Partook last night while watching the NBA Draft. I don't think I have ever had a Grisette before. This was a really nice, sessionable beer checking in at 5.0% ABV. It had a bright but cloudy yellow color, with a fairly thick white head. The flavors seemed almost like a mix between a saison and a traditional Belgian wheat beer. Delicious on a summer night.
"Amazing what a minute can do."
Saison Du Bois (draft)-Lynnwood Brewing Concern
Drink local!
I got mighty thirsty after hiking almost 10 miles at Raven Rock State Park today, even after 2.5 bottles of water and half a bottle of Gatorade and LBC was conveniently located 1/2 block off our route home, so...
Pint pour was straw in color with a small head which lingered a bit. Nose of hay and lemongrass with some apples, pears, straw and a dry finish. IBUs were 30 and the ABV was 6% so a nice thirst quencher. Serving suggestions would be lightly-spiced grilled chicken or shrimp scampi.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
Rufescent (draft sample)-Lynnwood Brewing Concern
Just released at noon today on draft (d'oh) and 500 ml bottles. Couldn't resist .
Pour was a bit cloudy and looked like Rubaeus with a small head. Sour, vinegary-y nose with Sour Patch cherry candy and cherry cider vinegar, acidic and woody tastes. It's a barrel-aged sour with Brettanomyces, Pediococcus and Lactobacillus yeasts/bacteria fermentation with sweet and sour cherries added to fermentation. Really, really tasted like a Rodenbach and the beer-tender agreed. Limited release, numbered bottling on 6/21 (500 ml set me back about $10) and tapped today. The bottle will age 6-12 months before sampling/sharing.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
O'Hara's Irish Stout-Carlow Brewing Company
My final bottle from my gifted birthday 6er last week. I wish I had bought a Guinness single (haven't had one for many years) to compare for myself as some reviews think this may be better than the "classic" example of the dry Irish stout style.
Poured from an 11.2 ounce bottle into a standard pint glass. Color was dark brown with a modest, creamy, mocha head. Aromas of over-roasted coffee and burnt chocolate were first thoughts. Tastes matched these with perhaps some charred, dark caramel with a pinch of licorice and a dry finish. IBUs quoted at 40 and ABV listed at 4.3% from their website but my bottle was clearly printed with an ABV of 6%, thinking they also brew two (several?) versions of this like Guinness does. Pairing? What else? Some stews, a beef roast and/or some stinky cheeses.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
White Hatter-New Holland Brewing
Sampling at Total Wine as I browsed. Same New Holland district manager as when I sampled at Bottle Revolution a month or so ago.
Orange-straw color with a small head. It's a Belgian-style white pale ale . So, I guess a hybrid between a wit and a PA. Mild citrusy aromas with some piney/orange-y/spicy tastes from the chamomile, coriander and grains of paradise added. A bit of a discrepancy between the bottle and the websiite with the bottle claiming 35 IBUs and 5.2% ABV and the website promoting 52 IBUs and 5.5% ABV. Worth a single if you see it but not a 6er. Good to sip with a burger or a brat.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
St. Arnulf (draft)-Lincoln Brewing Company
Drink local!
Well, if you can find the joint.
Stopped by their Fuquay-Varina location yesterday on the return trip to Raleigh after several hours of hiking at Raven Rock State Park. For lease sign at entrance.
Closed.
But, I found their new, new grand opening announcement on Twitter for today at their second (third? fourth?) location in the area. Damn hard to find when the Google maps "pin drop" is between Tuesday Morning and Marshall's and the actual location is around the corner and kinda/sorta behind Marshall's. Conversation with owner as I got my more than generous two tasters:
dd: I went by the Fuquay location yesterday and saw it was closed. Why?
Owner: I'm lazy. I live in north Raleigh and got tired of driving. By the way, my name's Richard C.
dd. Oh, you're the founder/owner. Cool. Did you own Fuhgedaboutit Pizza a few years ago?
Owner: Yea, that was me.
dd: Why'd you close that business?
Owner: I'm lazy. Got tired of it and sold it.
dd: Oh, interesting.
Owner: Is that your first Lincoln beer?
dd: Yes.
Owner: On the house.
dd: Well, thank you very much.
Not a good start. Closed the former bottle shop in north Raleigh. Closed 2 pizza locations. Close the brewery in Fuquay. New other current location is (I think) Honest Abe's pub/restaurant near the RBC/PNC/NCSU Pork Palace Arena. And, brew one average (next review) and one below average (this review) Belgian-style beers in a crowded market. I'll give them about 6-12 months to stay open.
Oh, the beer above. Listed as a Belgian strong, dark ale. Sample pour (2-3 ounces) was muddy/cloudy and just off-tasting with a mild amount of sediment, even after just 1-2 minutes sitting on the bar. Not really any of the typical aromas/flavors I'd expect from the style like dried fruits, brown sugar, rum or dark caramel. The 12 ounce pour of Red Legged Devil (review to follow after a night out with Mrs. dd or in the AM) was better but still only an average beer.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
Red Legged Devil (draft)-Lincoln Brewing
Drink local!
Twelve ounce snifter, courtesy of the owner/first beer on the house.
Pour was a yellow-gold with a modest, fizzy head. Almost honey-ish nose with tastes of orange, flowers, a bit of black pepper with a Belgian candi sugar finish, actually a bit too sweet. There was just something "off" about the tastes of this. Not stale, not wet cardboard, just something not right. I'll guess IBUs about 30 with an ABV of 9%. I can't imagine taking/recommending any guests to visit here or their pub/restaurantlocation near the home of Wolfpack basketball/Raleigh Hurricanes.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
Very cool read on sour beer:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/article...rness-in-beer/
Hop Madness-Great Lakes Brewing Company
Best by 7/10/17 is tamped on the label, so Total Wine had a $2 off sticker on the 4 pack yesterday and, for about $7, I couldn't resist .
This is the third IIPA I've tasted from Great Lakes, and, not living in O-HI-O, I have no idea how many more they brew.
Pour from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass was yellow-orange with a modest, foamy head. Mixed tropical and citrus aromas with pineapple, grapefruit, orange and mango coating my palate. There's a hint of honey-like sweetness and perhaps a hint of pine. IBUs of 80 and ABV of 8%, so nicely balanced. This would be at home with a sweet and sour chicken or shrimp entree but would also hold it's own with some mildly hot and/or spicy dishes. Personally, I like Chill Wave and Lake Erie Monster better but could be swayed into a side-by-side tasting/comparison if invited .
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
Perhaps more than suggesting, in this case I guess I am defending.
I'll maintain that beer is like ice cream- if you have not found a flavour you like, you are not trying hard enough
The converse of that would be everyone doesn't/won't like every type of beer.
I had a good friend who is also a very serious homebrewer tell me when I shared a sour with him that it tasted like pickle juice and he hated it.
I have plenty of friends (who have clearly never tasted a New Glarus fruit beer) that find fruited beers to "not be a real beer" or have some sort of gender hang up on who it might be more appropriate for.
I love a good imperial stout, and my soy off flavour sensitivity means that while there are a ton of awesome imperial stouts out there, I find I can't drink an alarmingly high percentage of them.
If you have access to Bond Bros, they make a great dry hopped sour.
Any lambic is a sour beer if you like those.
Rodenbach Grand Cru, New Belgium La Folie or Le Terroir also good places to start exploring sours.
Anyway, I respect both your right to your perspective (hey more sour beer for me ;-) as well as your sense of humour and that our palates are different.
Cheers! 🍻
That would be here:
http://forums.dukebasketballreport.c...t=ymm%2C+cream
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.