Author: Sean Inman

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Alamo Brewing Company

from Draft magazine…
Alamo Beer Company, a microbrewery near San Antonio, Texas, began selling its Alamo Golden Ale out of founder Eugene Simor’s minivan in 2003. Now, the brewery is upping the ante by calling on Dallas-based Ben E. Keith Beverages to distribute the brew throughout San Antonio.

The brewery describes Alamo Golden Ale, which is brewed with a self proclaimed “fiercely independent spirit,” as “a full-bodied, refreshingly lighter style ale with a smooth, velvety finish.”

“Our little beer now has a big distributor,” Simor says. Look for the beer on shelves in San Antonio now, and possibly all over Texas in the next few months — if it’s following the rags-to-riches musician example.

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new from Shipyard

Portland Maine’s Shipyard Brewing Company will release the latest in its Pugsley’s Signature Series line. Smashed Pumpkin will be available starting in August in 22 oz. bottles and on draft.

Smashed Pumpkin is a big-bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg. The OG and final Alc./Vol. provide the structure and body. Pale Ale, Wheat and Light Munich Malts combine with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate spiciness of Willamette and Hallertau Hops to balance the sweetness of the fruit.

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BJCP Style – Dark Lager

Aroma: Little to no malt aroma. Medium-low to no roast and caramel malt aroma. Hop aroma may range from none to light spicy or floral hop presence. Hop aroma may range from none to light, spicy or floral hop presence. Can have low levels of yeast character (green apples, DMS, or fruitiness). No diacetyl.

Appearance: Deep amber to dark brown with bright clarity and ruby highlights. Foam stand may not be long lasting, and is usually light tan in color.

Flavor: Moderately crisp with some low to moderate levels of sweetness. Medium-low to no caramel and/or roasted malt flavors (and may include hints of coffee, molasses or cocoa). Hop flavor ranges from none to low levels. Hop bitterness at low to medium levels. No diacetyl. May have a very light fruitiness. Burnt or moderately strong roasted malt flavors are a defect.

Mouthfeel: Light to somewhat medium body. Smooth, although a highly-carbonated beer.

Overall Impression: A somewhat sweeter version of standard/premium lager with a little more body and flavor.

Commercial Examples: Dixie Blackened Voodoo, Shiner Bock, San Miguel Dark, Beck’s Dark, Saint Pauli Girl Dark, Warsteiner Dunkel, Crystal Diplomat Dark Beer

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Track Town Honey Orange Wheat

From the makers of Rogue Ales comes Track Town! I have had Track Town ales before and found them to be different in style and flavor than their Rogue cousins. So when I saw Honey Orange Wheat, I had to pick it up.

Here is the instant review…..
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnijhiYi3wo]

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Lipschmacker Gose

Lipschmacker Gose – A NW version of a historic German wheat beer that was almost lost to the world. Unlike most beers from Bavaria which are Lagers, or bottom fermented, this beer was historically top fermented. Gose which originated in the small town of Goslar, near Leipzig which at the time was outside Bavaria and did not have to adhere to Reinheitsgebot, the German purity law. This historical wheat beer was made with the addition of coriander, and hint of salt. It then under goes a second lactic fermentation. Similar in style to a Geuze, but with a slight hint of spice. This is a perfect beer for quenching your thirst the heat of summer. It is 4.8% alcohol by vol.