Daily Beer

A different beer reviewed every day.

Saranac Amber Wheat Ale

Sep 14

Posted by Lumpy in Reviews | No Comments

Name: Saranac Amber Wheat Ale
Brewer:  The Matt Brewing Co
Style:  American Dark Wheat Ale
Type: Limited
Alc: 4.8%abv
Overall Rating:   / 10
Info:
From the The Matt Brewing Co website
Wholesome, delicious and refreshing. What more can you say about a beer brewed with generous amounts of American Wheat Malt. In keeping with the tradition of Dunkel Weizen, we’ve used a sweet addition of Cara and roast malts to add to the interest. Unfiltered so you’ll experience the beer as wheat beers are meant to be enjoyed.
-Prax-
Appearance:  7
Golden amber color with a light haze. No foam, and no lacing.  My glass has some brown floaty bits in it.  Not sure what those are but mine seems to be the only glass that has them.
Smell:  9
This beer has a nice sweet smell.  I can’t quite figure out what it smells like.  I can pick out the floral hops smell and probably a hint of the wheat.
Mouthfeel: 7
Light body and heavily carbonated.  I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced an “afterfeel” but I think this beer has done that.
Taste:  6
I can taste the hops, and the wheat, but there is some kind of background funk that I’m not enjoying.  The aftertaste is strong and bitter, and lingers for quite a while.
Drinkability:  6
It’s actually getting a little better as it gets warmer.  I usually don’t like beers with strong malt flavors, and I think that the what-malt really brings down those flavors a notch.  The carbonation has relaxed a bit.  The funky taste is still there though.
Overall: 7
Not bad, not good.  We think I got a bad bottle (weird smell, floaty bits, and so on).  I’ll finish my glass but I wouldn’t drink it again.  Sorry Saranac, this one was a miss.
Comments:
Oh well, they can’t all be winners.  It’s been a while since I’ve had a beer so I feel like I’m out of practice.  Sorry for the short hiatus, we’ve had some slight interference.  October is coming up, with all its beer laden gloriousness of Oktoberfestivenss (yes I’m making up words).  I look forward to the next month of beer and reviews.  Thank you dear readers for sticking with us.
-Lumpy-
Appearance:  6
Poured a deep hazy amber with a thick white head. The head faded quickly and left no lacing behind. There are ample trains of carbonation rising up the glass.
Smell:  9
Nice strong wheat and caramel aroma, it makes me think of waffles.
Mouthfeel:  8
Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation. The wheat malt gives this a nice chewy texture. It is quite smooth and goes down easy.
Taste:  7
There is a strong sweet taste that opens this brew. It quickly turns bitter from some floral hops but then finishes with caramel and roasted malts. There is a slightly metallic aftertaste but all in all it rounds out nicely.
Drinkability:  8
This is a mild beer and very drinkable. It would be fantastic on a nice summer day sitting on the deck.
Overall:  8
It does come across as more of an amber ale than a wheat beer, but it is a solid brew. The tastes are not very complex but they don’t have to be. The only con of this was the aftertaste and even that didn’t hang around long.
Comments:
Not quite the wheat beer I was hoping for but I did enjoy this. I think Prax may have gotten a spoiled bottle as hers was really skunky and had a bit of detritus floating in it.
The Puppies Say:
Dumas says, “Waffles!”
*No puppies ingested beer during the execution of this review.

Name: Saranac Amber Wheat Ale
Brewer:  The Matt Brewing Co
Style:  American Dark Wheat Ale
Type: Limited
Alc: 4.8%abv

Overall Rating:   7.3 / 10

saranac amber wheat ale

Info:
From the The Matt Brewing Co website
Wholesome, delicious and refreshing. What more can you say about a beer brewed with generous amounts of American Wheat Malt. In keeping with the tradition of Dunkel Weizen, we’ve used a sweet addition of Cara and roast malts to add to the interest. Unfiltered so you’ll experience the beer as wheat beers are meant to be enjoyed.

prax-Prax-

Appearance:  7
Golden amber color with a light haze. No foam, and no lacing.  My glass has some brown floaty bits in it.  Not sure what those are but mine seems to be the only glass that has them.

Smell:  9
This beer has a nice sweet smell.  I can’t quite figure out what it smells like.  I can pick out the floral hops smell and probably a hint of the wheat.

Mouthfeel: 7
Light body and heavily carbonated.  I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced an “afterfeel” but I think this beer has done that.

Taste:  6
I can taste the hops, and the wheat, but there is some kind of background funk that I’m not enjoying.  The aftertaste is strong and bitter, and lingers for quite a while.

Drinkability:  6
It’s actually getting a little better as it gets warmer.  I usually don’t like beers with strong malt flavors, and I think that the what-malt really brings down those flavors a notch.  The carbonation has relaxed a bit.  The funky taste is still there though.

Overall: 7
Not bad, not good.  We think I got a bad bottle (weird smell, floaty bits, and so on).  I’ll finish my glass but I wouldn’t drink it again.  Sorry Saranac, this one was a miss.

Comments:
Oh well, they can’t all be winners.  It’s been a while since I’ve had a beer so I feel like I’m out of practice.  Sorry for the short hiatus, we’ve had some slight interference.  October is coming up, with all its beer laden gloriousness of Oktoberfestivenss (yes I’m making up words).  I look forward to the next month of beer and reviews.  Thank you dear readers for sticking with us.

lumpy-Lumpy-

Appearance:  6
Poured a deep hazy amber with a thick white head. The head faded quickly and left no lacing behind. There are ample trains of carbonation rising up the glass.

Smell:  9
Nice strong wheat and caramel aroma, it makes me think of waffles.

Mouthfeel:  8
Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation. The wheat malt gives this a nice chewy texture. It is quite smooth and goes down easy.

Taste:  7
There is a strong sweet taste that opens this brew. It quickly turns bitter from some floral hops but then finishes with caramel and roasted malts. There is a slightly metallic aftertaste but all in all it rounds out nicely.

Drinkability:  8
This is a mild beer and very drinkable. It would be fantastic on a nice summer day sitting on the deck.

Overall:  8
It does come across as more of an amber ale than a wheat beer, but it is a solid brew. The tastes are not very complex but they don’t have to be. The only con of this was the aftertaste and even that didn’t hang around long.

Comments:
Not quite the wheat beer I was hoping for but I did enjoy this. I think Prax may have gotten a spoiled bottle as hers was really skunky and had a bit of detritus floating in it.

The Puppies Say:
dumasDumas says, “Waffles!”

*No puppies ingested beer during the execution of this review.

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A Quick Update

Sep 14

Posted by Lumpy in Updates | No Comments

No, the Daily Beer isn’t gone. We had a real life snafu and had to take a few days off. We are back today and at least for the foreseeable future. We are going to only be doing weekday reviews though. Weekends are just too hectic to be writing reviews of beer.

So, we will see you later tonight for our Daily Beer.

Tags:

Saranac Summer Ale

Sep 9

Posted by Lumpy in Reviews | No Comments

Name: Saranac Summer Ale
Brewer: The Matt Brewing Co
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale
Type: Seasonal
Alc: 4.7%abv

Overall Rating: 6.9 / 10

saranac sumemr ale

Info:
From the The Matt Brewing Co website
With more than 2,800 bodies of water in the Adirondacks, it’s not too hard to find a sunny place to relax, rest your feet and look out over the water. To celebrate summer in the Adirondacks, we’ve brewed a beer with generous amounts of wheat malt for a light, refreshing taste. Look for subtle hints of lemon.

prax-Prax-

Appearance: 7
Clear golden color with no foam, no head, and no lacing.  I was disappointed to read on the label that this beer contains caramel coloring.

Smell: 7
Wow, that is a strange smell.  I can’t even say it smells like beer but I find it oddly alluring.  It smells like.. shampoo.  I guess if I had to pick a beer scent to pin on it, I would say hops.

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium to light body with a lot of carbonation.  The carbonation isn’t too fizzy or pin prickly.  It suits the body well.

Taste: 8
It never ceases to amaze me how many flavors you can make with the basic beer ingredients (and a few extras here and there).  I have never tasted anything like this before.  I’m still not entirely sure if I like it or not but I find myself drinking sip after sip to try and figure it out.  There is a very strong citrus taste that hits right away and then lingers for a long time.  The flavor between the taste and aftertaste is malt and wheat.  The aftertaste, I’m noticing, stays around for a long time.

Drinkability: 9
Despite the odd flavor of this beer, I find it tasty and refreshing.  A big measure of the drinkability of a beer for me is whether or not I can gulp or chug it.  It’s important to me that beer has flavor and texture but I have found that if it catches in your throat on a big swallow then it is not very drinkable.  I love plenty of stuff that’s best for sipping.  I think good summer ale should be something you can chug down on a hot day though.  This beer certainly fits the bill.

Overall: 9
The more I drink, the more I like it.  It’s weird.  It’s refreshing.  It’s unique.  I enjoy summer ales because they are usually light and refreshing.  This beer does that job and gives you a flavor kick too.

Comments:
Hooray for Saranac!  Their beers have been so hit or miss for me and this one is definitely a hit.  It seems like they really take big chances with some of their flavors and I commend them for that.

lumpy-Lumpy-

Appearance: 7
Poured a clear golden color with a thin white fizzy head. The head faded quickly and left nothing behind. There is a good bit of carbonation rising up the glass.

Smell: 5
I’m sorry for this but it smells like Lemon Scented Pledge. There are strong lemons scents and some spices. It has a mild grainy malt aroma as well but it is extremely overpowered.

Mouthfeel: 4
Not much of a body, light and heavily carbonated. It almost feels oily in the mouth, a bit off-putting. The carbonation is there but this just seems to gloss over your tongue.

Taste: 6
Lemon is the dominant flavor in this brew. There is some coriander and spiciness to this but even these are washed out by the lemon. I keep getting hints of a wheat but again not really much. The finish has a long sour aftertaste that will be with you well after you finish the glass.

Drinkability: 6
It’s not bad, my biggest complaint is the mouthfeel but even that didn’t stop me from draining the glass.

Overall: 6
Definitely not for me, the sour finish and oily feel were not appealing. I think the lemon just overpowered everything in the brew and not in a good way.

Comments:
I can see where people would like this but it is just not to my tastes. It seems that Matt Brewing tries to push the envelope and do some bold brewing. I will keep trying because they have had some that have been more my style.

The Puppies Say:
dumasDumas says, “Sour sour sour.”

*No puppies ingested beer during the execution of this review.

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Roxy Rolles

Sep 8

Posted by Lumpy in Reviews | No Comments

Name: Roxy Rolles
Brewer: Magic Hat Brewing
Style: American Amber Ale
Type: Seasonal
Alc: 5.1%abv

Overall Rating: 7.6 / 10

RoxyRolles

Info:
From the Magic Hat Brewing Website
As the leaves line the trees with colors bright, the autumnal amber ramble comes into sight! Roxy Rolles pours in her wake foliage fallen and a perfect pairing of malt and hops.

prax-Prax-

Appearance: 8
This beer is really hazy.  I wouldn’t have expected that from ale.  There is no head or lacing to speak of, but there is a light foamy layer atop my glass.

Smell: 9
A nice fruity, floral, sweet smell that isn’t too strong.  The scent is intoxicating and pleasant.  It smells a lot like an IPA.

Mouthfeel: 8
Light bodied and a moderate amount of carbonation.  The light feel goes well with the style and taste of the beer.

Taste: 8
There is a substantial hops flavor to this beer, much stronger than I have tasted in other ales.  It adds bitterness but doesn’t overpower the overall taste.  It’s sweet.  I’m having a hard time tasting anything but the hops.  The flavor isn’t complex but it is good.

Drinkability: 8
A light feel combined with a light taste make for a highly drinkable beer.

Overall: 8
Roxy Rolles is a good companion beer; something to drink while eating or to have during some kind of activity.  I wouldn’t drink it as a sit down, solo beer; not something to sip and savor.  It tastes great but there isn’t anything special about it.  However, I don’t think that a beer needs to have any astounding qualities to be good.  It just has to taste good and feel good.  Every beer has its place.

Comments:
Another tasty selection from Magic Hat.  They have certainly piqued my interest and I will probably go out of my way to find everything they currently have available.  Seriously, did I ever think I would have liked a beer made with beets?  I’m impressed.

lumpy-Lumpy-

Appearance: 8
This pours a cloudy dark amber-orange color with a heavy off white head. The head fades quickly to a ring and leaves a bit of lacing behind. This is very hazy and almost opaque. If you look closely you will notice carbonation rising up the glass.

Smell: 8
Strong caramel malts and piney hops dominate the nose. There is some citrus fruit aromas, maybe grapefruit. The aroma is strong and clean.

Mouthfeel: 5
Strong carbonation but this is a medium body brew that is quite watery. It does get ’stuck’ in the back of the throat as you swallow.

Taste: 7
The flavors follow the smell, just a bit watered down. The caramel malts start things off with a sweetness that is toned down by the poppy carbonation. The grapefruit flavors come in strongly with the hoppy bitterness that lasts through the finish. The finish is dry with a piney hop aftertaste and a mild spiciness.

Drinkability: 7
Although a little watery I felt this was very drinkable. I could easily drink a six of this. As it warms the flavors really blossom.

Overall: 8
Enjoyable and tasty, it was clearly to the style and should be liked by fans of IPA’s as well.

Comments:
This brew had a good level of complexity. I am sad that the Magic Hat sampler is gone, it had some tasty beers. This one just followed along in what I consider to be their mantra, ‘Good beer just pushing the boundaries of what you are used to’. You would do well to pick up a few and give them a try yourself.

The Puppies Say:
snappleSnapple says, “Carpet licking good.”

*No puppies ingested beer during the execution of this review.

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Smithwick’s

Sep 7

Posted by Lumpy in Reviews | 1 Comment

Name: Smithwick’s
Brewer: Guinness & Co
Style: Irish Red Ale
Type: Year Round
Alc: 4.5%abv

Overall Rating: 6.8 / 10

smithwicks

Info:
From the Guinness Website…
The brewery at St Francis Abbey in Kilkenny, Ireland has been in operation since 1710. Smithwick’s is Ireland’s oldest ale inspired by John Smithwick’s original recipe. This ale delivers a distinctive amber color, full bodied taste and ultra-smooth finish.

prax-Prax-

Appearance: 8
Dark amber color with a foamy head and tons of lacing.

Smell: 7
Smells malty and sweet

Mouthfeel: 6
A little watery and flat.  This beer has a light body.

Taste: 8
This beer has a sweet toasty flavor.  It’s slightly bitter but I don’t find the bitterness overpowering.

Drinkability: 8
The light body and sweet, smooth flavors make this go down pretty easy.

Overall: 8
I love the sweet toasted taste of Smithwick’s and the light taste means it’s not too heavy in my stomach.  I’m impressed that there is still lacing down the length of my glass even when the beer is almost all gone.

Comments:
I am so sorry this review hasn’t been more verbose.  I’m thoroughly exhausted after a three day weekend.  I also ate one more slice of pizza than I should have.  Uuugh.  But with that said, we happened across this bottle of Smithwick’s by chance today and ended up drinking it because it was the first beer we spotted in the fridge after opening it.  I had never heard of it.  I love being pleasantly surprised by beers.  It’s great to find a new beer that I like (and isn’t seasonal!)  Good job guys, and I think I’m going to go out and buy us a 6 pack.

lumpy-Lumpy-

Appearance: 8
This pours a clean dark copper color with a large frothy white head. The head didn’t last but left a heavy curtain of lacing. There is strong trains of carbonation rising up the glass..

Smell: 5
There are some caramel malts and citrus hops aromas but the smell has a skunky scent that was not pleasing. There is also a noticeable spices possibly nutmeg.

Mouthfeel: 5
Thin and watery with a good bit of carbonation. It is quite crisp and the carbonation, although strong, is not overpowering.

Taste: 7
The flavor matches the smell pretty well. The bitter citrus hops dominate the flavor profile. Sweet caramel malts come through before a grassy finish. The finish lingers a bit with a heavy bitterness.

Drinkability: 6
Moderate drinkability, I think this is a bit to bitter for me for me drink more than one or two.

Overall: 6
Not bad but a bit to bitter without the dynamic flavor profile to make it worth it for me.

Comments:
Another ‘based on an old recipe’ brew this time from Ireland’s oldest brewer. I’m not really digging it but it’s not a bad beer. For an Irish Red Ale you could do much worse.

The Puppies Say:
snappleSnapple says, “Goes great with Guinness!”

*No puppies ingested beer during the execution of this review.

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Saranac Pomegranate Wheat

Sep 6

Posted by Lumpy in Reviews | No Comments

Name: Saranac Pomegranate Wheat
Brewer: The Matt Brewing Co
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale
Type: Seasonal
Alc: 4.7%abv

Overall Rating: / 10

saranac pomegranate wheat

Info:
From the The Matt Brewing Co website
This wholesome combination of unfiltered wheat beer and real pomegranate juice makes a smooth refreshing beer with all the goodness of pomegranate. Look for a light body with a slight tart finish and golden straw color.

prax-Prax-

Appearance: 7
Light golden color with only a bit of cloudiness.  Not much foam, no lacing, but there is a thin froth at the top of the glass.

Smell: 2
Why are they Saranac beers so lacking in smell?  There is barely anything to describe here.  I can tell it’s beer, almost.  That’s about it.

Mouthfeel: 3
Way too much carbonation.  This has that pin prick feel on my tongue that really just hurts more than makes a good drink.  I let it sit for another five minutes and there are still a ton of bubbles.

Taste: 8
I tried really hard to separate the flavor from the feel here.  I want to like this beer.  After taking a small sip and searching for the flavors, I finally found the pomegranate.  It’s light and refreshing, and has a fruity aftertaste.

Drinkability: 5
I think this is one of those beers that I will like a lot more as I get towards the bottom of the glass and it’s had time to relax.  The flavors are there.  It seems like a good start to a beer but it isn’t quite there yet.

Overall: 5
Not bad, not really good either.  I feel like I keep saying that about the Saranac beers.  I would drink it again but there are several wheat beers out there that are better.
Comments:
Damn you Saranac!  I want so badly to love one of your brews.  There have been a few hits and a few misses.  I’ll keep trying.  I have faith in them.  I’m not sure why, but I do.

lumpy-Lumpy-

Appearance: 5
This poured a hazy yellow, there is a small foamy head that faded quickly leaving no lacing. There is moderate carbonation.

Smell: 3
I am getting a very mild fruit scent and that is all. There is almost no aroma at all.

Mouthfeel: 6
Crisp and light bodied almost watery, it is heavily carbonated.

Taste: 7
This starts of tart with a mild pomegranate taste. The wheat is the dominant flavor and is there straight to the finish. The finish is sweet and lingers for a bit. I find this well balanced and a good flavor. A common problem seems to be coming from overly carbonated beers and this one has this issue as well, it washes away much of the flavors before you can enjoy them.

Drinkability: 8
Pretty drinkable but a burpy beer. I found this to be quite enjoyable and easy to quaff.

Overall: 7
I was looking forward to this because I am a fan of the pomegranate. Matt FX did a good job with this one but they could tone down the carbonation.

Comments:
I am glad that we gave the Saranac brews a second chance because I have found a few that I genuinely like. I like beer.

The Puppies Say:
dumasDumas says, “popping bubbles and fruit.”

*No puppies ingested beer during the execution of this review.

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#9

Sep 5

Posted by Lumpy in Reviews | No Comments

Name: #9
Brewer: Magic Hat Brewing
Style: Vegetable Beer
Type: Year Round
Alc: 4.6%abv

Overall Rating: / 10

magic-hat-9

Info:
From the Magic Hat Brewing Website
A beer cloaked in secrecy. An ale whose mysterious and unusual palate will swirl across your tongue and ask more questions than it answers. A sort of dry, crisp, refreshing, not quite pale ale. #9 is really impossible to describe because there’s never been anything like it.

prax-Prax-

Appearance: 9
I think the description of “not quite pale ale” is very fitting.  This beer is a light amber color, slightly cloudy, and a nice layer of foam at the top of the glass.  Not really any lacing to speak of.

Smell: 4
Though the smell is pleasant, it’s barely perceptible.  I can smell a hint of hops, and that’s it.

Mouthfeel: 3
WAY too carbonated.  The only thing I can feel is a million little bubbles stabbing my mouth.  I’m not even sure if this is light or medium bodied, because I can’t get past the bubbles.

Taste: 7
The primary flavor is a light floral hops.  It finishes with a sort of maltyness.  The flavors are layered nicely but the aftertaste is a little funky.  Luckily it doesn’t linger too long.

Drinkability: 5
This beer is hard to rate because I really want to like it.  The smell isn’t inviting, but the taste isn’t bad.  The feel isn’t great, and neither is the aftertaste.  I like the hops flavor and not much else.

Overall: 5
Not bad, not really good either.  The carbonation is a big drawback.  I think it would be more palatable if all the fizz wasn’t in the way.

Comments:
My least favorite Magic Hat beer so far.  It does get better as it warms up and mellows out.  Not a bad beer, but not for me.

lumpy-Lumpy-

Appearance: 6
This pours a light amber color with a frothy head that faded quickly leaving no lacing but a nice collar. Heavy carbonation can be seen rising up the glass.

Smell: 5
The aroma is very faint and the only thing I can really make out is a mild apricot scent. After letting it sit a bit I did make the musty hops but still very mild.

Mouthfeel: 6
Light body and crisp, this has a strong poppy carbonation. #9 is quite watery.

Taste: 6
Floral hops and apricots come through strongly, unfortunately the carbonation washes away most of the flavors. The roasted malts come through heavy next with a mild chocolate taste. This finishes with fruitiness and bitter hops.

Drinkability: 5
I found this much to carbonated and had trouble finishing the one for this fact.

Overall: 6
The flavor profile in this was actually a bit complex but it was so washed out by the overpowering carbonation.

Comments:
I must admit that the Magic Hat brews are interesting if nothing else. They seem to have a knack for finding fruits that blend well with the hops and malt combinations they brew with.

The Puppies Say:
snappleSnapple says, “Too bubbly!”

*No puppies ingested beer during the execution of this review.

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Saranac Rye Pilsener

Sep 4

Posted by Lumpy in Reviews | No Comments

Name: Saranac Rye Pilsener
Brewer: The Matt Brewing Co
Style: Rye Lager
Type: Limited
Alc: 4.8%abv

Overall Rating: 6.75 / 10

saranac rye pils

Info:
From the The Matt Brewing Co website
A nice, spicy twist on the traditional European Pilsener. Rye malt adds dimension to what otherwise is a relatively simple brew. We’ve used generous amounts of this complex malt so you can pick out the unique flavors. You’ll notice a nice subtle spiciness in the finish complemented by a crisp bitterness from Vanguard hops..

prax-Prax-

Appearance: 9
Clear golden color with a nice foamy head that lingered for a while.  Not much lacing, but the glass is still frothy after 5 minutes.

Smell: 4
It kind of smells like funky soap.  Not pleasant.

Mouthfeel: 7
A little too foamy feeling, but it has a lightly carbonated medium bodied feel.  This is one that’s going to make me burp.

Taste: 7
I don’t know if that’s malt, or the rye, or what, but this beer has that savory sort of taste that I’m not fond of.  The flavors are in layers.  First I taste citrus, then the savory, and then an aftertaste that’s bitter.

Drinkability: 5
I don’t like the flavor much, and the foamy feel makes it hard to drink.  I can’t even chug it to get rid of it because the carbonation is too strong.  It doesn’t have the prickly bubble feel, but it does have tons of bubbles.

Overall: 5
I could really take it or leave it.  At least it doesn’t taste like tuna.

Comments:
Ok Saranac, I’m giving you another chance with the summer sampler that I found today.  There were some interesting looking choices in the box, and I’m looking forward to trying them.  This one wasn’t a win for me.

lumpy-Lumpy-

Appearance: 6
Poured a clear pale yellow with a foamy white head the faded quickly leaving no lacing behind. There is a large amount of carbonation rising up the glass.

Smell: 5
The rye malt aroma is very strong. There are some citrusy hops backing up the biscuity malts. It comes off very dry, I’m not getting much sweetness.

Mouthfeel: 8
LIght body and heavy poppy carbonation, goes down quite smoothly. Interestingly enough the carbonation is not overdone.

Taste: 9
Taste pretty much goes right along with the aroma. The rye malt comes across with a decent spiciness with a very mild citrus hops that blends nicely. The finish is dry and clean, this is very nice. The carbonation keeps anything from overpowering you without washing away all of the taste

Drinkability: 8
Light and refreshing, this goes down easily and is not filling at all.

Overall: 8
Despite the unappealing smell, I really like this. I was seriously dreading this beer when Prax brought the bottle in. I was wrong, I find the taste very pleasing.

Comments:
I did not think I would find a rye beer at all to my liking. I give Matt FX Brewing much credit for this brew. This really gives me hope for the rest of the sample and saddens me that they are both gone.

The Puppies Say:
dumasDumas says, “It’s a little dryer then I’m used to but I like it.”

*No puppies ingested beer during the execution of this review.

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Circus Boy

Sep 3

Posted by Lumpy in Reviews | No Comments

Name: Circus Boy
Brewer: Magic Hat Brewing
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale
Type: Year Round
Alc: 5%abv

Overall Rating: 7.4 / 10

circusboy

Info:
From the Magic Hat Brewing Website
Unfiltered and unfettered Circus Boy is a unique and refreshing American Style Hefeweizen. Is he a who? Or a What? Or perhaps some of both. Circus Boy is cloudy by nature, like Burlington VT itself. Rouse gently to release full flavor.

prax-Prax-

Appearance: 6
Medium yellow/gold color with a quick dissolving frothy head.  This beer is very clear for a wheat beer.  The longer it sits, the clearer it is getting.

Smell: 8
Strong wheat and lemon scents dominate here.

Mouthfeel: 8
Medium to light body, this beer has a strong fizzy feel but it doesn’t assault my mouth the way a lot of other carbonation does.  It has that pin prickle on the tongue feel, but not too harsh.

Taste: 8
Circus Boy has a mild wheat taste with strong citrus flavors.  I taste a hint of orange, but the main flavor seems to be lemon.  It makes sense since the beer is made with lemongrass.

Drinkability: 9
The beer warmed up a little and the carbonation settled down.  It goes down smooth and is very refreshing with its citrus taste

Overall: 8
The beer tastes great, but doesn’t look very nice.  It looks like apple juice.  Smells good, goes down easy, and the bottle is pretty (I’m such a girl).  You’d never know from looking at it that it’s a hefe.  I like that the wheat taste is not only light in appearance but also in taste.

Comments:
I have enjoyed the Magic Hat beers so far.  Here’s to hoping that the rest of the sampler is good.

lumpy-Lumpy-

Appearance: 7
This pours a slightly hazy light amber color with a subtle copper hue. It has a frothy white head that faded quickly and left no lacing at all. There is some carbonation rising up the glass.

Smell: 8
Strong wheat aroma backed up with orangey citrus. Nothing else to this but that is enough, it is an appealing scent.

Mouthfeel: 6
Light body and crisp, this has a tingly carbonation.

Taste: 7
Lemon rind and wheat really dominate the flavor. The high carbonation washes away much of the flavor unfortunately because the lemon grass is noticeable but not prominent. The lemon grass gives a nice peppery spice to the finish which lingers longer then I would have thought.

Drinkability: 7
This is light for a wheat beer but is highly carbonated and is making me burp a lot. The citrus is very cooling and refreshing.

Overall: 7
The more I drank the more I liked the brew, I am not a fan of heavy carbonation but the flavor profile of this is nicely crafted.

Comments:
The lemon grass does add to this brew and is more than a silly gimmick. It is a good entry level Hefe and I would recommend it. Sorry I don’t have more to say but I’m a bit under the weather and just want to enjoy this beer.

The Puppies Say:
snappleSnapple says, “Why does lemon grass taste like pepper?”

*No puppies ingested beer during the execution of this review.

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Heavy Seas Prosit!

Sep 2

Posted by Lumpy in Reviews | No Comments

Name: Heavy Seas Prosit!
Brewer: Clipper City Brewing
Style: Oktoberfest
Type: Limited
Alc: 9%abv

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

heavyseas_prosit

Info:
From the Clipper City Brewing website
Prosit! is malt focused, made with five types of grain including Vienna and Munich malts -  plus a secret extra malt that we use only in our Prosit!  Consider this bomber to be the burly big brother to our Clipper City MarzHon, a three year in a row winner at the Great American beer Festival.  We’ve balanced the sweetness of the malt with three kinds of hops making this one of the boldest marzen style you’ll ever try.”

prax-Prax-

Appearance: 8
This beer had a very nice cascade for a lager.  Not much of a head, and what was there vanished to nothing after a minute.  No lacing, and not a lot of bubbles rising up in the glass.  It has a rich amber color.

Smell: 9
The first whiff was very strong, but didn’t smell of anything distinct.  A few more sniffs revealed a strong hops aroma and a big alcohol odor that reminded me of a barley wine (not surprising since the alcohol content is 9%).

Mouthfeel: 8
The amount of carbonation contrasts well with the thick body of this beer.  It’s a bit strange, because it gives a light feel to a heavy beer.  It’s good but I think it will take some time to get used to.

Taste: 10
I like it.  There are several different distinct hops and malt flavors detectable.  It has the sweet, floral, bitter taste that I love.  It’s good in sips and in gulps.  It’s just full of flavor.

Drinkability: 9
The deceptively light feel, combined with a host of harmonic flavors make this highly drinkable.  The only drawback is the alcohol content.  I’m only about six sips into the glass and I’m already feeling tipsy.  I tend to prefer higher alcohol beers but for me, it’s a drawback in such a delicious beer because I have to find a middle ground between becoming drunk and enjoying a good drink.

Overall: 10
Inviting scent, great taste, great feel, all make for one great beer.  It isn’t something you can drink a lot of but what you do drink is fantastic.  I keep finding new hop flavors with every sip.

Comments:
I don’t think there has been one Heavy Seas beer that I haven’t liked.  In fact, Clipper City has impressed me with almost everything they’ve done.  We need to make sure we get all of the special edition 22oz bottles.

lumpy-Lumpy-

Appearance: 7
Pours a dark amber with a decent cascade that fades quickly. There is a small white foamy head that faded to nothing in quick order.  No lacing and very little carbonation rising in the glass.

Smell: 6
This has a mild aroma that is primarily comprised of mostly sweet caramel and malts. There is also a very subtle molasses smell.

Mouthfeel: 7
Smooth and heavy, this is not what I expecting, it’s almost syrupy. There is a modest amount of carbonation that fits well with the body.

Taste: 8
Sweet malt and caramel are very dominant, actually that’s about all I’m getting. There is a citrus hop taste that comes in towards the finish and is much stronger than expected after smelling this. There is a bit of an alcohol aftertaste on this but it is balanced  quite well.

Drinkability: 6
High alcohol and heavy body really make this a one off, but I do like it.

Overall: 8
I was pleasantly surprised by this brew from start to finish. It is not a standard Oktoberfest but solid none the less. This is no slouch and I impressed by the level of hoppiness.

Comments:
This is our first limited from the Clipper City Heavy Seas line and it only comes in 22oz bottles. It is very good for a one off, grab a few while you can.

The Puppies Say:
dumasDumas says, “Is syrupy even a word?”

*No puppies ingested beer during the execution of this review.

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