Sean Suggests for March 2024

Staying local for March and also canvassing a wide array of styles so that your palate does not get stuck.  And yes, I do not approve of green beer and the first selection is a green hued beer, but, in my defense, it is also a sour.  So that means less of a points deduction.

Far Field Made With Luck Sour  – 4.1% – “As  luck would have it, your favorite clover-green sour ale returns to our shelves and draft lines just ahead of St. Patrick’s Day.”

Creature Comforts Spring Belgian-Style White Ale – 5.1% – “We’ve got Spring Fever. Our fresh take on the classic Belgian-Style White Ale is brewed with orange peel, coriander, and local wheat from Day Spring Farms.”

Enegren Brewing Doppel Valkyrie – 8.2% – “a double version of our beloved flagship altbier, Valkyrie and a throwback to some of our first anniversary beers.  This strong, dark ale has rich flavors of dark fruits with hints of dark chocolate and rum, balanced with just a touch of Mt. Hood and Herkules hops.

Santa’s Pint Glass – Day 12

Off to Cincinnati and their local brewery, Rhinegeist who go the White Ale route (get it? snow) that many breweries take to avoid the Winter IPA or Stouts that dominate US winter warmers.

“Fresh additions of grapefruit peel and zesty ginger make for a bright and balanced White Ale with a refreshing nip.”

Ovila & IPA

Looks like the Ovila line from Sierra Nevada is adding a wit….

…to the Quad, Saison and brown that you can buy now.

I enjoyed the Otra Vez so maybe this new lighter offering will hit the spot too.

Also in the works from Sierra Nevada is their latest Torpedo + other IPA’s variety box.

By now, my disdain of fruit IPA’s should be an open secret. But the German IPA really intrigues me and I would be willing to give the Black IPA a shot, especially after the excellent Golden IPA that was released at the turn of the new year.

Review – Clown Shoes Clementine White Ale

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Three things right off the bat before I review Clown Shoes Beer’s Clementine:

1. I do not like clowns.  Ever since Stephen King’s IT.  So, the name scares me off.

2. Not a fan of some of their beer names.  Tramp Stamp, Muffin Top, Lubrication and Flight of the Pimp seem more attention grabbing than anything.  On the other hand, I like Hoppy Feet.

3. The label art seems to feed into the attention grabbing and talk about me on Facebook good AND bad mode that says to me, that the beer can’t sell itself.

But, with that being said.  I am clearing my mind and pouring this beer with a good name and nice-simple label into a glass.

Lot’s of bubbles here.  Color is tinting towards orange though primarily yellow.  Good amount of foam here.  Aroma gives off a candied orange peel note of medium strength.  The taste is straight up spicy.  Lots of coriander going on here.  But the orange taste sticks.  Almost to the point of creamsicle orange before it pulls back.  Those two competing flavor notes work well together in this effort.  One of the better and punchier white ales that I have had in a while.  I’m glad Sunset Beer Co. had started getting these beers in so that I can take stock of the beer inside.

And here is the info from the Clown Shoes website…..

“Light-bodied and crisp, this is a terrific White Ale with plenty of zest! Hazy in appearance and healthily carbonated, it utilizes Chambly yeast to energetically shape its wheat malt base. Incorporated in the brewing process is Clementine, sweet orange peel, a hint of Coriander, and Summit hops.”