Full Sail: "Bump in the Night" Dark Ale

Full Sail Brewing's lead brewer, Barney Brennan, came up with this wonderful Cascadian Dark Ale and the brewery brought it to life.

This ale is a "Brewmaster Reserve for 2011 and will only be available for a short while longer. It is scheduled to be around from January to March of 2011 only...so, seek this one out before it is too late!

Full Sail says...."The array of dark malts present a full bodied beer with notes of cocoa and slight roast. It has a big floral citrus hop flavor and bitterness, reminiscent of an IPA."  I have to agree with this...yet...there is something else. I am having a hard time putting my finger on it.
The finish seems to lift the taste buds to a totally different level rather then just linger. To me it is not so much a "big floral citrus hop flavor" (though that is there) as a slightly sour herbal taste..... Just my opinion.
If you have not tried this wonderful liquid make sure you do!

The stats on this one are an IBU of 65 and an ABV of 6.5%

Leavenworth Biers: Whistling Pig Hefeweizen

Leavenworth Biers...brewed by Fish Brewing....has a brew called "Whistling Pig" which is an unfiltered "Hefeweizen" (wheat) beer. Not only is it a pretty sweet name but, it is a pretty good hef too.

According to the website "Whistle pigs are actually marmots. Small and furry, these high country critters sometimes communicate with an ear-piercing whistle that’s not soon forgotten. Marmots abound around Leavenworth. They seem especially at home north of town at Whistling Pig Meadow."

This beer is mild and refreshing with a mildly sweet fruity finish. I tried it without the traditional slab of lemon tossed in and it was still very enjoyable.

It also seems to have won the Bronze Medal in the American‐Style Wheat Beer category

at the 2010 Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition.
OK, that doesn't sound too exciting but, this beer is worth a try on a warm Spring day!!
The stats on this one report an IBU of 22 and an ABV of 5.4%.

Rogue: Juniper Pale Ale

This is an interesting Rogue beer....lower IBU then I  usually buy (IBU: 34). - But, this is a very good ale. It is brewed with whole juniper berries. Yet, the flavour is pretty mild and the malt is very balanced with an almost sharp dry finish.

Juniper Pale Ale isn't exactly a mystery beer infact the awards listed for this one are: 2010 World Beer Championships—Gold,  2010 Australian International Beer Awards—Bronze & 2010 US Beer Tasting Championships—PNW Champ!

The Ingredients Rogue provides are:
Crystal, Triumph, C-15 & Rogue Micro Barley Farm Dare & Risk Malts; Styrian Golding, Amarillo & Rogue Micro Hopyard Revolution Hops; Juniper Berries, Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast.
(That made me kind of dizzy reading the ingredients....just saying....)

It goes without saying...But, I will anyway....This is a great Beer!

Fish Tale: Organic India Pale Ale

I love this IPA...is it Organic...a lighter yet very satifying beer with wonderful hops and an almost floral (in a manly way!) finish.

This beer always reminds me of fantastic sun filled afternoons at the North American Organic Brewer's Fest up in Overlook Park! - I tend to consume many pints of this IPA over those wonderful Summer days!

Fish Brewing describes this IPA as "...a medium-bodied beer with a rich golden color. The organic pale and crystal malts lay down a firm malt body. This provides the backbone for an assertive hop profile featuring organic Pacific Gem. The moment the Mighty Fish Brewers sampled this pungent and resinous New Zealand hop, they knew it would be perfect for their Organic I.P.A. The result: A Cascadian treasure."
I have to agree it is a treasure!
The stats on this brew are an ABV of 6.7%, an OG of 1.061 and the IBU as 42.

Lagunitas Brewing: Olde Gnarly Wine

Lagunitas Brewing is always a favorite for me personally....Today I bought a bottle of "Olde Gnarly Wine".
The bottle's label says, "Making a mondo ultra mega super premium barleywine is a little like having a kid. The first part is fun and messy, it takes awhile to ferment, and then a whole lot longer to mature. It is expensive and takes up a lot of space. You worry about how it’ll grow up and whether or not you’ll still be friends. Eventually it stays out all night and comes home with its skirt on backwards. You know how it is. Usually we package our ales within 15 days of brewing. This is one we aged in the tanks for over a month."

Lagunitas describes it as a "...BarleyWine Style Ale is Dated and Built to Last. Flavors Evolve as Hop Bitterness Yields to Crazy Caramel and Rich Toffee Flavors."
It is indeed a fine brew....smooth...mildly sweet...and totally fantastic! I can't say enough good things about the barley wine!
It really needs to be experienced...either all fancy in a snifter or right from the bottle! - A++
The stats on this one are as follows....O.G. 1.096,  A.B.V. 10.6% and a respectable I.B.U. of 69.39!

Lagunitas Brewing: Beer Circus?

I just stumbled across this video....and it made me love Launitas Brewing even more then I already do....if that is possible.....
I know it is from 2009....but, it is fun to watch! - I want to party with these guys!
Woot! Woot!


*** Follow Up On The Beer Circus FB Page By Clicking HERE!

Fort George, Great Beer and the Can?

OK, I have VERY mixed feelings about great beers in cans....

What do you think?

Ninkasi: ReNewAle - Mason's Irish-Style Red Ale

Ninkasi Brewing in Eugene, Oregon has a Seasonal "Irish-Style Red Ale" appropriately called "ReNewAle"...
Ninkasi says it is "a New Year a New Beer! Each year Renewale will be something new and special to enjoy while winter runs its course.

For 2011 we brewed a delicious Irish-style red ale that’s smooth and refined with a hint of toasted malt and a clean finish. A great beer for a new year...!"
The IBU is 40 and the ABV is 5.2%.

This red avoids the usual over the top malt and sweetness that I have always found plagues the style...and, just as promised, has a crisp clean finish. It is a very drinkable beer...but, in my opinion lacks a uniqueness that I have come to expect from this fantastic brewery.
But, don't get me wrong...it is a really good addition and I think not only would this ale be good now...it would also, maybe more so, be a refreshing beer for a hot Summer afternoon.

Organic Nation: What's Organic About Organic Beer?

Alameda Brewing: Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA

For some reason I have been on an Imperial IPA kick....I have always loved them...but, there are some fine beers floating around the markets this year!

Alameda Brewing's "Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA" is a fantastic creation.
It is balanced all the way around with a more subtle hop flavor then I usually seek out....yet, it leaves the hops in your mouth finishing in a fantastic way. The malt is also balanced and allows the hops to pop - full flavour yet not over powering.
This brew has a complex citrus and tropical flavour. It brings to mind a fresh tangerine and almost faint mango. I only realized the tropical mango aspect after having my son smell the IPA and give me his first impression...and he was right on.
The carbonation is light and crisp and it has an ABV of 8.2%.  As of this posting I have been unable to locate the IBU information...But, I will update the blog when I can get hold of that. I guess I need to make a call!
Overall this brew is a huge FIVE STARS! - Seek it out and give it a try if you haven't done so already!

Outburst Imperial IPA!

Outburst Imperial IPA, the "Spring Seasonal" from Pyramid is a fantastic beer!
It is hoppy with a I.B.U. of 80...but, also has a mildly sweet...almost citrus taste.
It is a great moderately priced Imperial IPA! You can drink this any time at all....

But, with an Alcohol by volume of 8.5% it isn't for everyone! (Or is it?!?!)

Pyramid says it availability is February and March so be sure to get yours!!
Plaid Pantry...$1.98 for a 22oz bottle....(what the hell!!)

Kingpin: A GREAT Brew!

"KINGPIN (Bridgeport Brewing) is a full-flavored, red-colored ale that uses a rarely-grown Willamette Valley Hop varietal known as Liberty Hops from fourth generation hop farmer John Annen of Annen Bros. Farm in Silverton, Oregon. Jeff and his team of brewers also used rye and caramel malt leading to a unique flavor profile; triple-hopped for bitter aroma and a unique dry-hopped character."

---- I have personally sampled (a few) and found it to be a great well balanced beer...great hops & malt!!

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