Brooklyn Wild Streak

This was a brew that I hadn’t heard was released by Brooklyn and the other half picked up for me in New York. It’s probably one that I should have aged, but I was pretty excited to try it. Let’s see how this one went.

ABV: 10%

Style: American Wild Ale

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “There was a time when all beers were aged in wood, and yeasts ran wild and cavorted together. Modern brewing is wonderful, of course, but sometimes a little cavorting is a fine thing. Sometimes it gives you a chance to reveal your funky side. We have to admit it – we’ve been cavorting for years…and sorta holding out on you. We didn’t want to do that, but the fact is that up until now we only had enough room to make this beer for ourselves and some close friends – we didn’t have enough beer to put it out on shelves. We actually make a lot of beers like this – we call them the ‘Ghost Bottles,’ and we’ve enjoyed pouring them for you at tastings and dinners. Now we’re very pleased to finally give one of our ‘ghosts’ the opportunity to materialize in your hands. Brooklyn Wild Streak starts off as a Belgian-inspired golden ale. After fermentation and a brief conditioning, we then age the beer for several months in second-use bourbon barrels, giving it a soft, round character infused with nicely balanced oak flavors. Finally we bottle the beer flat and re-ferment it with blend of priming sugar, Champagne yeast and the wild yeast strain Brettanomyces. As the two yeasts do their cavorting, the beer gains its natural carbonation. The ‘Brett’ takes many months to do its thing during bottle aging, but once it does, Wild Streak is enlivened by a wonderfully complex earthy funk. This beer is almost one year old when released, but it will age beautifully for many more. It’s particularly great with washed rind cheeses, game meats, steaks, and a few more things we probably shouldn’t mention here. You’ll figure it out for yourself, and that’s half the fun. So go ahead – unwind that cage, pop that cork, and reveal your Wild Streak. You know you want to.”

Random: I really am enjoying my new Teku glass. I can’t believe it took me so long to get one.

This brew poured with a one finger, white head that dissipated slowly and left some lacing on the glass. The body is a hazy, burnt orange color with moderate carbonation visible in my Teku glass. The nose was really complex. Up front, I got mostly bourbon barrel with vanilla and oak. There was some brett as well with Belgian yeast and golden raisins as well. The taste made it even more apparent that this was barrel aged. There was significant notes of oak with vanilla and bourbon. Right after, I got big notes of golden raisin and apricot. Some honey and black pepper were also apparent with bready malt. The body was thick with moderate carbonation. It had a long, warm finish with oak and bourbon. Also of note was that the alcohol was really hidden. My biggest qualm with this brew was that the brett really did not make an appearance and I wouldn’t call this an American Wild Ale. Despite that, I thought it was a good beer, but not worth the price tag.

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

Dark Horse Smells Like A Safety Meeting

When my other half called me from the beer store in New York and said that she saw this beer, I told her to buy it. One of the things that surprised me was that I had never heard of it. After doing a little bit of research, I realized that it as new. One of the things that made this attractive was the name of the beer. Since I work in transportation, I have been to many a safety meeting. One thing that they all seem to have in common is how incredibly dry and boring they are. The last one that I went to for the job I currently have featured an awful cartoon on safe truck operations. So, I totally get the label graphic. Way too well, in fact. So, let’s see if the beer was more interesting than a “safety meeting.”

ABV: 8.5%

Style: American IPA

Trivia: This beer was released on April 20th on draft and in bottles shortly thereafter.

Random: I really do find the label hilarious.

This brew poured with a very thick, two finger tan head that dissipated slowly and left lots of lacing on the IPA glass.The body was a hazy, deep orange color with relatively high carbonation. The nose was filled with tropical fruit, pine sap and very high amounts of hops with some booze. The taste started with big citrusy hops and tropical fruit, specifically papaya. It then had a big sweet notes with caramel and bready notes. It had a slight bit of alcohol burn to it. The body was medium thickness and quite dry. The finish was quick with pine sap. This was only alright. I expected a bit more.

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

Crazy Mountain Lava Lake Wit

Have you ever had a week from hell? That’s basically this week for me. We’ve been short at work for the past week, so I’ve been picking up the slack. I’ve been going in around 6 or 7 AM and not getting home until late. When I finally get home, I’m absolutely beat, so no posting. I think I’ve tried to put this one up at least three times. Anyways, enough complaining. This was a brew that the other half brought me back from New York. Let’s see how it was.

ABV: 5.2%

Style: Witbier

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “Lava Lake is a hidden little gem off of Highway 131 on the drive to Steamboat Springs from Vail. This idyllic swimming hole is the first place Doobie, the chocolate brewery labrador, learned how to swim. This Ale is our take on a classic Belgian Wit Beer. To make this beer unique, we add un-malted wheat, rolled oats, two varieties of classic European hops, chamomile, curacao orange peel, coriander, grains of paradise, and a rare yeast strain from the Old Country. This is a beer that can be enjoyed year-round, whether on the slopes on a beautiful bluebird day, or lazily fly fishing in Lava Lake.”

Random: I am really not into all of the ads on YouTube. It’s quite annoying.

This brew poured with a one finger, white head that dissipated slowly and left no lacing on the glass. I was surprised at how little head that there was on the beer. The body was a very hazy dark yellow with moderate carbonation visible. The scent had notes of clove and lemon lime soda. The taste had a bit of tartness to it with some yeast and a lot of lemon. The tartness took something away from the beer and it just tasted like a poorly executed wit. The body was on thick side with high carbonation. It had a quick finish with tart lemon peel. I wouldn’t rush back to have this one again, it just didn’t do anything for me.

Untappd Rating: 3.0/5.0

Westbrook White Thai

The other half and I ended up at Craft Bar after our less than stellar meal. We got a snack and some dessert, which was much better than the other restaurant we went to. Last time the other half and I went to Craft Bar, she tried this beer. I had a sip and remembered really liking it, so I jumped at the chance to review it. Let’s see how it went.

ABV: 5%

Style: Witbier

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “This beer, inspired by the flavors of Southeast Asian cuisine, is a twist on the classic Belgian witbier style. Instead of the traditional coriander and orange peel spicing regimen, we add fresh lemongrass, ginger root, and a dash of Sorachi Ace hops. The result is a wonderfully refreshing ale with notes of lemon candy, citrus fruit, and a slight spiciness from the ginger. Best served at 45˚F in a tulip or wine glass.”

Random: This is definitely my favorite season for this style.

This brew poured with a huge, white head that dissipated slowly. It left lots of lacing on the glass. This body was a slightly cloudy, yellow color with moderate carbonation. The nose was really fragrant with lemongrass and Sorachi ace hops along with honey and Belgian yeast. There was some very light lemon notes as well. The taste had lemongrass and stronger lemon citrus, although it didn’t overwhelm. The usual suspects were present as well with Belgian yeast and some coriander with a bit of clove at the end. Ginger was present as well. It had a medium body with high carbonation. It had a quick citrus finish with some spice and yeast. I really enjoyed this beer. I would love to try it again, especially paired with Asian food. If you’re in New York and see this beer, definitely give it a try.

Untappd Rating: 4.5/5.0

Empire Brewing Company White Aphro

I decided to have another beer at the restaurant in NYC. This was from a brewery that I can honestly say that I had absolutely no familiarity with, which given how long I’ve been writing and following a beer blog, is very, very odd. I came to find out that this is a New York brewery (no surprise there) out of Syracuse. They also have a really good-looking menu at their brewpub. I guess if I ever manage to get up to Syracuse, I have to make a stop there. Anyways, let’s see if I enjoyed this one.

ABV: 5.6%

Style: Witbier

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “Belgian style Wit Ale brewed with wheat malt, lemon peel, ginger, and lavender and fermented with a traditional Belgian yeast strain.”

Random: The meow is lounged out on the couch on the remote. Silly cat, you definitely don’t control the remote in this house.

This beer poured with a one finger, pure white head that was slow to dissipate. It left some lacing on the nonic glass. The body was a cloudy, light orange color with moderate carbonation. The nose had serious citrus notes with additions of banana and sage. The sage really threw me for a loop. The taste was very medicinal with sage and a touch of mint. Significant citrus was present as well with a touch of sweetness. After a few sips, I got another weird flavor: lavender. It had a medium thick body, more than the style really needed and moderate carbonation that could have been dialed up. The finish was rather long with lots of the medicinal and herbal notes that were apparent in the taste. This was definitely an interesting beer, but not one that is worth searching out.

Untappd Rating: 3.5/5.0

Two Brothers Cane & Ebel

The other half and I grabbed some dinner in the city. We decided to try a new place that had what we thought was a good menu. It wasn’t. Dinner was expensive and awful. We ordered a duck pizza, which I knew would be incredibly rich, but falsely assumed would have something to cut all of that richness. I haven’t ever been to a place that I’ve had to ask for balsamic vinegar and lemons to add acid to a dish. This was one of the only brews at the restaurant that I hadn’t reviewed. It’s yet another brewery that doesn’t distribute to New Jersey. Let’s see how it was.

ABV: 7%

Style: Rye Beer

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “Dry, but with a creamy touch of Thai Palm Sugar and the spicy tang of Rye, all balanced by loads of the wackiest new Hops we could lay our hands on. Yep, it’s an Original. And that’s no Sin.”

Random: I definitely haven’t had enough rye beers, especially given how much I enjoy them.

This beer poured with a two finger, tan, exceptionally thick head. It dissipated slowly and left lots of lacing on the glass. The body was a clear, dark chestnut color with moderate carbonation visible. The nose was seriously hoppy. There was some rye but really grassy hop notes. On the sip, I got a lot of rye but it was still really, really hoppy. There was some grass as well. It had a thick body with very high carbonation, almost too much. The finish was quick with spicy rye. This beer was pretty good. I really liked how rye forward this brew was and how hoppy at the same time. I would have this brew again, hopefully with some food that was better than the overpriced meal that this paired with.

Untappd Rating: 3.5/5.0

Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Barleywine Ale

Happy Tuesday everyone! Tuesdays are my first day of the work week, so usually they’re a little rough. Today wasn’t as bad as normal since I got out at a reasonable time, but as soon as I left, I got a million emails that I had to answer from home. The lawyer is still at work, so at least it’s not taking time away from her. Anyways, this was the other brew that I had at Blind Tiger. Let’s see how it went.

ABV: 11.5%

Style: American Barleywine

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “A barleywine ale aged for a full year on used bourbon barrels, this beer has flavors of dark fruit and wood, winner of the Gold Medal at the 2008 Great American Beer Festival.”

Random: As I started typing the intro, I managed to get another work call. Today is just not my day.

This brew poured with a half a finger of tan head that dissipated slowly and left a little bit of lacing on the glass. The body was a cloudy, dark mahogany color with light carbonation visible. On first sniff, the nose was really big. I got all bourbon initially and then some big time molasses and brown sugar sweetness. There was some vanilla presence as well. The taste was insanely smooth, holy crap. I got lots of vanilla, brown sugar, oak, and a touch of smoke at the end. There was warm booze as well, but nothing abrasive. There was some toffee and molasses sweetness too. It had a thick, chewy body with moderate carbonation. There was a long, vanilla finish. This beer was really, really good. Although I’m not a huge fan of drinking barleywines when the weather warms up, this one was amazing. It’s not distributed in Jersey, so if you’re in New York and see it, definitely give it a try.

Untappd Rating: 4.5/5.0

Allagash Session Brett

On Sunday, the other half and I went into New York City. She had a brunch to go to, so I was on my own for a few hours to explore the city. I ended up at Blind Tiger Ale House, which I had never been to. As I was walking to the bar, I noticed that the area started looking incredibly familiar. I’m not a big fan of NYC, so this was a bit surprising. I finally figured out that the reason I knew the area was because I had gotten my navel pierced two doors down from the bar when I was 17. The piercing “salon” that I got pierced at has since become a tea purveyor. When I got my navel pierced, I promptly walked outside after and passed out on the pavement. I found out later that I was hypoglycemic and this would become a trend after most piercings and tattoos. Anyways, this was the first beer that I had at the bar.

ABV: 4.5%

Style: American Wild Ale

Trivia: This is a keg only offering from Allagash coming at 4.5% ABV.

Random: I really had a hard time choosing what I wanted at the bar because I had already reviewed most things on tap.

This brew poured with a two finger, light white head that dissipated slowly and left some lacing on the glass. The body was a very cloudy, light yellow color that looked almost exactly like Country Time lemonade. There was high carbonation present as well. The nose presented with light lemon and touch of funk from the brett. The taste was really nice and light. I got lots of lemon and funk from the brett with a touch of sweetness at the end. To me, this was a really simple (despite the brett) beer, but insanely good. It had high carbonation and a light body. It also had a long finish with lemon. I loved this beer. It would make for a really good summer session beer. Go grab this one!

Untappd Rating: 4.0/5.0

RJ Rockers Witty Twister

This was another beer that I picked up in Philly. Not shockingly, this one doesn’t get distributed to New Jersey either. I was really in a summer beer mood, and one of the styles that screams summer to me is “witbier.” So, I saw this one and really liked the label and haven’t tried much from the brewery, so I grabbed a bottle. Let’s see how this one ended up being.

ABV: 4.75%

Style: Witbier

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “This White Ale is mildly hopped in order to allow the Belgian yeast esters and citrusy overtones from the coriander and orange peel to stand out. Very mild, very refreshing with a champagne-like finish. Perfect for poolside.”

Random: One thing that I’m really not looking forward to is when it gets insanely hot. The past few days have been humid and I haven’t been a big fan of that. I wish it could just be 50 degrees all the time.

This beer poured with a one finger, white head that dissipated quickly and left very little lacing, but a slightly crown on top of the body. The body was a cloudy, light yellow color with high carbonation visible. It had a nose with some spice, specifically cardamom and coriander with some citrus as well. The taste had a bit more citrus to it. There was mandarin oranges and clove with coriander. The body was on the lighter side of medium with heavy carbonation. It had a respectable finish with orange. There was nothing special about this one.

Untappd Rating: 3.5/5.0

Evil Twin The Cowboy

This is the second beer that I’ve reviewed from Evil Twin. One of the things that I find really attractive about them is that their labels are so cool. I can honestly say that’s why I picked this one up. The label was so cool and with it quickly becoming barbecue season, the idea of a smoked pilsner is a really good one. Let’s see if it translated well.

ABV: 5.5%

Style: Smoked Beer

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “I need to know what kind of beer cowboys drink, as I have recently become one. I want to be the best cowboy I can be, and I think drinking the correct beer is important. I already have a cowboy hat and a nice big shiny buckle?”

Random: This beer was brewed at Two Roads Brewery in Connecticut.

This brew poured with a two finger, pure white head that dissipated quickly and left a lot of lacing on the glass. The body was a clear, golden-yellow color with light carbonation visible. The nose did not have much to it. There was a little bit of skunk and some smoke with a touch of grassy hop. The taste started like a typical pilsner with some bready malt and grassy hop notes, but then the smoke came through. It wasn’t strong, but really added something to this beer, which would have been a bit boring otherwise. It had a medium thickness with generous carbonation. The finish was quick with smoked malt. This was a decent beer, but nothing mind-blowing.

Untappd Rating: 3.5/5.0