Beer Review: Odell's Double Pilsner

(Recommended by a guy in The Still who just moved here from California - thanks brother!) 

Looking in from the outside Double Pilsner looks like any other: clear, golden in color, with a medium height white head, but there the resemblance ends. Big, brawny malt character, with a sting of hoppiness in the finish. The noble hops lend a smooth bitterness (if you can handle paradox) to the mix. the 8.1% ABV adds some pleasant warmth, the creamy mouthfeel makes this a great after-dinner brew.

Left Hand Sawtooth Ale

While down in Kansas City Susie & I visited a grocery store and Susie encouraged me to take home any beer that caught my eye. Left Hand has been one of my Top Ten breweries, but it hasn't been available in Lincoln lately, so I brought a six-pack home. Below in italics is a review from last May:

Extra Special Bitter, kind of like a pale ale. Pours a hazy orange color with a minimal head, light hoppy aroma, little bit o' grapefruit in the first sip. Some vanilla and nuttiness, Hops are not at all strong, but a definitely evident. Very drinkable. I'd recommend this one for Ron Rumery!


Some things to add: caramel notes along with a creamy texture. The hops seem a little more obvious this time around, maybe I was drinking too many IPA's back last May!

Beer Review: New Belgium Somersault

Not really a lot there, but still a decent brew. Classed as an American Blonde Ale, it's a pale gold in color with a tall foamy head. There's hints of apricots and some biscuity malt. A fleeting taste of citrus as well. Easy drinking.

Beer Review: St. Lupulin Extra Pale Ale

A mystical legend echoes in our brewhouse – that of St. Lupulin (loop-you-lin) the archetypal hophead. He devoted endless summers to endless rows of hops, tending to the flowers and the beloved resin within – lupulin. Extraordinary oils in this yellow resin provide this dry-hopped extra pale ale with an undeniably pleasing floral aroma and clean, crisp finish. One sip of this seasonal summer ale and you too, will believe. From the Odell's website

Now I'm not sure what is "extra" about it, but boy, was it good. It poured a clear golden color, with a bright white head. Obvious hops taste and aroma, but not at all bitter. As the glass attained room temperature, the maltiness started to come out. Some subtle floral aromas, a tad bit of lemon, even some honey. Even with the additional ABV (6%) this would make a great brew to have several of. Can't go wrong with Odell's.

Latitude 48 IPA - Ahtanum

Ah...the last of the one-hop wonders! Ahtanum is another Yakima Valley grown variety of hops. This one was very different than the others, hardly bitter at all, almost malty. There's some hints of berry and a more obvious orange peel. I can imagine Ahtanum in a porter or stout.

Latitude 48 IPA - Zeus

Piney...oh so piney, kind of a dry bitter if that makes any sense. There's a muted kind of floral aroma, even some of the typical IPA grapefruit. Not bad.

Latitude 48 IPA - East Kent Goldings

Time for variety #3 - East Kent Goldings hops. I believe this is the hops that they use for Irish Red and for Scotch Ale and it shows. Kind of a smoky, malty, earthy tone to the bitter hoppiness, but smooth enough for having more than one. Tastes of mild peach and apricot on the back of the tongue.

Latitude 48 IPA - Simcoe

Having the Hallertau and the Simcoe back-to-back really illustrates how different hop varieties can be. The Simcoe was definitely stronger than the Hallertau. Simcoe hops, by the way, grow in the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Simcoe hit me with a sharp, tangy bitterness, with distinct piney flavor. Lots of citrus, especially grapefruit, little or no lemon. Very much like what you'd expect in a Ranger IPA or one of the other strong India Pales.

Latitude 48 IPA - Hallertau Mittelfreuh

The first of the hop varieties was the IPA brewed with Hallertau Mittelfreuh noble hops. It was surprisingly smooth. Aroma reminiscent of a European Pilsner. While the hop bitterness was evident, I can only describe it as a refined bitterness, it convinces you to enjoy the hops, rather than beating you over the head with it.

Latitude 48 IPA - original

Made with five varieties of hops:

• Hallertau Mittelfreuh Noble Hops
• East Kent Goldings
• Ahtanum
• Simcoe
• Zeus

Floral aroma, very hoppy, but drinkable for a novice; piney bitterness, easy on the grapefruitiness. Had to revisit the original before trying the de-constructed versions.

Beer Review: Sam Adams Rustic Saison

Saisons, sometimes called farmhouse Ales, are similar to Belgians. Smooth, light and drinkable, the beer pours light golden with a snow white head. Hints of banana, kind of a spicy finish to it. Could have been some lemon in there as well. Not the best farmhouse ale I've ever had, but a good introduction to the style, as many Sam Adams beers are. I wouldn't mind having a few more.

Beer Review: Empyrean Ales Beer Quest Munich Dunkel

Stopped by Lazlo's after a hard day stocking cheese to try the Black Pepper Porter which turned out not to be available. Tried the Beer Quest winner Munich Dunkel instead. Dunkel means "dark" in German and this was a dark lager. Heralthy brown head, chocolate color and a sweet malty aroma evocative of toasted grains; a little bready as well. Hints of caramel, no hops aroma to speak of. I'd have another if I was over there now.

Beer Review: Tall Grass Halcyon Wheat

Apparently the trend is for craft beers to be packaged in cans. Keeps the harmful UV rays out (really, those rays are bad for beer...makes it "skunky") and is cheaper; Tall Grass Brewing out of Manhattan Kansas is ahead of this curve. As most unfiltered wheats do, this one looks kind of hazy. A bit of ginger in there, as well as more hoppiness than I expected. lemon notes, more of the distinctive "wheatiness" than some of the other wheats I've been trying lately. As I work my may to the bottom, I'm getting a little banana, like a dunkelweizen, but just a little. Another fine brew from our neighbors to the south.

Beer Review: Dundee Summer Wheat

Best beer so far this season. Pale, pale golden in hue, head of pure white, light body, minimal hoppiness. I believe that it could be classified as a hefeweizen or pretty darn close. As far as I could tell they didn't add any flavorings, but there were hints of lemony citrus. This my friends is a beer that I would repeat. There just may be Dundee Summer Wheat at the "Welcome to Virginia Beach" barbecue next Sunday.

Beer Review: Anchor Summer Beer

With 50% malted wheat, they probably could have classified it as a hefeweizen, but just decided to call it a "summer beer". And summery it is, crisp, clear, no distracting flavorings, but with notes of citrus and lemon grass. Hops are there, but don't overpower. Very drinkable, and at 4.4% ABV, a good session beer: have another!