Stranger American Pale Ale

Another fine beer from the Left Hand Brewing  12-pack. Pours an amber color with a minimal head. Nice balanced hoppines with notes of peach and pear as well as some subdued citrus. maybe a little pineapple. Like all the Left Hand brews there's enough complexity for the craft beer connoisseur and enough simple refreshing beerness for the everyday drinker. 

Polestar Pilsner

Part of the Mountain Mixer 12 pack purchased down in Kansas City, Polestar is a classic Pilsner - pours a bright golden hue with a snowy white head. A little more hoppy than a typical pilsner, cloudy...also unusual for a pils. There's a lot going on, but all of it's subtle: lemon zest, orange peel, biscuit; the kind of beer that you have to sip and then have another to appreciate the full complexity. Great session beer!

The Skunky Beer Myth

One of the pervading myths in the beer-drinking world is that if you buy cold beer, let it warm up by keeping it out of refrigeration, and the cool it down again, you will "skunk" it, that is it will acquire a skunk-like aroma, thereby ruining it. Many people insist on buying their beer warm just so they don't run into this temperature changing danger. What most of them don't know is that every distributor in town (at least in this town) warehouses their beer cold, then sends it to the store in non-refrigerated trucks - so if the skunky beer theory is true, then all beer bought from a retailer is going to be "skunked". The truth is that temperature changes, unless they are extreme temperature changes, are going to have no effect on beer quality. And by extreme, I'm talked about boiling the beer and then immersing it in liquid nitrogen! I've included a few links to explain and debunk the skunky beer myth.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080217071159AAdgS63

http://www.chow.com/food-news/53966/how-does-a-beer-get-skunky/

Sam Adams Porch Rocker

The Sam Adams website describes Porch Rocker as inspired by Bavarian "radlers" that mix beer with German-style lemonade. Tagged as a "helles", another term for pale lager, this appears to be Sam Adams' answer to the shandies, summer and lemon, that Shock Top and Leinenkugel have produced. Like a good pale lager, Porch Rocker is a see-through, light gold color. The lemonade gives it a summery, refreshing taste, but it sort of masks whatever character the underlying lager might have.

Wasatch White Label Belgian Wit

Light golden hued, thin white head, translucent...with that delicious Belgian character, Wasatch White label doesn't disappoint. It's a little hazy, but maybe there's a little filtering going on. Following close on the heels of the Belgian-ness, there's some pineapple and mango notes whistling in the background. As I get closer to the bottom I'm detecting some lemon (subtle) and coriander (a teaser) and clove (hah! thought you'd hide out from me, eh?), all ingredients for a fine summer session beer. As I continue on my drinking excursion, ooh...some pear! and orange peel! Wow! Lots of stuff in here. I'm going to have to go back for another!

Leffe Brune

Several years ago I had my introduction to Leffe via my younger brother Mike during a visit to New York. I've since enjoyed Leffe on many occasions, but always the blonde. Recently I spotted a Leffe Brune at one of my favorite sources for beer and decided to give it a try. At 6.5% ABV it has a little alcohol heat, but mellow, not at all fiery. It poured a medium brown with a tall, milkshakey head. Lots of caramel malt in the taste, and a hint of Belgian yeast. As it warms up a bit I'm catching a little banana as well. Nice start to the evening.

Odell's 5 Barrel Pale Ale

Summer, like I said in an earlier post is a great time for introducing newbies to craft beers, and there's an abundance to choose from: Belgian Wits, Lemon Ales, Pale Ales, Lagers, all crisp and refreshing. Odell's has quite a variety of lighter beers, many of them nicely hopped. 5 Barrel poured a nice medium head over a peach colored unfiltered body. Hoppiness typical of a pale ale, biting, but it doesn't tear your head off. I'm catching some caramelly maltiness, along with some spice. Citrus appears on the back side, rounding out the experience. Great beer for someone ready to move into phase two of their beer education.

Ovila Abbey Dubbel Ale

Ovila Abbey Ales is a joint project with Sierra Nevada and the Abbey of New Clairvaux. Sierra will be releasing these ales in a seasonal series, starting with the dubbel. This smooth dubbel poured a milk chocolate brown with a little red along the edges. Bready aroma, like a nice fresh pumpernickel. There's some dark cherries and figs on the back of the tongue and an overall creamy texture to the brew. No discernible hoppiness, but a distinct malt character. Not your everyday beer, but pretty cool for a Sunday evening.