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Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Lancaster Brewing Co. - Amish 4-Grain Pale Ale Review
Brewery: Lancaster Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Lancaster, PA.
Established: 2001
Tidbits: Originally opening under Lancaster Malt Brewing in 1995 after a 40 year hiatus, Lancaster Brewing Co. was established in 2001. All of their beers fall under the Reinheitsgebot german purity laws.
Availability: Year round
Type: Pale Ale
ABV: 5.6%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: The brew pours a translucent dark sunset-orange with plenty of browns and reds poking through at different lights. The head doesn't completely fill the pint glass but grows to a quarter inch. Slightly off-white film covers most of the surface but not all.
Aroma: Oats and caramel lead the nose well into a mild grassy or barnyard essence. Sweet overwhelms the hop, but with four grains used, I kinda expected that.
Taste: Sweets front the heavy grain profile. Simple-syrup and caramel are dominant notes. Light tingles are in the middle of the sip leaving a pleasant citrusy bitter on the tip of the tongue more than anywhere else. The corners of the mouth get coated with a thin creamy film that help hold the flavors longer. Alcohol noticeablity is minimal.
Overall: I had this a number of years ago, even before this blog and appreciated the originality of concept back then. These grains are used in many different recipes, but I don't really think they've been used in this combo many times before. Mouthfeel has a slight creaminess...it fades nicely, and the aftertaste is there, but not abrasive at all. Completely enjoyable beer, with no major flaws or accolades to go on about. Solid and slightly above average.
Similar Brew(s): N/A
Score: 8.6/10
 
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Monday, January 9, 2012
DuClaw Brewing Co. - HellRazer IPA
Brewery: DuClaw Brewing Company
The Facts:
Location: Abingdon, Md.
Established: Duclaw will be expanding with a new brewery in the new year to multiply capacity as well as extend distribution on the east coast .
Availability: Year Round
Type: India Pale Ale
ABV: 7.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: This pours from the growler copper with more tints of orange showing over the reds. Clear and bubbly. The head forms to roughly a half inch then fades leaving a meringue creaminess as a film on the surface of beige.
Aroma: The malt radiates from the mouth of the glass with lingering notes of caramel and candied sugars. Earthy notes follow close behind in the form of grass, and mild spice. These flavors are held together by the malt base that cradles it superbly.
Taste: A near perfect balance of bittering esters and malt sweetness envelope the tongue and cascade under filling all corners with creamy goodness. The middle stays more mellow, letting the first sip linger just enough. In the finish, earthy grass and citrus of grapefruit and lemon bite firm while still being inviting. Well disguised alcohol makes me forget it's 6+%ABV.
Overall: I have always loved drinking this brew and am glad they are didtributing it in bottles now as well as from the tap. My only complaint is that it isn't year round...that could change shortly though. Malts and hops blend together nicely as the fluid leaves the mouth feeling like it just worked out. Aftertaste is pleasant as well and has me begging for more. As ususal another fine brew from the crew at DuClaw.
Similar Brew(s): Stone Brewing IPA or DogFish 60 Minute IPA N/A
Score: 9.3/10
Your Comments:
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Friday, January 6, 2012
Heavy Seas Brewing Co. - "Letter Of Marque" Belgian Style Dubbel Review
Brewery: Heavy Seas Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Baltimore, MD.
Established: 1995
Availability: Once each year
Type: Belgian Dubbel
ABV: 8%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: It pours out smoothly...building a small head, then at the top of the glass the head finally sprouts a frothy slightly off white mountain of bubbliness. The body is a auburn-brown with plenty of intermingled reds and oranges.
Aroma: A hellashishly sweet toasted caramel front with yeast bursting through well. A little booze essence comes up from behind and helps close out the profile.
Taste: Wow, pleasantly surprised..not expecting it to suck, but damn the mouthfeel is very thin compared to what the nose would lead you to believe. Sweet caramels and fig along with light notes of citrus meld well with one another. The Belgian strain does show, but it isn't the dominant flavor in the mix.
Overall: I really dig Dubbels, and the belgian yeast strain incorporated into this brew is a great combo. This "homebrew", which was made by Heavy Seas after Doug John & Dave Edmundson won the annual "Letter Of Marque" homebrew competition. Doug has actually won awards for this brew in Canada and throughout America. Aftertaste is mild and doesn't linger too long on the tongue.
Score: 8.7/10
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