Thursday, August 4, 2011
Happy IPADay: Top Five IPAs
Happy #IPADay!
Last month, I tallied some figures about my first 1,000 beers that I have rated. So you know that my highest ranked IPA was the canned version of Punk IPA from BrewDog and that my favorite DIPA was the Kern River Citra.
Here are the other IPA favorites of the last two years…..
Russian River Blind Pig – better than PtY and more plentiful
Hair of the Dog Blue Dot – when fresh this has a great bite to it
BridgePort Hop Harvest – 2009 was a great year. Looking forward to 2011
Mikkeller Single Hop Nelson Sauvin – grape and IPA. And it works!
Mammoth IPA 395 – super spicy and herby.
Stoudts Gold Lager Review #23
Dortmunder/Helles
ABV: 5%
12oz bottle poured into a Yard's pint glass
Stoudts Brewing Co.
Adamstown, Pennsylvania
1987
One Of Pennsylvania's First Micro-Brewery
Appearance:
Crisp Golden Straw Color
Beautiful Glass-Like Clarity
Thin Soapy Looking Head
Minor Retention
Ring Lacing
Aroma:
Had To Really Get In There To Acquire An Aroma
Herbs
Cream Corn
Vegetables
Bread-Like
Hop Note
Malty Note
Taste was a very delicious style of beer, different style lager than you would be used to. This beer to me had more characteristics of a German style lager as opposed to a American style lager. Taste gives you a bread sourdough, malty type flavor and has nice fulfilling flavors. This beer was not very thirst quenching, but maybe because it is a very bold beer. Definitely would recommend this beer, and you should also try their Pils style.
Mouthfeel:
Killer Carbonation
Moderately Full-Bodied
Hearty Mouthfeel
Peppery Hop Finish
Dry Aftertaste
Bitter/Sour Balance
Slightly Refreshing
4 Out Of 6
Want A Sixer
Stoudts is a brewery that needs to be taken seriously, because it is a great Pennsylvania brewery. This brewery has several delicious beers in it's rotation. Try beers from this brewery it won't disappoint you and you'll be satisfied.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Blue Point Summer Ale Review #22
Blue Point Summer AleSummer Seasonal
ABV: 4.39%
Golden Ale/Blonde Ale
Blue Point Brewing Co.
Patchogue, N.Y.
Mark Buford/Peter Cotter
1998
12oz bottle poured into a Stella Artois chalice
Appearance:
Thin Bubbled Filled Head
Slight Retention
Terrible Lacing
Medium Golden Color
See Through Clarity
Aroma:
Apple
Butter
Malt
Wheat
Cereal Grain
Lemon
Some Nuttiness
Off Metallic Aroma
Light Floral
Mouthfeel:
Explosive Carbonation
Sweet/Slight Bitter Balance
Snappy Crispness
Thirst Quenching
Medium Body
Tart Mouthfeel
"Lawnmower Beer"
Taste is a mild flavor and can be characterized as boring nondescript beer. It has a grainy watery flavor with a metallic taste and a butterscotch aftertaste. This is one train wreck of a beer, much better choices out there.
1out of 6
Don't want a sixer
Before I write off this brewery, I'm gonna try and find another one of their beers. Summer beers are seasonal beers, so some could be a hit or miss in terms of enjoyment. I'm going to try one of this brewery's mainstay beers, to give it a fair shot and not judge it on the first.
Trade Deadline Winners
The Philadelphia Phillies are presumably the favorite to represent the National League in the World Series. But although things are going well for the Phillies, they aren't the best in the NL by that much. All of us Philadelphia fans still have reason to fear the San Francisco Giants, and the Atlanta Braves could have a few more pushes left in the NL East race. More and more, these three teams look like the clear class of the league, which they further proved it with their trade deadline deals.
The Giants, Phillies and Braves don't really have that much to improve on, which explains why they have some of the best records in baseball. But they all fixed some of their biggest flaws before Sunday's trade deadline, and made themselves look even more fearsome. As such, if these three clash in October, as they did last season, it stands to be an even bigger battle royale.
The Giants made the first move by landing Carlos Beltran(notes) to give themselves the big bat they've been missing for some time. Of course, they won the World Series without a slugger, and could wind up doing it again. In fact, San Francisco still rises and falls with Tim Lincecum(notes), Matt Cain(notes) and the pitching staff, as it proved with two straight shutdown wins in Philadelphia this past week. However, the Giants then went on to suffer a surprise sweep from the Cincinnati Reds, in which Beltran barely made a dent.
As for the Phillies, they started off a little better with their major pickup. Thanks to losing out on Beltran, Philadelphia had no choice but to match San Francisco by getting Hunter Pence(notes). The former Houston Astro arrived in time to help finish a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and even scored the winning run in extra innings on Sunday.
With Pence, the Phillies finally have a true No. 5 man to replace Jayson Werth(notes). Coincidentally, Ryan Howard(notes) had a massive game in front of Pence on Saturday, while Raul Ibanez(notes) made the difference behind him on Sunday. If he helps make those batting around him better, at the least, Philadelphia will be in for a good fall.
These trades left the Braves as the odd team out, with no room to make a major move of their own. But Atlanta still got a valuable pickup hours before the deadline—and like with Philadelphia, Houston helped out. In this case, the Astros dealt speedy center fielder Michael Bourn, who can help generate some valuable runs on the bases. He may not have the buzz of a Beltran or Pence, but the Braves remain a little better with their new player.
It is no small thing that the Phillies, Giants and Braves made some of the big maneuvers before the trade deadline. As the leading contenders for a pennant, they had to do something to fix their holes before the stretch drive—and make sure their rivals didn't beat them to it. But since all three got something valuable out of this time period, they put even more of a gap between themselves and the rest of the National League.
Last year, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Atlanta made up three-fourths of the NL playoff field, and it looks like the same thing will happen this season. While the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Pirates are fighting it out in the NL Central, and the Arizona Diamondbacks are trying to make up ground in the NL West, they seem unlikely to be true pennant contenders. More than ever, it looks like the road to a World Series berth is going through the exact same routes it did last year.
But will it have the same end result of a San Francisco championship this time? Everyone here in Philadelphia hopes that Pence will be a more valuable boost than Beltran, while those in Atlanta hope that the Braves can take the next step. In any case, should these trade maneuvers pay off for the Braves, Phillies and Giants and make them even better, then it will be quite an October in the National League.
The Giants, Phillies and Braves don't really have that much to improve on, which explains why they have some of the best records in baseball. But they all fixed some of their biggest flaws before Sunday's trade deadline, and made themselves look even more fearsome. As such, if these three clash in October, as they did last season, it stands to be an even bigger battle royale.
The Giants made the first move by landing Carlos Beltran(notes) to give themselves the big bat they've been missing for some time. Of course, they won the World Series without a slugger, and could wind up doing it again. In fact, San Francisco still rises and falls with Tim Lincecum(notes), Matt Cain(notes) and the pitching staff, as it proved with two straight shutdown wins in Philadelphia this past week. However, the Giants then went on to suffer a surprise sweep from the Cincinnati Reds, in which Beltran barely made a dent.
As for the Phillies, they started off a little better with their major pickup. Thanks to losing out on Beltran, Philadelphia had no choice but to match San Francisco by getting Hunter Pence(notes). The former Houston Astro arrived in time to help finish a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and even scored the winning run in extra innings on Sunday.
With Pence, the Phillies finally have a true No. 5 man to replace Jayson Werth(notes). Coincidentally, Ryan Howard(notes) had a massive game in front of Pence on Saturday, while Raul Ibanez(notes) made the difference behind him on Sunday. If he helps make those batting around him better, at the least, Philadelphia will be in for a good fall.
These trades left the Braves as the odd team out, with no room to make a major move of their own. But Atlanta still got a valuable pickup hours before the deadline—and like with Philadelphia, Houston helped out. In this case, the Astros dealt speedy center fielder Michael Bourn, who can help generate some valuable runs on the bases. He may not have the buzz of a Beltran or Pence, but the Braves remain a little better with their new player.
It is no small thing that the Phillies, Giants and Braves made some of the big maneuvers before the trade deadline. As the leading contenders for a pennant, they had to do something to fix their holes before the stretch drive—and make sure their rivals didn't beat them to it. But since all three got something valuable out of this time period, they put even more of a gap between themselves and the rest of the National League.
Last year, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Atlanta made up three-fourths of the NL playoff field, and it looks like the same thing will happen this season. While the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Pirates are fighting it out in the NL Central, and the Arizona Diamondbacks are trying to make up ground in the NL West, they seem unlikely to be true pennant contenders. More than ever, it looks like the road to a World Series berth is going through the exact same routes it did last year.
But will it have the same end result of a San Francisco championship this time? Everyone here in Philadelphia hopes that Pence will be a more valuable boost than Beltran, while those in Atlanta hope that the Braves can take the next step. In any case, should these trade maneuvers pay off for the Braves, Phillies and Giants and make them even better, then it will be quite an October in the National League.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Fantasy Football: How Will Recent Moves Help Players?
Since football is back it's time to get to thinking about what fantasy moves you want to make. Getting sleepers in late rounds is a key to a successful season.
• Plaxico Burress to the New York Jets. Nobody really knows how much the 34-year-old Burress has left in the tank, but there's no reason to suspect he's completely cooked. For that reason, I think there's a decent chance Plax becomes the outside receiver who starts opposite Santonio Holmes, while Jerricho Cotchery stays in a No. 3 WR role. Of course, the Jets have one of the most run-oriented offenses in the league, and Mark Sanchez still has accuracy problems that tend to cap the value of his wideouts. Holmes will be fed first in this passing game; the best Burress will be is second. But he's always been a good red zone threat and there should be enough week-to-week targets available for Plax to make him draftable in some leagues. In last year's final 12 regular-season games (after Holmes had returned from his suspension), Braylon Edwards averaged just fewer than seven targets per game. That's not a scintillating number, but it's not horrible.
Olsen
• Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers. Free at last! Mike Martz simply was never going to use the tight end as a receiver much in Chicago, so Olsen's talents were going to waste. I think you can easily make the case that in terms of ability, Olsen is one of the 10 best receiving tight ends in the business, so his ascension to a system that seems ready to value his skills is good news. Of course, it's also been a long time since the Panthers have featured an elite fantasy tight end (the name Wesley Walls comes to mind), and the Week 1 starting QB may very well be rookie Cam Newton, so it's tough to say Olsen immediately becomes a fantasy starter in shallow leagues. But he's much more draftable than he was as a Bear. In other news, this transaction tells us all we need to know about how much Jeremy Shockey has left in the tank as a receiver. He's going to be a glorified offensive lineman in his first season in Carolina.
Barber
• Marion Barber to the Chicago Bears. Barber may be only 28, but his whirling-dervish running style has more than caught up with him. He faded badly in his final couple of seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, and last year averaged 3.3 yards per carry as not one of his 113 totes went for more than 25 yards. He's good in pass protection and has always been a bull near the goal line, so Chicago does have a role for him. But it would be foolish, I think, to say that Matt Forte's fantasy owners should be concerned. Forte will continue to be The Man, while Barber will pitch in and could help a short-yardage rushing game that's struggled for years. Yes, it's possible Barber snatches away a few bunny TDs. But that doesn't make him a handcuff to Forte and it doesn't make him draftable; it makes him a nuisance. The guy who really needs to worry here is Chester Taylor. He's probably on the Bears' roster bubble now.
Williams
• Roy Williams to the Chicago Bears. The last good season Williams had was '06, and Martz was his offensive coordinator. Perhaps that provides a flicker of hope that Williams might deliver on what once looked like an All-Pro type of career. But he'd have to change his stripes dramatically for that to happen. His two-plus years in Dallas were marked by inattention to detail, mental errors, a loss of deep speed and QB chemistry concerns. The guy still turns only 30 in December, and it's not like he's coming to a team with an established excellent receiving corps. In theory, Williams could wind up Chicago's No. 1 wideout. Certainly his presence means Devin Hester basically goes back to being a return man, while Earl Bennett may wind up operating more out of the slot. Williams is a big guy who in theory can be a good end zone target. But Johnny Knox is the dynamic player here, the guy who'll break big gains and rack up higher-value targets. If Williams beats out Bennett and lines up as the flanker, he's fairly ownable as a speculative pick. But I'm not expecting a ton.
Jenkins
• Michael Jenkins to the Minnesota Vikings. Really? This is how the Vikings will try to replace Sidney Rice? Yuck. Jenkins is a terrific downfield blocker, but he averaged just 2.2 yards after the catch last season, ranking 97th among NFL receivers. He just doesn't make plays. Heck, there's absolutely no guarantee that Jenkins will beat out Bernard Berrian for the spot opposite Percy Harvin, and the recently signed Devin Aromashodu also has an outside shot of getting in the mix. I have to believe there's still a chance the Vikes will sign a bigger-name free-agent WR (as of this writing, Malcom Floyd, James Jones and Braylon Edwards were all still available), in which case Jenkins' fantasy value will be absolutely nil. Yes, if Minnesota's roster stays as currently constituted, it's possible Jenkins catches a few touchdowns from Donovan McNabb. But I wouldn't dream of owning him in a 10-team league.
Sims-Walker
• Mike Sims-Walker to the St. Louis Rams. Oh, goodie, another wide receiver in St. Louis. Josh McDaniels is obviously collecting them. Let's run through the group: Danny Amendola, Danario Alexander, Donnie Avery, Brandon Gibson, Mardy Gilyard, Austin Pettis, Greg Salas, maybe Mark Clayton and now MSW. Amendola, Alexander, Pettis and Salas aren't going anywhere, though Pettis and Salas are rookies, so they don't need to contribute right away to justify their roster spots. That means Avery, Gibson, Gilyard and Sims-Walker (Clayton's surgically repaired knee apparently isn't ready for prime time yet) are competing for what? Two roster spots? The third-receiver gig? I mention all this by way of saying: Don't be fooled into thinking MSW has been brought to St. Louis as a presumptive starter. He got a one-year, short-money contract after a disastrous '10 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Could he make the team and wind up Sam Bradford's top target? Sure. But could he get hurt yet again? Could he find himself buried on the depth chart? Could he get flat-out cut? Yup.
• Plaxico Burress to the New York Jets. Nobody really knows how much the 34-year-old Burress has left in the tank, but there's no reason to suspect he's completely cooked. For that reason, I think there's a decent chance Plax becomes the outside receiver who starts opposite Santonio Holmes, while Jerricho Cotchery stays in a No. 3 WR role. Of course, the Jets have one of the most run-oriented offenses in the league, and Mark Sanchez still has accuracy problems that tend to cap the value of his wideouts. Holmes will be fed first in this passing game; the best Burress will be is second. But he's always been a good red zone threat and there should be enough week-to-week targets available for Plax to make him draftable in some leagues. In last year's final 12 regular-season games (after Holmes had returned from his suspension), Braylon Edwards averaged just fewer than seven targets per game. That's not a scintillating number, but it's not horrible.
Olsen
• Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers. Free at last! Mike Martz simply was never going to use the tight end as a receiver much in Chicago, so Olsen's talents were going to waste. I think you can easily make the case that in terms of ability, Olsen is one of the 10 best receiving tight ends in the business, so his ascension to a system that seems ready to value his skills is good news. Of course, it's also been a long time since the Panthers have featured an elite fantasy tight end (the name Wesley Walls comes to mind), and the Week 1 starting QB may very well be rookie Cam Newton, so it's tough to say Olsen immediately becomes a fantasy starter in shallow leagues. But he's much more draftable than he was as a Bear. In other news, this transaction tells us all we need to know about how much Jeremy Shockey has left in the tank as a receiver. He's going to be a glorified offensive lineman in his first season in Carolina.
Barber
• Marion Barber to the Chicago Bears. Barber may be only 28, but his whirling-dervish running style has more than caught up with him. He faded badly in his final couple of seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, and last year averaged 3.3 yards per carry as not one of his 113 totes went for more than 25 yards. He's good in pass protection and has always been a bull near the goal line, so Chicago does have a role for him. But it would be foolish, I think, to say that Matt Forte's fantasy owners should be concerned. Forte will continue to be The Man, while Barber will pitch in and could help a short-yardage rushing game that's struggled for years. Yes, it's possible Barber snatches away a few bunny TDs. But that doesn't make him a handcuff to Forte and it doesn't make him draftable; it makes him a nuisance. The guy who really needs to worry here is Chester Taylor. He's probably on the Bears' roster bubble now.
Williams
• Roy Williams to the Chicago Bears. The last good season Williams had was '06, and Martz was his offensive coordinator. Perhaps that provides a flicker of hope that Williams might deliver on what once looked like an All-Pro type of career. But he'd have to change his stripes dramatically for that to happen. His two-plus years in Dallas were marked by inattention to detail, mental errors, a loss of deep speed and QB chemistry concerns. The guy still turns only 30 in December, and it's not like he's coming to a team with an established excellent receiving corps. In theory, Williams could wind up Chicago's No. 1 wideout. Certainly his presence means Devin Hester basically goes back to being a return man, while Earl Bennett may wind up operating more out of the slot. Williams is a big guy who in theory can be a good end zone target. But Johnny Knox is the dynamic player here, the guy who'll break big gains and rack up higher-value targets. If Williams beats out Bennett and lines up as the flanker, he's fairly ownable as a speculative pick. But I'm not expecting a ton.
Jenkins
• Michael Jenkins to the Minnesota Vikings. Really? This is how the Vikings will try to replace Sidney Rice? Yuck. Jenkins is a terrific downfield blocker, but he averaged just 2.2 yards after the catch last season, ranking 97th among NFL receivers. He just doesn't make plays. Heck, there's absolutely no guarantee that Jenkins will beat out Bernard Berrian for the spot opposite Percy Harvin, and the recently signed Devin Aromashodu also has an outside shot of getting in the mix. I have to believe there's still a chance the Vikes will sign a bigger-name free-agent WR (as of this writing, Malcom Floyd, James Jones and Braylon Edwards were all still available), in which case Jenkins' fantasy value will be absolutely nil. Yes, if Minnesota's roster stays as currently constituted, it's possible Jenkins catches a few touchdowns from Donovan McNabb. But I wouldn't dream of owning him in a 10-team league.
Sims-Walker
• Mike Sims-Walker to the St. Louis Rams. Oh, goodie, another wide receiver in St. Louis. Josh McDaniels is obviously collecting them. Let's run through the group: Danny Amendola, Danario Alexander, Donnie Avery, Brandon Gibson, Mardy Gilyard, Austin Pettis, Greg Salas, maybe Mark Clayton and now MSW. Amendola, Alexander, Pettis and Salas aren't going anywhere, though Pettis and Salas are rookies, so they don't need to contribute right away to justify their roster spots. That means Avery, Gibson, Gilyard and Sims-Walker (Clayton's surgically repaired knee apparently isn't ready for prime time yet) are competing for what? Two roster spots? The third-receiver gig? I mention all this by way of saying: Don't be fooled into thinking MSW has been brought to St. Louis as a presumptive starter. He got a one-year, short-money contract after a disastrous '10 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Could he make the team and wind up Sam Bradford's top target? Sure. But could he get hurt yet again? Could he find himself buried on the depth chart? Could he get flat-out cut? Yup.
Seven Superb Multi-Brewery Tours
Multi-brewery tours are a great way to get your feet wet in a new city's craft beer scene. They can provide in-depth knowledge of an unfamiliar area, as well as show you the best places to grab a cold, craft beer. They are especially valuable for new craft beer enthusiasts, who want to learn more about the many aspects of beer.
While there are hundreds of brewery tours around the country, there are a few that stand out from the rest. Getting from brewery to brewery on these tours could be a short walk, or even a boat ride down a river. So whether you're new to an area or just visiting, be sure to check out these tours for a great time.
1.Milwaukee, WI: Riverwalk Boat Tours
Hop aboard the Brew City Queen II as it cruises down the Milwaukee River to visit places such as Lakefront Brewery and the Milwaukee Ale House. The Riverwalk Boat Tour's Sunday Brewery Cruise is America's only three-stop brewery tour by boat!
2. Detroit, MI: Motor City Bike & Brew Tours
Steve Johnson, president and founder of Motor City Brew Tours, recently combined his love of beer with his love of bikes. The 3-4 hour tours include about ten stops that visit brewery sites from the past and present. This tour is BYOB (Bring Your Own BIKE), but rentals are available.
3. Fort Collins & Boulder, CO: MyHandleBar
MyHandleBar offers tours on custom 16-passenger bikes for you and 15 of your closest friends (and a designated driver) . Riders are welcome to customize their own route and stops or sit back and let the guide plan the trip.
4. Portland, OR: The Portland BrewBus
The Portland BrewBus offers tours with three or four stops, and focuses on educating visitors about Portland, its history, and the importance of local ingredients in brewing. Find out exactly why Portland is often considered the number one beer city in America.
5. Asheville, NC: Asheville Brews Cruise
For three years running, Asheville has been dubbed BeerCity USA; and with eight breweries within city limits, there's no question why. On the Asheville Brews Cruise, visit breweries such as Highland Brewing Co., Pisgah Brewing Co., and Asheville Brewing Company, as well as some of the local pubs and bars.
6. San Diego, CA: Brewery Tours of San Diego
San Diego County boasts about 30 craft breweries, so it's easy to see how a craft beer visitor could be overwhelmed. With Brewery Tours of San Diego, visit places like Port Brewing, The Lost Abbey, Alesmith, and Karl Strauss Brewery for a taste of what San Diego has to offer.
7. New York City, NY: Urban Oyster NYC Walking Tours
Described as a "pub crawl with a purpose", Urban Oyster takes visitors to the beer bars of Manhattan focusing on proper serving techniques, tasting tips, beer styles, and craft beer appreciation.
While there are hundreds of brewery tours around the country, there are a few that stand out from the rest. Getting from brewery to brewery on these tours could be a short walk, or even a boat ride down a river. So whether you're new to an area or just visiting, be sure to check out these tours for a great time.
1.Milwaukee, WI: Riverwalk Boat Tours
Hop aboard the Brew City Queen II as it cruises down the Milwaukee River to visit places such as Lakefront Brewery and the Milwaukee Ale House. The Riverwalk Boat Tour's Sunday Brewery Cruise is America's only three-stop brewery tour by boat!
2. Detroit, MI: Motor City Bike & Brew Tours
Steve Johnson, president and founder of Motor City Brew Tours, recently combined his love of beer with his love of bikes. The 3-4 hour tours include about ten stops that visit brewery sites from the past and present. This tour is BYOB (Bring Your Own BIKE), but rentals are available.
3. Fort Collins & Boulder, CO: MyHandleBar
MyHandleBar offers tours on custom 16-passenger bikes for you and 15 of your closest friends (and a designated driver) . Riders are welcome to customize their own route and stops or sit back and let the guide plan the trip.
4. Portland, OR: The Portland BrewBus
The Portland BrewBus offers tours with three or four stops, and focuses on educating visitors about Portland, its history, and the importance of local ingredients in brewing. Find out exactly why Portland is often considered the number one beer city in America.
5. Asheville, NC: Asheville Brews Cruise
For three years running, Asheville has been dubbed BeerCity USA; and with eight breweries within city limits, there's no question why. On the Asheville Brews Cruise, visit breweries such as Highland Brewing Co., Pisgah Brewing Co., and Asheville Brewing Company, as well as some of the local pubs and bars.
6. San Diego, CA: Brewery Tours of San Diego
San Diego County boasts about 30 craft breweries, so it's easy to see how a craft beer visitor could be overwhelmed. With Brewery Tours of San Diego, visit places like Port Brewing, The Lost Abbey, Alesmith, and Karl Strauss Brewery for a taste of what San Diego has to offer.
7. New York City, NY: Urban Oyster NYC Walking Tours
Described as a "pub crawl with a purpose", Urban Oyster takes visitors to the beer bars of Manhattan focusing on proper serving techniques, tasting tips, beer styles, and craft beer appreciation.
Russian River Temptation Review
Not my review, but I'm a big fan of Russian River brews so if u can find this one try it out.
When most craft beer drinkers think American Wild Ales, Russian River immediately comes to mind. Known for their expert use of barrel aging and wild yeast, the wild ales in their portfolio are top notch. Temptation is one of those, a blonde ale aged in French Oak Chardonnay barrels and fermented with brettanomyces and other spontaneous bacteria.
Pulled from the cellar, the signature 375 ml corked and caged bottle (batch 05X1F) poured into my tulip glass with a golden orange semi-hazy body. Atop sat a pure white fluffy and sudsy head that did dissipate rather rapidly. A retention cap sticks around for the entire consumption, and leaves minor lacing. It was a bit less than I like to see but nonetheless it was a gorgeous beer to look at.
A variety of aromas come off together but stand on their own, in a way. Dandelions, rose hips, floral “spice,” peach, lemon zest, a hint of oak and white grapes are all there. The array of scents don’t detract or dominate one another – it’s a very light, crisp and tart fragrance. Towards the end of the nose, a touch of white grapefruit comes forward with its natural acidic character still intact.
Initially the tart and puckering character of this beer is obvious. Sweet and tart white grapes coat the palate, along with lemon and honey. A slight oak note is in the finish but there’s really no lingering taste other than a bit of a dry bite. I thought the woodiness from the oak barrel aging would be too intense but it’s well displayed and evidence the aging on the French Oak Chardonnay barrels is masterfully done. The mouth feel is on the thinner end of a medium-body being quite bubbly and sparkling, like a champagne.
Well, of all the “standard” Russian River Wild Ales I’ve sampled, this one might just be my favorite. I feel it’s extremely balanced in both aromas and flavors, while providing enough depth, complexity and balance to be a showpiece for a Wild Ale. The aging on French Oak Chardonnay barrels was the touch that took this beer above and beyond my expectations for the style.
When most craft beer drinkers think American Wild Ales, Russian River immediately comes to mind. Known for their expert use of barrel aging and wild yeast, the wild ales in their portfolio are top notch. Temptation is one of those, a blonde ale aged in French Oak Chardonnay barrels and fermented with brettanomyces and other spontaneous bacteria.
Pulled from the cellar, the signature 375 ml corked and caged bottle (batch 05X1F) poured into my tulip glass with a golden orange semi-hazy body. Atop sat a pure white fluffy and sudsy head that did dissipate rather rapidly. A retention cap sticks around for the entire consumption, and leaves minor lacing. It was a bit less than I like to see but nonetheless it was a gorgeous beer to look at.
A variety of aromas come off together but stand on their own, in a way. Dandelions, rose hips, floral “spice,” peach, lemon zest, a hint of oak and white grapes are all there. The array of scents don’t detract or dominate one another – it’s a very light, crisp and tart fragrance. Towards the end of the nose, a touch of white grapefruit comes forward with its natural acidic character still intact.
Initially the tart and puckering character of this beer is obvious. Sweet and tart white grapes coat the palate, along with lemon and honey. A slight oak note is in the finish but there’s really no lingering taste other than a bit of a dry bite. I thought the woodiness from the oak barrel aging would be too intense but it’s well displayed and evidence the aging on the French Oak Chardonnay barrels is masterfully done. The mouth feel is on the thinner end of a medium-body being quite bubbly and sparkling, like a champagne.
Well, of all the “standard” Russian River Wild Ales I’ve sampled, this one might just be my favorite. I feel it’s extremely balanced in both aromas and flavors, while providing enough depth, complexity and balance to be a showpiece for a Wild Ale. The aging on French Oak Chardonnay barrels was the touch that took this beer above and beyond my expectations for the style.
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