Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

Dogfish Head of Milton, Delaware brews three IPA ales (60, 90, & 120 Min.) I've sampled the 60 and 90 minute examples; tonight we will be trying the 120 minute brew. (Click beer for beer's website.)
Dogfish Head 120 Minute: Intense hoppiness; citrus nose; extremely cloudy; intense sweetness; strong alcohol masked well; balanced; "Sip at your own risk"; Much better cold; 120 IBU; Alc.18-21% Craig-7.25 Mike-8 Avg.-7.625
Craig Brodsky & Mike Komaroff Beer Baron

India Pale Ale Intensified

My nephew Craig and his wife Jackie are here for a visit from Durham, NC. Craig will be the resident beer impresario at this tasting with the BeerBaron assuming only backup status. Let's begin to explore the tantalizing world of IPA's!!! (Click beer name for beer's website.)

1)Cottonwood Endo (Mooresville, NC): 5.9%alc. Hoppy nose; Cloudy w/ floating sediment; apricot flavor; crisp; drinkable; smoothness; slight aftertaste Craig-6.5 Mike-7.25 Avg.-6.875

2)Hop Ottin' IPA (Mendocino, Cal.): 7.0%alc. Very hoppy nose; clear; grapefruity; bitter bite; smooths out; full mouth; moose on bottle Craig-7.5 Mike-7.75 Avg.-7.625

3)White Hawk IPA (Saratoga Springs, NY): 7.0%alc. Slight hop nose; clear; fast taste burst; not hoppy; flattens out; bitter; tangy aftertaste Craig-6.25 Mike-6.5 Avg.6.375

4)Rocky Mountain IPA (Ft. Collins, Col.): 6.2%alc. Cloudy; fruit apricot nose; strong taste; big bite; fast fade; carmel feel; slight bitterness; elephant on label Craig-7.5 Mike-7.0 Avg.7.25

5)Smuttynose IPA (Portsmouth, NH): 5.6%alc. Frothy head; cloudy; citrusy nose; strong apricot; fruit lingers; not bitter; harbor seal on label Craig-7.5 Mike-7.5 Avg.7.5

6)Wolaver's IPA (Middlebury, Vt.): 55IBU(Int'l Bitter Rating) Organic since 1997; not bitter; unfiltered; rustic Craig-6.75 Mike-6.25 Avg.6.5

Final Thought-I had never seen any of Craig's entries (1-4); all in all the IPA's were interesting and satisfying!!!

Craig Brodsky - Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Amber Lagers

Time for another lager beer tasting session as we approach the first day of spring.
Fisherman's Brew: Color-Cloudy orange amber Nose-Malty First taste-Full mouth; pleasant Observations-Well balanced Fizziness-Mild head; light carbonation Where brewed? Gloucester, Mass. Cost-$.83 Saying-"To the Sailors of the N. Atlantic" Style-Amber lager Container-12 oz. bottle Aftertaste-Back throat Rating-7.5
Saranac Season's Best (late '08): Color-Clear orange amber Nose-Malty First taste-Slight harshness Observations-Mellows out Fizziness-Mild head; few bubbles Where Brewed? Utica, NY Cost-$1.16 Saying-"Spirit of Adirondacks" Style-Nut brown lager Container-12 oz. bottle Aftertaste-Caramel Rating-7
Final thought-Saranac consistent but outpointed by the Fisherman's Brew!!!
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Lager To the Nth Degree

As we were in Manhattan a trip to Trader Joe's found a couple of beers from Monroe, Wisconsin. I chose to try the lager (6.2%alc.) over the pilsner.
Harp Lager: Color-Golden Nose-Of grain First taste-Foreign taste Observations-Smooth feel Fizziness-Frothy head; few bubbles Where Brewed? Dublin, Ireland Cost-$1.21 Saying-"From the brewers of Guinness" Style-Imported lager Container-12 oz. bottle Aftertaste-Nice Rating-7.25
Simpler Times Lager: Color-Yellow golden Nose-Sweet First taste-Fast burst; quick fade Observations-Not well balanced Fizziness-Mild head; many active bubbles Where Brewed? Monroe, Wis. Cost-$.66 Saying-"From Simpler Times" Style-High alcohol lager Container-12 oz. can Aftertaste-Mildness Rating-6
Final Thought-Alcohol bang for the buck in Simpler Times; Harp better for an imported price!!
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Hoppy Ales

In my continuing search for "hoppiness" I will try an amber ale as well as a pale ale.
Flying Dog Classic: Color-Orange amber Nose-Hoppy First taste-Quick taste; hops on throat Observations-Balanced Fizziness-Mild head; few active bubbles Where Brewed? Frederick, Md. Cost-$.83 Saying-"Doggie style" Style-Pale ale Container-12 oz. bottle Aftertaste-Classy Rating-7.5
Magic Hat Roxy Rolles: Color-Red amber Nose-Grapefruity First taste-Intense Observations-Almost too hoppy? Fizziness-Frothy head; very few bubbles Where brewed? So. Burlington, Vt. Cost-$.91 Saying-Motor cyclist in black on label Style-Amber ale Container-12 oz. bottle Aftertaste-Hops linger Rating-7.25
Final thought-Roxy Rolles can be tested among the IPA's; Flying Dog has more hops than most pale ales and finishes well!!!
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Brandishing Brown Ales

The snow has begun to melt as springlike temperatures have hit the NYC area. Weekend weather for Bryce's (20) birthday weekend are expected in the 60's. This brings us to another session quaffing brown ale with all the gusto I can muster!!!
Saranac India Brown Ale: Color-Orange brown Nose-Clean First taste-Sharp; full mouth Observations-Nice; pleasant taste Fizziness-Mild head; active bubbles Where brewed? Utica, NY Cost-$1.16 Saying-"Spirit of Adirondacks" Style-India style brown ale Container-12 oz. bottle Aftertaste-Decent Rating-7.25
Weyerbacher Winter Ale: Color-Yellow brown Nose-Caramel First taste-Quick taste; fast fade Observations-Flattens out Fizziness-Rim head; few bubbles Where brewed? Easton, Pa. Cost-$.76 Saying-Snowmen on Label Style-Winter Ale Container-12 oz. bottle Aftertaste-Molasses like Rating-6.25
Final thought-Saranac decidedly better!!!
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Pale Ale Perpetually

With a major Nor'easter snowstorm bearing down on the Northeast, I will taste 1 previously tested pale ale in one of my repeat tastings.
Flying Dog Classic: Color-Orange amber Nose-Hoppy First taste-Grapefruit Observations-Nicely balanced Fizziness-Rim head; few bubbles Where brewed? Frederick, Maryland Cost-$.83 Saying-"Doggie Style" Aftertaste-Memorable Rating-7.5
Wolaver's: Color-Orange amber Nose-Clean First taste-Back throat Observations-Fast fade of taste Fizziness-Mild head; light carbonation Where Brewed? Middlebury, Vt. Cost-$.83Saying-Organic ingredients Aftertaste-Earthy Rating-6.5
Final Thoughts-Flying Dog much more like what i think pale ale should be. Wolaver not positive!!!
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Wheat Ale On Your Way

Following a walk with Audrey on the avenue, I am home doing a tasting of wheat type brews.
Ayinger Brau-Weisse: Color-Cloudy yellow golden Nose-Tangy First taste-Quick burst; fast fade Observations-Smooths out but weird taste Where brewed? Aying, Germany Cost-$.83Saying-"Brau von Aying" Container-11.2 oz. bottle Fizziness-Frothy foam; few bubbles Aftertaste-Strange Rating-6.5
Magic Hat Circus Boy: Color-Cloudy golden Nose-Sweet First taste-Nice first feel Observations-Pleasant Where Brewed? So. Burlington, Vt. Cost-$.83 Saying-"The Hefeweizen" Container-12 oz. bottle Fizziness-Rim head; no bubbles Aftertaste-Positive Rating-7.75
Final Thought-Circus Boy much tastier and well balanced!!!
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Redbridge Gluten-Free (Anheuser Busch)

Here is my first encounter with gluten free beer brewed with sorghum instead of wheat:
Redbridge: Color-Orange amber Nose-Slight First taste-Fast burst; flattens out Observations-Pleasant taste Fizziness-No head; many active bubbles Cost-$.83 Style-Gluten free (Brewed with water, sorghum, hops, & yeast) Container-12 oz. bottle Aftertaste- Of citrus Rating-6.75
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron

Croatian Beer

Following a dinner out in lower Manhattan with 5 Boro Phil (Beach Club Cabana Mate), I am checking out Karlovacko Pivo, a Croatian beer for the second time (followup).
Karlovacko Pivo: Color-Clear golden Nose-Fresh First taste-Full mouth; good taste Observations-Well balanced Fizziness-Slight head; bubbles Where Brewed? Karlovacko, Croatia (founded in 1854) Cost-$.83 Container-11.15 ozs. Aftertaste-European feel Rating-8
Final Thought-Representative Europa Beer
Mike Komaroff BeerBaron