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.