The Beer Tent

Something with Easter Dinner....
Sierra Nevada Otra Vez - It is a Gose Style Ale made with Cactus and Grapfruit.

It has a slight sourness, but is light and palate cleansing. The beer has a mild acidity with some citrus fruit notes. It paired well with the Honey and Brown Sugar glazed Ham......

I really hate photobucket.....

 

Sailor Jerry Rum..... Happy Friday!!!

 

I thought tonight I would do a comparison of a newly produced Fresh Hop IPA and one a year old, so here we go.

I chose Sierra Nevada Celebration IPA because it happened to be one that I had a single bottle of 2014 and a newly purchased 2015.


Each poured with the same color, both stored at the same temperature, but the 2014 had less head retention than the 2015.



Both were poured straight down the middle of the glass. The 2014 had little noticeable hop note in the nose but noticeable bitterness in taste. It had, in my estimation, lost some of the hop profile over the year but was still quite drinkable.

The 2015 exhibited a nice fresh hop note in aroma, and a pleasant bitterness in taste. Both IPAs had sufficient malt support for the hops.

This experiment confirmed for me that IPAs are intended to be consumed as fresh as possible in order to retain the hop profile intended by the brewer. BTW, they were great blended together and consumed with a breaded loin pork chop, rice and green beans.

 

OK, for you East Coasters. From Dark Horse Brewing in Marshall, Mi.....

A 2013 Plead the 5th Imperial Stout....

This beer is 11% ABV, pours syrup like and black from the bottle. It produces a slight rocky head that quickly dissipates. There are dominate aromas of roast malts and dark grains with subtle hints of tanned leather and dark chocolate. Flavors are definitely dark Dutch chocolate up front, dried dates and raisins in the finish. The mouth feel is thick and sticky which coats the tongue and lingers long after the roasty goodness of the sip is gone.

If you can find it, it is highly recommended...





2010 and prior: white label
2011: white label OR black label with black no logo cap
2012: black label with logo cap
2013: black label with logo cap, ABV of 11% in the top right corner and new government warning
2014 - white label with black logo cap, ABV of 11% in the top right corner, government warning on bottom right side of label

 

To All:

Thanks to Dunerunner for picking up the reins and adding some hops to this thread. If anyone else is interested and participating as a beer lover & reviewer, please let me know.
Clyde

 

Going to attempt to do, at a minimum; a review per month, so stay tuned....

 

Wow.... I found a 22oz. 2012 bottle of Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA stuffed behind some boxes in the brew shed and decided to give it a try. IPA's, generally; do not lay up well but this was a genuine surprise.

It produced a frothy white head that dissipated to a lacing ring at contact with the glass throughout consumption. Hazy peach in color, with an earthy hop aroma, I couldn't wait to taste it.

Instantly, I got vanilla and caramel and then the hops. The mild bitterness grew as the beer warmed through the taste and the carbonation continued to produce that foamy head with just a swirl.

Although different than a fresh bottle, this was very enjoyable.....

 

Ok, this is somewhat a favorite brewery of mine with limited State wide distribution...

This is a specialty ale, one that is brewed occasionally or as a special treat for Oregon Beer Lovers. It is from Pelical Brewing in Pacific City (the Pub Brewery), their commercial brewery is in Tillmook. It is called Umbrella, an IPA seasoned nicely with Ella hops to 60 IBU (International Bittering Units). Somewhat low for bittering in an IPA, but not with this hop. On first whiff, you get the hops are there, but; after the sip you know it. Somewhat flowery and plenty of residual sweetness even thought it is 7.4 ABV. It produces a vigorous head poured straight down the center of a pint glass, is light straw and slightly cloudy in appearance and the head laces the glass as the brew is consumed from it. This IPA is Dry Hopped twice and is a single hop brew. Only the Australian Ella hops are used exclusively in brewing.

 

Sierra Nevada SummerFest Crisp Lager
This should be available nation wide, or at least where Sierra Nevada has distribution. It is a Lager brewed in the Czech style, golden color with an airy white head; this beer will turn any Bubbaweiser drinker into a craft drinker in a heartbeat. Slight sweetness gives way to a nice hop finish, prompting you to take another sip. $16 a 12 pack here....

Recommended...

 

Thanks. I took it out of my airplane window on a south flying flight at 5:30 am PST.

 

Special thanks to Dunerunner for picking up with the thread where I left off and a welcome to salted weapon who will be chiming in and posting additional reviews from the PNW.

Any east coast beer drinkers who would like to assist, please let me know. Nothing better on a trip than seeing a beer you read about and having a little knowledge of it.