North Coast Le Merle

October 6, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

North Coast Le Merle, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: The pour is a cloudy golden orange color with an huge white head that eventually dies down and leaves some nice lacing.

S: The nose is driven by the cracker and bread malt aromas along with a strong yeast presence. Some light citrus zest along with some pepper and banana. Not all that much that says saison.

T: The flavor is similarly boring. The intense carbonation mutes what flavor is there. Again, this beer is mostly wheat bread and yeast (almost doughy) with a light citrus component.

M: Over-carbonated to say the least. The body is medium, but the intense carbonation is just a bit too much.

D: This is a rather mediocre beer. North Coast gets a lot of notoriety because of Old Rasputin and Old Stock, but I’ve found most of their other beers to be mediocre.

Maui Brewing Sobrehumano Palena Ole

September 27, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

Maui Brewing, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

a: murky brown yellow orange color. an inch of off white head quickly fades and leaves no lacing.

s: some cherries and malt with a juice aroma to it.

t: Not what I was expecting but not horrible.

m: kinda thin, lacks carbonation.

o: I was expecting an amazing beer from these two great breweries. I would buy this again but not what I expected.

The Bruery Saison De Lente

September 26, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

The Bruery Saison De Lente, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

Appearance: Poured a clouded, dirty blonde body with a large, white head.

Smell: Lightly doughy maltiness with notes herbs, green apples, musty leather, sour lemon.

Taste: Crisp malted barley with a mingling of whole grain crackers. Very subdued, very fleeting sweetness. Finishes rather dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-high carbonation.

Drinkability: A nice saison but not one of my favorites in the catergory

Serving type: bottle

Adelberts Dancin Monks

September 13, 2012September 13, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

Adelberts Dancin Monks, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: Pours a hazelnut brown color. Two finger white head forms and drops to a ring that sticks around. Lots of sticky lace is left behind.

S: Toasted malts, toffee sweetness, some plums as well. Simple, but enjoyable.

T: Toasted malts with a nice sweetness. Toffee, figs, plums.

M/D: A medium body and carbonation. Creamy and smooth.

Overall, very enjoyable if a bit simple. Very much worth a try if not familiar with the ATX brewery.

Adelberts Rambler Ale

September 12, 2012September 12, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

Adelberts Rambler Ale, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

Appearance: A hazy honey color with a strong white head

Smell: Bread, bubblegum, white pepper and green apple esters

Taste: Bready, up front, with a developing green apple character; herbal coriander and bubblegum. The beer grows progressively sweeter, after the swallow, bringing an herbal, green apple finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with low to moderate carbonation

Overall: An interesting take with good complexity but to me a touch sweet

New Belgium and The Lost Abbey Lips Of Faith – Brett Beer

September 3, 2012September 12, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

New Belgium and The Lost Abbey Lips Of Faith – Brett Beer, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

a – Pours a hazy, deep yellow orange color with one finger of fluffy white head.

s – Smells of oranges, A touch of brett, wheat, and bready malts. Brett and oranges are pretty weak. Nose isn’t bad at all, but kind of muted.

t – Tastes of bready malts, citrus, oranges, fruity malts, wheat, and very light funk, but not much. A little stronger and better than the nose, but still not much brett.

m – Medium body and low to moderate carbonation, the body is super smooth and creamy.

o – Overall a decent beer, but expected much better out of these breweries, and a bit underwhelming. For a name like “Brett Beer” it did not have a ton of brett, and the nose was very muted.

Serving type: bottle split in NB Tulips

Exposure Brewing Co. Clementine Wit

August 29, 2012September 12, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

Exposure Brewing Co. Clementine Wit, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: The beer pours a hazy golden color with a rather large white head that calms down pretty quick.

S: Clementines are prominent in the smell. Not too much coriander coming since the clementines are a bit strong.

T: A nice citrus flavor with lemon and orange peel. Like with the aroma, there really isn’t much spice or malt flavor but overwhelmed by clementines. Some sweetness, but it’s more candy/sugar-like.

M: Light in body with medium carbonation.

O: Not really much witbier character to this. Will try a different fruit regime next time to this, a hint of orange would be good with more of a classic wit taste.

Bellegems Bruin

August 25, 2012September 12, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

Bellegems Bruin, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: Pours mahogany with a moderate white head, solid lace.

S: Nice dark fruit nose, not really sour smelling, molasses.

T: Delicious acidity, not overly sweet, just a hint of sugar with a great sweet-sour finish. Lots of dark fruit, fantastic and definitively different than American sours.

M: Medium-bodied, moderate but easy acidity, a nice Flanders that even a non sour fan could appreciate.

D: Definitely buy this beer if you are looking for a well rounded sour that can be drank on the regular.

Monks Cafe Flemish Sour

August 24, 2012August 24, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

Monks Cafe Flemish Sour, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: An opaque reddish-brown color with an red-tinted foam which quickly subsides.

S: Full of sour cherries, vinegar, and oak. Some hints of sweetness coming through the pungent and strong aromas.

T: The taste is quite similar to the smell. The oak flavor is very prominent, dark fruits too. The vinegar component is a somewhat muted, compared to the aroma. Overall, the beer is tart, but not overwhelmingly so not to be compared with American sours.

M: The beer is medium in body with a dry finish, and mild astringency. Dry

D: The flavors are good and well balanced, another sour that you could drink more than one. Comes in a four pack for right around $10 so a good deal too.