Shiner 99, Shiner Beers, Shiner Texas

Our next beer hails from Texas...Shiner, Texas. I've had it on the list for a long time to blog, and finally it's time is here....

It pours a golden hue with a thin head.

The aroma is very very light, with slight hop.

It is crisp and easy to drink with tones of light earthy hop and honey.

The aftertaste is just a slight bitterness with a mild hop.

The beer is very very delicate, it would be great for a a bbq!

Cheers!

Claymore Scotch Ale, Great Divide Brewing Company, Denver Colorado

A recent and very consistent favorite of mine has been the Great Divide Brewing from Denver Colorado. Scotch style ales or "Wee Heavy" beers are absolutely delicious and I was excited to find this one at Belmont Station.
Let's give it a try...

It pours opaque with a caramel colored head.

The aroma is sweet malt with a nice smokiness.

It has a creamy full body, smoky malt with an alcohol sweetness. It starts light, but builds to a nice rounded maltiness.

The aftertaste is biscuity malt with a mild sweetness.

This is a delicious beer and at 7.7% holds up the wee heavy half of the bargain. It's a great beer with a lot of depth. I highly recommend seeking it out.

Cheers!

Imperial Red Ale, Rogue Ales, Newport Oregon

I sample this next beer at the Rogue brewhouse/restaurant in NW Portland. Part of their XS series, it is available in bottle and on tap.

It pours a deep hazy copper with a thin head.

The aroma is sweet mild malt with a mild hop.

The taste is medium/full body. Malt roastiness combines with the hop earthiness in the body. The bitterness builds in the finish. It is creamy and there isn't much sweetness. It is most pronounced in the finish with bold flavors and bitterness.

The aftertaste is all bitterness that lingers for awhile.

I'm not a huge fan of Reds, but put "Imperial" in front of any beer and I'm game - (Imperial PBR - why not?) I really enjoyed this red, bold and unafraid to announce it's character. I highly recommend it if it crosses your path!

Cheers!

Fallen Friar, Bridgeport Brewing Company, Portland Oregon

Bringing it home with the Fallen Friar, one of Bridgeport's "Big Brews". It is a Belgian Style Tripel Ale with 35% aged in oak wine barrels. It is available in the 1 pint 6 fl. oz bottles all around (Portland at least) and a sturdy 8.2%.

It pours a thick but bright amber with a thin head.

The aroma is complex and offers up tones of white pepper, yeast, honey and coriander with slight orange peel.

The taste is crisp at first. White pepper and yeast greet the tongue. Hop and mild citrus build in the medium body. It finishes dry with honey and white pepper dominating the palate.

The aftertaste keeps the palate lively with white pepper lingering.

This is a great Tripel Ale and I highly recommend it both to new-comers and those of us established in the style. It is a great introduction into the style without being too intense on it's flavors while still offering up a complex bouquet for the experienced.

Cheers!

Hop Stoopid Ale, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma California

I am tempted to put our next tasting down simply as...
Hop Bitter Perfection,
but I will elaborate. Warning: this beer is only for those willing to brave the bitter of the bitter - with 102 IBU's and 7.7%!

It pours a copper color with a nice head.

The aroma is citrus/orange. Big hop floral and bitter tones jump all over.

It is bittery goodness. I lean toward the extreme of things and this fills that craving to define the boundary of what is reasonable. I love it. Hopped up with big earth and flowery tones with some citrus. Bitter...so bitter...

The bitterness let's go of your palate and a nice floral hop remains in the aftertaste.

I HIGHLY recommend it to those of us who love the big IPA's.

Cheers!

Pils, Czech Style Pilsner, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma California

This Saaz hopped lager is a lot different from the Pilsner from yesterday. I love Lagunitas beers, but lagers have a tough time getting on my good side, so let's see. Yesterday's was a surprise, so you never know....

It pours a pale wheat color with a thin head.

The aroma is very mild caramel, hop and brown sugar.

The taste is refreshing and crisp. Mild honey and mild orange are present in the body with a soft straw-ish flavor.

The palate resets quickly, it is mildly sweet with mild hop and finishes dry.

Unfortunately, this beer wasn't as dynamic as last night's Pilsner. It is a soft flavored beer and would be best suited for a hot afternoon in the spring/summertime...

Cheers!

Prima Pils, Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown Pennsylvania

A few busy weeks and a cold that kept me from properly tasting fine ales and once again, I'm back...Our next beer is a bit of a change up from the winter beers and barleywines enjoyed recently. The Prima Pils from Victory Brewing Company is Downingtown, PA is 5.3% with hops that include German and Czech whole flowers and 2-row German Pilsner malt. It is available year round with fairly consistent distribution all over. Let's give it a try....

It pours a bright wheat color.

The aroma is sweet with grapefruit and hop.

It is bright and clean with definite hop in the medium body. The grapefruit tones develop in the body and follow to the finish. An easy drinker with some nice honey tones and hop that balances well while drinking.

The aftertaste is bitter. The hop gives a little more punch and the bright citrus fruit tones work nicely with the bitterness. It is a full flavor beer that has a lot of character.

Cheers!