Lager Beer Tasting

After taking my water aerobics class at Silver Gull I need to wet my whistle and a tasting should accomplish that. Here goes:
Pabst Blue Ribbon: Color-Yellow golden Nose-Of grain First taste-Strong; back throat Observations-Refreshing; not noteworthy Fizziness-Rim head; mild bubbles Where Brewed? Milwaukee, Wis. Cost-62 cents per 12oz. bottle Ingredients-Hops, grain, water Saying-Selected America's Best (1893) Established Milwaukee (1844) Aftertaste-Some residual taste Rating-5.5
Final Thought-Very average lager(was better well chilled) Has often been $1.00 per bottle special at bars during happy hour!!!

Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Dark Beer Tasting

A regular shopping trip to Fairway gets me a 6-pack of the assorted Adirondack trail mix from Saranac for $6.29+tax and deposit. Although storms have been predicted Audrey and I head to the Rockaways via the Gowanus and Belt Parkways. I decide to test the dark Saranac Black Forest with my lunch. Onward I go:
Saranac Black Forest: Color-Brownish black Nose-Of caramel First taste-Sweet molasses Observations-Well balanced Fizziness-Foamy head; well carbonated Where Brewed? Utica, NY Style-Bavarian Cost-$1.05 per 12 ozs. Inspired by-Black Forest of Adirondack Mountain region Aftertaste-Quite good Rating-7.5
Final Thought-Dark beer can be a challenge to rate; this was a good example!!!
Mike Komaroff

BeerBaron

IPA Tasteoff

We seem to be getting some summer storms to break up the heatwave we've recently experienced in the NYC area. It's been fun times at the beachclub in the Rockaways. Today, my mom visited her surgeon a full month following hip replacement surgery. The exam went well and she will be heading to LA with my sister for a month of R&R a week from tomorrow. I dedicate this tasting to my moms' continued recovery. It is truly amazing what advancements have been made in hip, knee, and shoulder replacements. I'll begin this now with an IPA I've never tried but I have had other ales including other IPA's from the same brewer.
Lagunitas Maximus IPA(Green label): Color-Orange golden yellow Nose-Hoppy First taste-Full mouth intense Observations-Grapefruit; bitter hoppy Fizziness-Frothy medium head; Active bubbles Where Brewed/Cost-Petaluma, Ca./$3.29 Alc# Container-7.5%, 22oz. Bottle Aftertaste-Taste does last but is too heavyduty Rating-7.25
Final Thought-If it let up a little the score would have been better; did deliver hoppiness but it never leveled off!!!
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Tasting an "Irish Red"

Silver Gull Beach Club on a sultry sunny summer day provides the backdrop for the BeerBaron's latest endeavor into drinking an Irish red beer. Let the quaffing and evaluating begin:
O'Hara's Irish Red: Color-Reddish brown Nose-Malty First taste-Full mouth Observations-Nice taste; flavorful Fizziness-Light sudsy head; light bubbles Where Brewed? Carlow, Ireland Cost-Gift Alc #-4.3%, 11.2 ozs. Methodology-Traditional hop flavor to balance a sweet malt finish Aftertaste-Does not hold on; lacks consistency Rating-7
Final Thought-Representative example
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Canuck Suds

Audrey will return from her trip tomorrow evening so this might be my last chance for awhile to stage a beer test. I've begun to check supermarkets for $6.00 a six-pack selections and this Canadian pilsner fit the bill.
Labatt Blue: Color-Yellow gold Nose-Floral First taste-Tasty; flavorful Observations-Goes down easily; finishes well Type-Pilsner Where Brewed? Toronto, Canada Fizziness-Mild head;
active bubbles; head fades Cost-$1.00 Container-11.5 oz. bottle Rating-7.50
Final Thought-Very good Canadian
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Domestic Ice Beer

Tonight I enter an area that I really never liked, but must dwell in.
Natural Ice: Color-Yellow golden Nose-Sweet First taste-Strong;
alcohol taste Observations-Not complex; soapy taste Fizziness-Rim
head; fast active bubbles Where brewed? St Louis, Mo. Alc#-5.9%
Cost-$1.00 per 24 ozs. Style-Ice Beer(Lager) Saying-"Ice brewed for
natural smooth taste" Container-24 oz.Can Ingredients-Water, hops,
yeast Brewer-Anheuser Busch Aftertaste-Nothing much Rating-3.75
FINAL THOUGHT-Not in the class of leader Molson Ice
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Testing Fruit Enhanced Ale

Ales with fruit are not generally on my radar but these are generally Audrey's favorite. I'm testing this one solo as Audrey is off traveling in Charleston, SC.
Wild Ale Raspberry: Color-Light red Nose-Fruity First taste-Strong raspberry taste; fast fade Observations-Nice back throat surge Where Brewed? Denver, Colorado Cost-71 cents per 12 ozs. (discounted at food co-op) Style-Ale fermented w/raspberries Fizziness-Frothy; fast moving active bubbles Saying-"Great Minds Drink Alike" Ingredients-Red and black raspberries; A balance of malt and fruit flavors Brewery-Great Divide Brewing Co. Aftertaste-Good memories Rating-7.25
FINAL THOUGHT- Audrey tried this before her trip to SC; did not rate it but found it representative of its' type. Not my area of favorite beer tasting.
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Trader Joe's Hofbrau Bock

Just off the Atlantic Ocean at Silver Gull Beach Club another beer is about to come under the scrutiny of the BeerBaron. It was purchased at Union Sq. last weekend. To begin the Germans call their bock beers "brews of royalty". Todays bock beers are roundly malty, have an alcohol content between 6 and 8 and are bottom fermenting. The colors vary from straw to dark amber.
Trader Joe's Hofbrau Bock: Color-Golden Nose-Funky First taste-Full mouth Observations-Pleasant taste Where Brewed? San Jose, Cal. Fizziness-Frothy; active bubbles Type-Bock Alc.#-7% Cost-$1.00 per 12 ozs. Bitterness Units-22 Int'l Ingredients-3 imported malts, Hallertau aroma hops, & lager yeast Aftertaste-Strong Rating-7
Final thought-Good example of American brewed bock copying German predecessor. Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

St. Pauli Girl revisited!!!

A shopping trip to Fairway in Red Hook always makes me check the better beer buys this market has. St. Pauli Girl Lager is a German import that I've had through the years and generally enjoyed. The label has a German barmaid holding three steins of beer in each hand like beer would be distributed during Octoberfest in Munich. Here goes with my evaluation:
St. Pauli Girl: Color-Golden Nose-Clean First taste-Full with foreign feel Observations-Goes down easily; smooth! Where Brewed? Bremen, Germany Cost-$1.08 per 12 ozs. Type-Lager Aftertaste-Full mouth Rating-7.5
Final Thought-Did not disappoint!!!
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Trader Joe's Bohemian Lager

Following visiting my mom at the re-hab last Friday, I headed to Trader Joe's and picked up a six of their fine Bohemian Lager beer. Today at the beach club I decided to rate it by itself:
Trader Joe's Bohemian Lager: Color-Golden yellow Nose-Medicinal First taste-Strong Observations-Nice balance Alc.-5% Cost-$1.00 per 12 ozs. Where Brewed? San Jose, Cal. Fizziness-Frothy head; big bubbles Aftertaste-Some taste remains Rating-7.25
Final Thought-This is a good example of the lagers brewed in the Czech Republic probably better known for their famous pilsner "Pilsner Uruquel".
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Ale Tasting

Red Hook Long Hammer IPA: Color-Light orange Nose-Hoppy First taste-Full mouth; dissipates Observations-Some taste remains; not dynamic Fizziness-Rim head; light bubbles Where Brewed? Portsmouth, NH Cost-$1.16 per 12 ozs.(6.5% alc.) Aftertaste-Slight Rating-7
Sierra Nevada Celebration: Color-Orange red Nose-Intensely hoppy First taste-Grapefruit; tasty Observations-Consistent appeal; Quite excellent Fizziness-Foamy; mild carbonation Where Brewed? Chico, Cal. Cost-$1.29(discounted for 51 cents) per 12 ozs.(6.8%ALC.) Aftertaste-Hops still there Rating-8
Final Thought-If you like hoppy ale, don't forget to try Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale!!!
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Beachclub

It is Saturday at the Silver Gull: Let's begin our test:
Boulder Beer Co. PASS TIME (since 1979): Color-Orange amber Nose-Fresh First taste-Back throat Observations-Full mouth Where Brewed? Boulder, Colorado Cost-79 cents per 12 ozs. Fizziness-Frothy head; small bubbles Ingredients-Water, malted barley. hops & yeast Aftertaste-Delicious Rating-7.75
Brooklyn Lager (Pre-Prohibition Beer): Color-Red orange amber Nose-Hoppy First taste-Upper palate Observations-Full mouth Where Brewed? Utica, NY Cost-90 cents per 12 ozs. Fizziness-Light head; light carbonation Ingredients-Malted barley hops a & water Aftertaste-Great flavor Rating-8
Final Thought-Impressive beer from the mountains (Rockies)
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron
"delayed transmission-left text in the Rockaways"