Cigar City - 110K + OT (Batch 4)

Before really researching this beer I had very little idea of its history, let alone its style.  The label gives us nothing other than a cryptic name and information required by certain government agencies.  This made the discovery process throughout the review very fascinating!  Every review experience was full of truly honest impressions, surprise, and a chance to categorize.  Thankfully, you have no such need to be so honest.  The full history of 110K + OT (or rather its name) can be found here.  It's definitely one of the best things I've seen come from an internet forum, until this one involving William Shattner.  But I digress...  The website description goes even further with the inside joke and reads,

"110K+OT is not for college pukes, white collar sissy boys or mamby-pamby Nancy boys who haven’t done an honest days work in their lives. Nor is this beer for the common man. This beer is for the working man who has arrived. If your work boots are steel toed, come back when they are gold toed! "

As I said, when beginning this review I had no idea of its style.  I did know that it changed annually with every batch, but I had no idea which batch I possessed since I received this bottle in a trade (Thanks Ruy!).  Turned out to be Batch #4, an Imperial Amber Ale.  But unlike any Amber I've ever had.

Aroma 11/12

Whoa!  There is a lot going on here and it's all sweet.  Fruit esters are strong and come across in a variety of rich scents: fig, pineapple, apple, and grapefruit.  It's very dark, but with the sting of citrus.  More typical malt aromas sit further back, but are just as rich.  Caramel is powerful and blends surprisingly well with the fig/prune.  There is also a little bit of mustiness and a sneaky alcohol warmth that I feel will play a part further on in the review.

Appearance 3/3

The head is astounding.  Excellent in size and retention, it leaves a light khaki colored lace all over the inside of the glass.  The color appears brown when sitting on a table, but when held to light gives hints that the fig aromas will be visiting again soon.  The colors range from the sludge-like color of prune juice to handsome purples to bright, gem-like magentas.  The overall tone is a earthy maroon-magenta and was definitely a surprise to see in a beer this dark.

Flavor 17/20

This is most unusual.  It starts with sweet fruits like green apple, minus the tart, and does a short, sudden crescendo into an orange rind and dark fruit backbone.  To say that this is an odd combination is an understatement.  It's unique and not unpleasant.  There is a caramel note, but it is easily shouted out by the dark fruits, more of which fade in gradually along with a faint booziness, and more green apples.  The finish brings forward a lot more warmth, the orange rind, and eventually a bitter that has remained hidden until this time.  Unfortunately, the bitter seems to be a byproduct of the fruit and not so much a balancer thereof.

Mouthfeel 5/5

This is one full-bodied and silky smooth brew!  The carbonation is far from minimal, but its role is very subdued which is perfect in a big Imperial-style beer like this one.  The alcohol warmth in the finish also adds a tickle to the tongue to keep things interesting and far from syrupy.  However, with all this sweetness, sticky saliva is unavoidable.

Know that!

Overall Impression 7/10

No one can claim that this beer is not full of flavor.  After doing some research and finding out that this beer is an Imperial American red ale, I give this beer kudos for incorporating flavors I've never before seen in this style.  I like that kind of innovation.  My only gripe is my own fault; I find it too sweet.  No doubt this beer, being an "American" version of the style, initially involved a healthy dose of hops.  Thankfully, while those are still there in all their citrusy glory, they are not present to balance this beer with resin or pine.  Granted, red or amber ales can and should be malt centered, however a great crisp finish is often a hallmark of these styles and this beer lacked it.  I would've even accepted a moderately crisp finish.  However, the alcohol and bitter do not equal "crisp."  They can certainly contribute, they can even help make it dry, but this beer proves that they cannot stand alone.

Total 43/50

What can I say... another beer that I've possibly ruined by waiting too long to drink it.  In my defense, had it said anything on the label pertaining to style I might have made a more urgent effort to drink it.  As it stands, I can hardly believe that this is a red of any kind, let alone an imperial.  There are just so damn many flavors in this beer that I would never have expected in a red/amber.  Big props to Cigar City for that.  I can hardly imagine this beer with even more complexities added by fresh hops, but I can imagine it having more balance.  The mouthfeel and the appearance are also deserving of superlatives.  Now all I have to do is find a fresh bottle, no matter what style this year brings.

Half Acre - Ginger Twin

It's time again to review a brew from the Windy City.  This particular beer is made by Half Acre and is called Ginger Twin.  It's an India-style red ale, which is not a style combination that I am familiar with but I always love trying new things and brewers that aren't afraid to put them out there.  Now we all know there are good gingers and bad gingers and I'm hoping this beer leans toward the former and not the latter.  On a side note, I love what Half Acre posted on their blog when this beer first came out.

"Ginger Discount:

*Anyone with God given red hair will be granted an 8% discount on Ginger Twin purchases.
**Anyone with God given red hair and a Longshoremen's beard will be granted a 10% discount on Ginger Twin purchases.
***Identical Twins will be granted a 15% discount on Ginger Twin Purchases
****Identical Twins with God given red hair will be granted a 25% discount on Ginger Twin purchases.
*****Identical Twins with God Given red hair and Longshoremen's beards will be granted a special treat (each) and 50% off additional Ginger Twin purchases.

(The Ginger Discount only valid at the Half Acre Beer Emporium located at the Half Acre Brewery & World Headquarters. 4257 N. Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL)"

I mean, c'mon, how kick ass is that?  Nothing like a brewery that shows a little personality.  Let's pour!

Aroma 10/12

The aroma is entirely that of a sturdy IPA, full of pine, grass, with lesser resin and grapefruit notes.  There is a spicing that happens even behind that and ties everything together rather nicely.  I am not able to detect any of the red malts through all the hops.  Also, the aroma of this beer is only of a moderate intensity even with all those delicious scents inside.

Appearance 3/3

I love the look of this beer.  The color is whimsically true to it's name and emulates perfectly the ginger beards depicted on its label.  The head is as aggressive as you pour it, showed superior retention, a light maize color, and left extreme lacing all over my glass.  I'm looking forward to this being a sticky, delicious beer.

Flavor 18/20

Well, the malts certainly make their presence know in the initial sips of this beer.  They barge in the door like a student late for class.  They are the dry, biscuity, crisp malts that I love to see in a good pale ale, but not the caramel-like and/or lightly toasted malts that I expect to see in a good red ale.  If anything it shows flashes of the light buttery flavor that can sometimes accompany a red ale, but I'm afraid that's as close as it gets.  Virtually no malt sweetness is present.  The backbone of the beer brings out some of the brighter citrus from the aroma and can be downright sweet on the tip of the tongue.  Hoppy herbal spiciness is present, but not overbearing and complements the resin nicely.  All of this is overseen by a moderate bitter tinge.  To get any sense of the sweet malts used in this brew, you must give it a wine taster's slurp.  This brings a super rich combination of resin and caramel rushing to your tastebuds and you'd swear you were sipping on some big ol' DIPA!  The finish is again biscuity and crisp, but features a nice bitter with it.  It also shows off the body of this beer remarkably well.

Note:  The caramel becomes more detectable as a general sweetness toward the bottom of the bottle. is there a real reason for this?  Is it my imagination?  Is my palate simply become acclimated to the hops and able to more easily detect other flavors?  I find this odd since usually the malts are more present than hops at colder temperatures and as the beer warms, usually it is the hop aromas/flavors that open up.

Mouthfeel 5/5

This is nice and smooth in the mouth, a neat contrast from the crisp bitter flavors in this beer.  The carbonation is just about perfect.  It keeps the beer drinkable and refreshing in spite of the silky, bitter brew in which it resides.

Overall Impression 8/10

This is a very tasty beer that I would not hesitate to drink again, but it's a stretch to call this a red ale, even an India-style red ale.  Simply put, it lacks almost any of the sweetness that one can expect to encounter when drinking a red ale.  Even if this is a beer that is not at its freshest, I would've expected the hops to deteriorate and not the malts!  The sweetness in the malts only becomes easily detectable when the beer is slightly below room temperature.  To its credit, this beer has a delicious, yet less-than-robust aroma and a mouthfeel that keeps you drinking.  As an IPA, its pretty damn good!

Total 44/50

I'd not be afraid to give this brew a solid B on it's report card.  I'd also tell its parents at conferences that it could really be something if it just applied itself... to the style it intended to be.  I'm sure that Half Acre with all their brewing prowess could quite easily squeeze some more sweet, malty goodness into this bottle and truly set it apart as a red.  Heck, as it stands it's one helluva IPA, so with some small tweaks to make it a true a red ale it would easily fall into my top 5, even top 3.  After all, there's really nothing to complain about.  It's flavorful, shows good aroma, insane lacing, and is surprisingly drinkable even with its smooth body and bitter flavors.  I can easily and happily recommend it as an IPA.  Those who love and respect the red ale style might be a tad disappointed by the lack of sweet malts.  However, one can only be so disappointed when they're looking for one thing and find an equally pleasing substitute.  It reminds me of an Emerson quote:

"If we shall take the good we find, asking no questions, we shall have heaping measures."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Terrapin - Big Hoppy Monster

Yes!  Through a beer trade I have procured another bottle from Terrapin.  As that I now have two fine trading partners in the Southeast, I wish I could say I remember which one sent this, but it doesn't matter since Ruy and Keith are both awesome.  Write that down.  Long story short, I've been in love with Terrapin ever since cracking open their "W-N-B" (the new censored name of Wake-N-Bake), a coffee oatmeal imperial stout.  If it's an imperial from Terrapin, I'm excited.  Plus, this time of year begs for beers that are a bit lighter as we all start getting used to the long, beautiful days and craft beer filled gatherings and reds usually fit that bill marvelously.  Let's pour!

Aroma 11/12

My nose thanks me for opening this beer.  Tons of red malt and toffee right off the bat and blended nicely with a "dark orange" citrus bouquet of hops: apricots and caramelized orange.  In fact, the fruits are so dark, one could just as easily find some raisins as well!  Slow to develop are a slight mustiness and a boozy note that lets you know you're dealing with a monster.  There are no Belgian yeast characteristics, but I associate this aroma with a Quad - a saturating, rich aroma with hints of booze.  This should be fun.

Appearance 3/3

It's difficult to see in the picture, but the hue of this brew is actually closer to the "39" on the EBC scale shown. Its a dusky, hazy, brown/mahogany with a head the shade is rust were it a pastel color.  The bottle actually gushed on me, but the head turned out relatively small compared to its vigorous "how-de-do."  It stayed for an acceptable period before finally coating the surface.

Flavor 19/20

If you'd have told me this was a red, I'd have called you a liar.  Whoa!  I've never had a red like this!  The beginning is very creamy with lots of body-enhancing malts and slides easily into that sweet malty goodness - full of toffee and the aforementioned raisins.  Holding the beer in the mouth continues the malts, but adds a hint of brown sugar and bright, yet far off, citrus on the sides of the mouth.  There is very little to none of the orange-like notes from the aroma.  The finish is remarkably clean for such a monster of a beer!  You swallow and the majority of the flavor goes right along with it.  All that remains is a slight alcohol tingle and an earthy red malt that clings stickily to the back of the throat.

Mouthfeel 4/5
I dock a point right away for gushing, but the carbonation in the rest of the beer is not unpleasant.  Please note that "unpleasant" does not equal "perfect."  I know this is a big beer and sometimes big beers can be a little harder to carbonate.  However, if that is the "rule," then how do Belgian strong ales (dark or golden) achieve such a high level of carbonation in their big beers?  Big should not be mutually exclusive to "well-carbonated" and this beer could have used a little more zest.  The body is big and holds all that malt flavor wondrously.  Well-hidden is the 8.3% ABV and it only comes out when it seems most beneficial for the flavor profile.  Very well done.

Overall Impression 9/10
This is a big beer in body, flavor, and a deceptively high ABV.  It smashes the mold of "red ale" and charges forward to define the style on its own.  It is like no other red ale you'll have with it's unique aroma, raisin notes, huge flavor.  If more reds were like this, I'd be inclined to sample the style more often.

Total 46/50
Given the great, rich taste of this beer and its "take no prisoners" attitude, it seems to me that a 46 is a bit low.  However, there are a few things holding this beer back; namely the carbonation which affected its score by both gushing out upon opening and leaving the beer feeling flat a bit too early on in the bottle.  Do I recommend this beer?  Wholeheartedly.  Will red ale drinkers like it?  Who knows!?  I feel that this departs from the style in such a way that the answer truly is a toss up.  Should the average craft beer drinker pick this up whenever they see it?  Yes.  Buy it.  If you're looking for the biggest, baddest-assed red you can find, then look no further.  I didn't find all the hops that the name would imply, but according to the label this is a 2011 vintage.  I can't wait to try one fresh!

Also I wish to give this bottle extra, brownie, craft beer, unicorn, glitter points for its great bottle art.  Lots of great colors that jump out at you, a hot rod, and a cartoon turtle smoking a cigar.  It's aesthetically pleasing and kicks some ass.   Good work, Terrapin.  I never doubted you for a second!

Ommegang - Rare Vos

I realize that somehow I have not yet reviewed a bottle from Brewery Ommegang.  This is not because I haven't been drinking it, far from it.  I've been drinking their beer at festivals (especially their BIPA), bars (Gnomegang, anyone?), and buying bottles to share with friends because I am supremely confident that even those new to craft beer will enjoy a brew from Ommegang (their Witte seems to go over especially well).

For those not familiar, Rare Vos is the Belgian-style amber ale from Brewery Ommegang.  Their bottle description reads as follows. "Rare Vos is Flemish for 'Sly Fox' and the name of one of Brussels' great cafés.  It is also the name of our cunning Belgian-style Amber, which sports a mellow, fruity character and an elusive spiciness."  That's all I need to hear.  Let's pour!

Aroma 11/12
The Belgian yeast is strong, sweet, and a delight.  I've always associated Belgian yeast aroma with bananas, but this bottle clearly let's me see why others say bubble gum.  The Belgian bubble gum aroma is strong enough to make it difficult, though not impossible, to smell the amber ale behind it.  Any of the amber malts sweetness is overcome by that of the yeast, but the malts do still add a toasty, lightly earthy note to things.  As the beer warms, a surprising citrus arrives with the previously absent malt sweetness, which also helps loosen some of the yeast's stronghold.

Appearance 3/3
I'm on my first glass, so there's still quite a bit of sediment at the bottom of the bottle, but currently this beer shines like a new penny.  A bright, high-clarity copper color that absolutely glows as it sits in the glass.  It also enjoys a column of ascending carbonation and a superior head.  The head pours generously without threatening to overflow the glass.  It's so thick and tighly packed that it mutes the sound of the pour.  I love that.  It retains this head for, what after a while seems like just showing off and eventually as the bubbles join each other, the sides of the head turn soapy and leave a delicate lace around the glass.  Full marks!

Flavor 18/20
The beer slides immediately into its primary flavors with no introduction.  I was concerned after smelling the beer that it was going to be a witbier with a bit of amber malts.  Not so.  This beer's flavor is that of an amber ale all the way and what an amber it is!  It has everything that an amber should, but also adds a clean citrus behind it, which I can only attribute to a hop presence.  Holding the beer in the mouth, allows the Belgian sweetness to make an appearance, but it never comes close to stealing the show.  Slurping this beer brings out the toasty notes from the malts and bits of the yeast.  The finish is again more amber than Belgian, by being crisp and clean.  Well, clean minus a final good-bye from the toasted malt and a hint of spice (nice!).  The aftertaste is also clean, but leaves whispers of the earlier citrus.

Whoa!  Ok, so I just got down to the bottom of the bottle where all the sediment (a.k.a. the good stuff) was resting.  I stirred it up a bit and it gave a whole new cohesiveness to this beer!  Obviously the appearance became much more translucent and hazy, but the flavors now seemed more in tune with each other.  Instead of having an amber ale with a Belgian yeast "witbier" note in the background, this beer is now a wondrous blend of amber malt grain flavors and toastiness plus a dull, darkened Belgian yeast note that now seems more inclined to wrap itself in the amber ale instead of being placed along side of it.  Oh, and a increased bitter in the finish.  Very cool.

Mouthfeel 4/5
The carbonation is appropriate even toward the end of the bottle.  It's tiny and far between, but what is there is quite lively and adds to the refreshing, clean nature of an amber ale.  The medium-full body is more substantial than an amber ale requires, but the Belgian yeast flavors allow that body to not seem out of place.  There is not detectable warmth in this 6.5% ABV brew, but sometimes the yeast aromas can make it seem otherwise.

Overall Impression 9/10
I'm pretty pleased with this.  It's a substantial beer, but never lost the refreshing, crisp nature that makes the amber ale so popular.  I love that it shows you its different faces at different times (when cold/warm, in aroma,  etc), but when utilizing the sediment at the bottom of the bottle, everything comes together in a very nice and unexpected harmony.  It's like when chords finally resolve in music; it is both a relief and pleasing.  Being from Ommegang, it should come as no surprise that the technical aspects (appearance, mouthfeel) of the brew are top notch.


Total 45/50
As I mentioned earlier, I was initially worried that this beer labeled as a "Belgian-style Amber Ale" would end up being a Belgian yeast laden ale, with touches of amber ale just to be able to sell something different.  Allow me to say that Ommegang is delicious even with my foot in my mouth.  This truly turned out to be a craft beer that proudly emphasized the amber ale and only gave hints at a Belgian influence.  True to form, this beer not only satisfies the experienced, but would also please the novice.  If you're looking for something crisp, but a more substantial that the light, citrusy spring offerings, then you should definitely pick up a bottle or two.  It's definitely worth sharing.  Cheers Ommegang!  You've done it again.

New Glarus - Snowshoe Ale

Oh, my New Glarus conundrum...
1.  I want to drink it all now because it's delicious.
2.  I want to drink it now because it's taking up a lot of space in the beer fridge.
3.  I want to ration it out because I can't easily buy it (2.5 hour trip).
4.  I want to ration it out because I don't want to do 9 straight New Glarus reviews.

Well, the "drink it now" part of my brain won out today, so I will be reviewing New Glarus' Snowshoe Ale.  In the past, I've been pretty nit-picky on New Glarus beers because they've clearly established themselves as a premier brewer.  However, I'm not sure that is entirely fair given their excellent products.  Long story short, I look to be as objective as possible for this review and have been looking forward to this bottle for some time.  I don't even think it is in season right now!  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 10/12
A much, much richer aroma than the typical sweet red ale.  A round caramel is first, but not foremost.  Eventually it blends with a biscuity malt that slowly shows its more roasty tones and the slightly sour note that malt sometimes lends.  For a moment, I could have sworn I felt a little warmth, but not smelled it, though that would seem extremely odd for the style.  There is also a spice that is barely on the edge of perception.

Appearance 3/3
While primarily a dark copper/nectarine color, this beer has more changing colors than a "tiger's eye" stone.  Colas, coppers, reds, rubies, and dusky oranges make this a veritable sunset of reds in this higher clarity beer.  I highly recommend holding the glass out in front of you and moving it about to see the different shades it produces.  The head is beige, slightly smaller than average, wet, and dense.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 17/20
Starting out light, the beer quickly introduces the roasty malts and fades wonderfully into the beer's main structure.  The backbone shows an instant of raw sugar, but then proceeds into the rich caramel from the aroma.  The sour from the aroma is also here and is clearly the hops, not the malt as stated earlier.  It is far too pronounced to be attributed to malt.  The sour is too overshadowed by the malt to be attributed to any particular citrus, but it does make its presence known.  The finish really shows the light malts from the beginning with the sweet taste of cream, before fading into an excellent hop bitter with the caramel in the distance.  The aftertaste is earthy yet includes the bitter and the roast flavors; all traces of sweetness have faded completely.  All of these are moderate in intensity, as one would expect from a normal red ale.  Very nice in balance, maturity of flavors, and subtlety.

Mouthfeel 4/5
It has a much lighter body than one might expect.  Though given the nuance of the rest of the beer's characteristics, one should not expect to be bowled over with a big, full body.  Adequate carbonation, right down to the very end, and a insinuation of creaminess help make this a more substantial offering of the style.

Overall Impression 8/10
Excellent aroma and a balanced flavor show again why New Glarus is a superior brewer.  Those two things alone let this red ale stand head and shoulders above many other offerings of its kind.  Add to that a beautiful colors and a more substantial body and you've got yourself a winner.

Total  42/50
I feel like I have been rating a lot of beers very highly lately, so I was really looking for places to make sure I was not being too generous.  This beer did not allow me to do that.  So many brewers fall into the pitfall of giving you a malt-laden, sweet, unbalanced beer and calling it a red, just because it's the right color.  This beer, while not containing über-intense flavors, is so well made that to give it a lesser ranking is to do it a disservice.  It is a balanced, drinkable, tasty red ale that should be acceptable to both experienced and rookie craft beer drinkers.  You shouldn't feel bad about picking up a sixer to drink casually around the house.

Dogfish Head - red & white

After interviewing Dogfish Head's founder and president, Sam Calagione, only days ago (yeah, I'm still pretty proud of that), what other brand of beer could I review than the one that hails from Milton, DE?  Not only are they an American brewery (during a weekend when  certain Belgian breweries still produce American lagers in  American flag colors), but they are also quite revolutionary; something I think we can all appreciate during this Fourth of July weekend.  Heck, today's review is even named "red & white."  That's 2/3 of America's colors and I think you could only get more patriotic if you named a beer "George Washington's Monster Truck-Corn Fed-Flag Waving-Commie Hating-Baseball Playing-Muscle Car Democratic Ale."  Keep in mind that a "Democratic Ale" would be a lot like an "Imperial Ale," but without a czar or other assorted monarchies.  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 9/12
The aroma changes fairly dramatically as this beer warms.  As some have noticed/confirmed with DFH's "Festina Peche" the initial scents are quite tart, but in this beer they are almost like a strawberry.  That aroma quickly gives way to a darker aroma akin to black currants and even that aroma is eventually supplanted by a more earthy tone of dark, ripe berries - a certain nod to the pinot noir berries.  Though they are a bit sweeter and not as vinous as would be expected given their common use in wine.  Orange makes itself apparent as well, but in a darker form than one would find in a grocery store.

Appearance 3/3
If it were possible to rank this higher, it would receive that rank.  This is beer falls in beautiful shades of dark orange and copper, perhaps hinting that there may be more orange in this beer that the aroma may have told us.  The glass is also swirling with a pulp-like sediment and ascending bubbles, giving the illusion that the pint is in perpetual motion.  In only one other beer have I seen this kind of sediment, but the pulp was larger, stagnant, and a bit unappetizing.  The head was generous and long-lasting as a stiff foam on top of the glass.  This beer surpasses all expectations in appearance!

Picture is my own.

Flavor 18/20
A bold flavor is rife from the get go!  The first sip is a powerful dose of oak, vanilla, and dark orange flavors.  It quickly, but smoothly transitions to the main structure of the beer where we are introduced to alcoholic warmth, coriander, gobs of caramel and/or dark vanilla,  and an interesting marriage of berries and orange peel.  The orange flavor (and aroma, for that matter) are so dark, the nearest comparison to make would be to a drizzle of Gran Marnier.  A quick "wine taster's slurp" reintroduces the alcohol warmth in bold fashion.  The finish transitions the "berry" sweetness of the pinot noir into a bit more of a vinous bite (a very nice touch) as it slides over the back of the tongue.  It also gives a bit more of the warmth and dark orange flavors (again evoking a less potent orange liquor) and combines them with a spicy Belgian yeast.  Coriander?  Orange?  Belgian Yeast?  More and more this is coming to resemble an Imperial Witbier with the added touches of pinot noir and oak aging, though the esters that show are clearly orange-related and do not take any of the banana esters typically associated with Belgian yeasts.  The aftertaste is surprisingly clean for how warm and sweet this beer is.  It gives a light hop bitter, woody oak, and the spicy yeast.  Besides a light sour/tart left of the sides of the tongue, this beer leaves one ready for another sip.  Oddly, it is the only time besides the initial sips that the beer gets to show off any of the oak involved in its brewing process.  Though when present it is perfectly placed and replaces the customary citrus+hop combination to aid in cleansing the palate.

Mouthfeel 4/5
Only the unabashed warmth keeps this beer from earning its perfect score.  Body is medium-full and has very appropriate lower level of carbonation, not as easy task in a beer with such a high ABV (10%).

Overall Impression 8/10
This is one of Dogfish Head's big, complex beers and it delivers; huge flavors and lots of them.  The aroma is deceivingly mellow when considering the rest of this beer and the oak makes welcomed cameos, but never truly takes center stage.  The warmth may keep this from being a "anytime" beer and force it to be reserved for more select occasions, but its range of well blended yet distinct flavors perhaps make you want to save it for those special occasions anyway.

Total 42/50
A pretty impressive offering from DFH, no surprise there.  Technically superior, complimentary flavors, complex, robust, alcohol laden, American, and tasty as all get out... what more could one ask for?  Well, a few things, actually.  When DFH does crazy, interesting things with their beer I want to taste those things.  Pinot Noir juice in a beer?  Awesome.  Let's make sure that gets showcased and not lost.  Not that it was completely lost, but the dark orange citrus was definitely the star of the show.  If you take the time and effort, and therefore money, to ensure that this brew is "89% aged on oak barrel staves," I might like that to be a bit stronger.

Most suggestions I feel pretty confident in, but not for this beer.  For example, I feel like I was expecting more of a wine-like beer.  More dryness, more oak, etc.  There are some things I can say with certainty I would like to see in a beer.  I am not sure how more wine-like dryness or oak flavors would effect this beer.  Actually, the oak I'd still feel more than OK suggesting, but wine-like dryness in a beer?  It is an interesting concept (as many things are), but I cannot say that even I might like the results if such an end were achieved.  However, if there was a brewery out there with the skill and know-how to make it work, I think a number of us could agree that DFH would easily be a top, if not THE top, suggestion.

This result makes me feel that they could have just used dark berries and achieved a similar result.  The use of pinot noir juice allows me (and other drinkers, I'm sure) to assume that a more wine-like flavor profile will be present.  That said, it is a pretty nit-picky point on which to focus.  This is an extremely tasty beer that I shared (albeit sparingly) with all the in-laws here for the Fourth of July celebration.  Even though they are not deeply involved in the craft beer scene, they were glad that I did.  Cheers DFH!  Keep up the great work.

Berghoff Brewery - Rock River Red Ale

I have come to the realization that I have a beer fridge full of beer (a sure sign of God's love).  However, in order to keep purchasing and reviewing news beers, I must drink and review the beers I already have in a more rapid fashion.  That said, I look to be churning out the reviews in the coming days/weeks.

Today's sample is from the Berghoff Brewery in Monroe, WI.  They have several locally-themed brews and this one's focus is on the Rock River, a fairly large local river known for its fishing, canoeing, and general summer relaxing.  Sounds like a good theme for a beer, right?  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 5/12
I am welcomed immediately by a dull sweetness followed quickly by lightly toasted, biscuity malt.  There is no hop aroma of which to speak. This is not a major concern as red ales are typically more defined by their malt characteristics and not the hops, but I was hoping for some hints at the beer's balance and a little more complexity.  The dull sweetness can almost be described as that of a dried fruit?  It is hard to specify in the aroma, but I look to having my suspicions confirmed in the flavor.

Appearance 2/3
The clarity was great for the style.  It is not crystal clear, but still appears bright.  The color was more that of a dark orange.  Normally, I would deduct for not being quite red/dark enough, but shades of red faded in and out from the center of the glass where the least light would pass through.  I'm not going to say it was like the aurora borealis or Tiffany Glass in its shifting of light, but it was very pretty to behold.  Not many beers change shades.  The head was fairly typical in its "foaminess" and did not go out of its way to compliment the beer.

Flavor 13/20
This beer is immediately sweet on the tongue.  The biscuity malts detected in the aroma can still be tasted, but they are being edged out by the sweetness.  The sweetness is apple cider-like and defines this beer.  Even for a traditionally malt-heavy red, this beer is not balanced.  You can experience a slight sensation of the hops, but it is only ever so faint and only during the aftertaste and occasionally during exhale.  There is no "bite" in this red ale.

Mouthfeel 3/5
There are really no news of note in the mouthfeel category.  It is light bodied, light-medium carbonation, and no flaws (astringency, etc).  However, for a bottle which mentions "craft brewing" several times on the bottle, there is nothing that really stands out about its mouthfeel either.

Overall Impression 4/10
I am left wanting a bit with this beer.  Its sweetness is the predominant flavor and does not really yield to much else.  It seems like an introduction into craft beers for someone accustomed to macros.  While it is true to style, this particular offering is rather generic and does not declare itself as an excellent example to its genre.

Total 27/50
This beer has a flavor and it is sweet.  Almost to the point where it tastes like a malty, less-crisp cousin of a cider.  What makes this really unfortunate is that I have fond memories of red ales (and hefes) being a gateway into craft beers.  This one may have something to offer those who are unfamiliar to a more flavorful beer, but its single characteristic (sweetness) is far from complex and will not likely be intriguing to more experienced cerevisaphiles.  I had not experienced Berghoff Brewery before this sampling and this was one flavor in a variety 12-pack.  I am all for second chances and wish them better luck in their future reviews.