Cream Ale, Laughing Dog Brewing, Ponderay Idaho

Our next beer comes from the Laughing Dog Brewery in Ponderay, Idaho. I was a big fan of their Holiday release this year - let's see how the Cream Ale stands up. It is made with both lager and ale yeast and received a Bronze Medal in the 2007 North American Brewing awards.

It pours a bright straw color.

The aroma is very light hop with sweet yeast and a clove honey smell, as well.

The taste is quite mild. The body wasn't as creamy as I was expecting - a little more crispness with a distinct yeast. It finishes crisp and dry. There is a nice orange/honey flavor in the finish.

The aftertaste is very clean, almost mead-like with it's mild honey sweetness.

Not as creamy as I was hoping - I made some Aloo Gobi for dinner and this beer actually seemed to complement it quite well. It's dry sweet finish allowed for the palate to cleanse a little during the meal.

Cheers!

Cold Nose Winter Ale, Laughing Dog Brewing, Ponderay Idaho

Another first from a brewery I just discovered from Ponderay, Idaho. The Laughing Dog Brewery offers the Cold Nose for their winter ale. I bought it on a whim at Belmont station - I've yet to find it anywhere else.

It pours opaque with a thick off-white head.

The smell is caramel and malt sweetness. There is also detectable vanilla.

The sweetness of the smell worried me that it might be an over-sweet beer - but that is far from the case. It is smooth and roasty. The malt gives a full body, but there isn't really much sweetness at all. It is slightly nutty. There is also a slight hop bitterness, but it is rounded off by the malt delivering a well-balanced ale. It is a hearty winter warmer.

The aftertaste is roasty - there is a slight sweetness at the very end. It leaves a nice warmth.

This is an EXCELLENT winter warmer and one which I will definitely seek out again. I am looking forward to trying some of Laughing Dog's other brews.

From their website:
Roasted Barley and Carmel malts
Cascade, East Kent Goldings and Tettnanger hops
6.9 % with 66 IBU's