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My lovely mother acquired the two beers from Natian Brewery that I will review in April. We start with CuDa…..
This is the short description from the brewery website, “Roasted malts balanced out with the star hop in tihs recipe, Amarillo. It’s a dark twist on an IPA.”
I am feeling anxious because there is only 1 more 32 beer left in my ‘fridge now. But I am thankful to the fine folks at 32 Via dei Birrai for supplying me with such a generous amount of their finely calibrated beers.
That being said, we move on to Atra, A bit of a gusher when the cork popped but maybe that was me being too anxious. This is more a light Belgian amber. The flavors persist after each sip. I get some plum notes and raisin from this cola hued beer. Some zucchini notes too. Easy to drink.
Here is what their website describes the beer as….
“Appearance:
beige, compact, fine and persistent head; brown; fine perlage.
Bouquet:
roasted, with hints of coffee, chocolate, locust bean, walnut-flavoured liqueur, and touches of damp barrel staves, light liquorice, ripe medlar and caramel.
Flavour:
gently bitterish due to the roasted barley, which also imparts aromas of coffee, caramel and chocolate. Beer with typical Belgian light watery body.”
Count me as a fan of Sierra Nevada hop bombs and also count me as one who isn’t super fond of Dogfish Head IPA’s. But I love that these two big regional breweries can collaborate from time to time. Life and Limb part one and it’s cousin Limb and Life were both really solid beers. So how does Rhizing Bines fare…..
Well it pours a light orange color. I get a big alcohol hit in the aroma and some dankness. I will have to compare it with the recent Celebrator beer magazine 25th Anniversary Imperial Pale since they both use the experimental 644 hop. The Celebrator beer was super boozy but the blueberry and citrus notes popped more. This beer was much more on the Dogfish Head side of the spectrum than the Sierra side. Uber malty with a slickness that coats the tongue. The hops are there and their fruit notes are underneath but I would prefer them in the forefront.
Board Meeting is one of those great beer names. Either you need this brown ale after escaping a Dilbert-esque hell or you are relaxing on the shore after a session on the surf.
This newly bottled offering from Port Brewing pours a black with a foamy tan head. A bit of dark rum in the aroma and when you taste it you get milk chocolate and a skosh hit of coffee. Full bodied but not heavy.
Here is the word from Port on this brew, “Port Brewing beers are typically boldly-flavored American and hop-forward West Coast style ales or lagers, and Board Meeting Brown Ale is no exception. An amplified brown ale, the beer is brewed with liberal additions of coffee from local San Diego roasters, Ryan Brothers, and cocoa nibs sourced from famed San Francisco chocolate maker TCHO.”
I was very lucky to receive an introduction to 32 Via dei Birrai with a full package of beers from the new Italian brewery. I first sampled the Oppale and Curmi and now I move on to another to the Strong Pale ale, Audace.
Here is my thumbnail review, “Of the three, “32” beers that I have had this one looks the prettiest. Almost like an orange creamsicle. But has the least likeable flavor profile. I get wheat and vanilla and a tiny, tiny bit of funk and a bit of medicinal notes. Not bad as the score would say but I prefer the Oppale so far.”
I am certainly enjoying the whole, what letter will be on the cork game. The Audace revealed the letter V.
I was very lucky to receive an introduction to 32 Via dei Birrai with a full package of beers from the new Italian brewery. I first sampled the Oppale and now I move on to another light offering the Curmi.
Pours a light orange with more yellow tints at the bottom of the glass. Aroma is very Belgian like. It is called a pale ale but this seems more a light tripel. It has the spiciness and the vanilla notes that I tend to taste first and foremost in that style. There is a little bit of citrus at the far back of this one as well. A nice bit of pop to it as well.
Because they kindly sent me the majority of their line-up, you will be seeing more reviews in the coming days and weeks.
The second brown ale to be reviewed comes from Full Sail in Hood River, Oregon.
Here is the description from the website, “The combination of 2 row pale, crystal and chocolate malts impart an array of malt and chocolate flavors in a medium bodied ale with an extremely smooth palate. Fuggle and Mt.Hood hops contribute a slightly spicy aroma and finish to complement this beer’s malt character.”
Sam Adams has gone back in the way back machine and re-created with the help and permission of the original New Albion and the groundbreaking brewer Jack McAuliffe, a fresh batch of beer not seen for many years. With the old label design and everything!
Here is what the PR people say about this ale, “Jack McAuliffe’s pioneering spirit paved the way for the American craft beer revolution. We’re rereleasing his original Pale Ale, with its distinct American hop character for the first time in 30 years in honor of Jack and his contributions to craft brewing. Cheers!”
Here is my review:
This is more lager-esque than pale ale. But it has a nice citric sweetness going on and a nice bit of hop bitterness on top a light malt base. If you can picture yourself pre craft beer, this would be a huge step away from the industrial water lagers. But it is a huge step from here to Sierra Nevada pale ale. But that is what makes this beer important. It really puts things in perspective. Maybe next someone will re-create a beer from the old Cartwright brewery.
March brings two video reviews of brown ales and we start with a canned version from Alaska. How it ended up in sunny L.A., I do not know but let’s see what Kodiak from Midnight Sun tastes like….
The brewery describes it this way, “Rugged yet smooth, Kodiak Brown Ale balances caramel and roasted malts with enticing Northwest hops. Perle and Willamette hops accent without overpowering this American brown ale’s intrepid maltiness. The result is uniquely delicious.”
Today I am doing a West coast vs East coast beer smackdown. But instead of doing an IPA, I am comparing lagers.
On one side is the new Anchor California lager and from the east is the Underdog Atlantic Lager from Flying Dog of Maryland.
The Anchor pours a dark yellow and has a sweet wheat aroma. The flavor is a touch to sweet for me and could use a burst of carbonation to cut through some of the slickness in the mouthfeel but it is a solid beer. I also love the backstory on how this is a re-creation of an old Gold Rush lager. So it has great history behind it. And I think the bear on the label would kick the ass of the Underdog on the Flying Dog label. But the beer is more sweet than refreshing.
The Underdog Atlantic lager pours a very light yellow with plenty of both foam and bubbles. There is really no aroma at all. There is no sweetness at all and has a tiny bit of metallic at the back. A bit dry as well. Very crisp.
The winner?
I have to go with the Underdog. It seemed more of a lager to me. The Anchor sweetness reminded me of the overly sweet industrial lagers though obviously light years ahead. I preferred the simpleness of the Underdog.
