.

I will absolutely be seeking this one out in the future.  As with any IPA, fresher is always better, so if you go looking for it, make sure the bottle is fresh, or that it is new to the tap lines.  Ifyou like jucy, fruity IPA’s, you will love this one as much as I did!

Beer of the Week 116 - 4/11/2012: Ithaca White Gold

White Gold is a very interesting offering from Ithaca Beer Company in Ithaca, NY.  Although Beer Advocate classifies it as an “American pale wheat ale,” and the brewery describes it as a “rustic pale wheat ale,” to me, it is more of a cross between several different styles.  The brewery describes White Gold as “[a] Belgo-American ale brewed with domestic barley and French wheat malts, the finest continental and US grown hops, and fermented with Belgian, English and Wild yeasts. Enjoy the glowing opaque appearance, fruity and herbal aromas, zesty mouthfeel and bone-dry finish.”

The aroma is very distinct.  Notes of lemon, wheat, more citrus like acidity, and a slight mustiness. You get a nice hit of the Belgian yeast spiciness as well. A lot of earthy and grassy notes mix with the slightest bit of funky, wild aromas. The more I smell it, the more the lemon acidity seems to be the main attraction.  The wild yeasts certainly make themselves known here.

The flavor profile is slightly different than the nose leads on.  Surprisingly, wheat and breadiness come right out front mixed with a strong lemon acidity.  There is a yeasty spice from the Belgian yeast, an herbal flavor and a dryness keeping with the earthy elements.  There’s some other fruit besides lemon; peach and apricot being the most prominent.  Despite these flavors, you can’t shake the somewhat muted wild yeast funk that’s present.  I personally think it is nicely integrated into the beer without overtaking the other flavors present.  With that said, I wish the other flavors were a little more developed so that they stood out more and melded together better.  It has a nice crisp finish that is dry and refreshing.

Not a bad beer; pretty average really.  I think if the flavors were a little more integrated, it would really be a more impressive offering. 

Beer of the Week 115 - 4/4/2012: Dogfish Head 75 Minute IPA

For those of you who know Dogfish Head, you know that they pride themselves in their hoppy IPA’s.  Their flagship beer, the 60 Minute IPA, can be found in just about any bar that knows what they’re doing.  Their 90 Minute IPA is touted as one of the better double IPA’s in the country.  The 75 Minute IPA is often referred to as “Johnny Cask.”  It has only ever been brewed and served at their brew-pub in Rehoboth Beach, DE.  There, they blend their 60 and 90 Minute IPA’s, add maple syrup to the mix, and serve from a cask instead of a normal bar tap.  It has been one of the main attractions at the brew-pub, bringing people from all over to try it.

They finally decided to start bottling the beer and distributing it to the masses!  The brewery describes it here: “Blend two Dogfish Head favorites, add maple syrup and carbonate the mixture naturally.  What do you get? 75 Minute IPA.  The carbon dioxide trapped during bottle conditioning gives 75 Minute IPA a soft and velvety mouthfeel.  Dry-hopped with whole-leaf Cascades, this complex IPA has been known to inspire pilgrimages to our brewpub.”

75 Minute pours a really nice cloudy, murky amber color that has nice, brilliant golden hues around the edges of the glass.  Despite pouring slowly, a HUGE, 3 finger, bone-white head formed and had very nice retention.  REALLY inviting look to it.  The smell is more subdued than I would have liked.  There is a solid mixture of pine, citrus, and some slight bitterness from the hops.  There is a really strong malty, bready aroma that complements the hop aroma nicely.  Orange, lemon and some slight woody, earthy notes come out.  There is really no sign of maple syrup in the aroma whatsoever.

The taste is really enjoyable. Flavors of citrus hops give it notes of orange, tangerine, and apricot. There is a slight spiciness as well which I attribute to the piney, grassy hops. The malts come through as bready and dough-like adding a nice backdrop to the multitude of hops that are present.  There is a really earthy flavor to the profile - with some hints of a woodsy, grassy, richness the aggregate flavors contribute. The maple syrup doesn’t really stand out, but you can tell it adds a certain touch of sweetness to the beer.  As a fan of maple syrup in beers, I was hoping for a more pronounced maple flavor, but I think they added just enough to remind you it is there.

I really enjoyed this one; more so than when I had the original Johnny Cask at the brewpub 2 years ago.  The taste, in addition to the carbonation level makes this one quite smooth and creamy - almost like it were on cask!  This was a very approachable beer that would be a GREAT beer to split with friends on a hot spring or summer day.  Plus the label art is AWESOME! 

Note the tiny addition to the label so that Dogfish Head couldn’t be held liable for inappropriate use of a likeness by Johnny Cash’s trust.  Pretty funny.