Here at The Ferment Nation we like to shine the spotlight on some worthy breweries that have brought us some really great beers: to drink and to review.
TroegsNugget Nectar:
Imperial Amber. Does that say it all? Not exactly. That can't possibly tell you how the sweet floral scent of hops rise up to greet you before your first sip. [Read the Full Review]
Troegs Hop Back Amber Ale:
Listed as an amber ale, I think of Hop Back as an IPA by virtue of its crispness and hoppy bite. Actually, it doesn't bite so much as nibble gently. [Read the Full Review]
TroegsDead Reckoning Porter:
I fell in love with this beer before I even drank it. The logo is so cool that upon my diplomatic voyage toTroegs last year I purchased a t-shirt bearing its likeness even though the stores had been depleted. [Read the Full Review]
What: Ellezelloise Hercule Stout 9.0% abv Where: The Pout House (Westmont, NJ) When: February 17, 2010 What-have-you: "Hercule stout. Pour House. Smells Belgian and tastes like stout. Quite delicious. A lil sweet and dark but not very bitter. Niiiice."
The unfiltered double IPA from Lambertville, NJ is just as hoppy as you want it to be. Hidden beneath the tranquil murkiness is a dangerous beast. At first glance, Hop-a-lot-amus looks like a dark hefe-weizen. But the aroma is a tantalizing blend of malty sweetness and floral hops -- perhaps a bit of oak or vanilla sneaks in there as well. So the safari continues.
The taste: There's a rich, malty skeleton holding up the strong body of the Hop-a-lot-amus. The earthy, oaky, vanilla-y flavors come next, but lets not short-change the featured flavor of this double IPA: Hops... A-lot-amus. The bitter blast of floral hops swirls up from the depths of this cloudy beverage, beginning with the foamy head and continuing all the way through the creamy mouthfeel. A little malty up front, then hoppy, then a little more malt, and a lovely bitter aftertaste. It does linger for awhile. The only way to quell the bitterness is to have another sip. And the process begins all over again. The complexity and balance of Hop-a-lot-amus hold to the standards of other River Horse offerings like Belgian Freeze, Hefe-Rye-Zen, and Double Wit, but I'm of the opinion that Hop-a-lot-amus outshines them by a slight margin. Keep in mind that at 8.5% abv, River HorseHop-a-lot-amus is not exactly a session beer. Even still, the creaminess and hoppiness make me fantasize about this brew on hand-pumped cask. Please give ol' El Presidente a heads-up if it pops up anywhere. Please. Pretty Please.
River HorseHop-a-lot-amus:
Representation: .975 Accessibility: .85 Style: .99 Personal Preference: 1.0
Okay, so now I am on the hunt for the perfect "winter warmer." Samuel Smith's almost always presents a near-perfect product; Just as nearly perfect is their representation of the style at hand. My personal opinion of Winter Welcome is that it falls just a smidge short. Oh, it's a fantastic brew that bears the Samuel Smith's signature sublimity and flawless craftsmanship, but I think it's a simple matter of my taste in hops. I think that Fuggle hops just don't do it for me. I remember being a bit disappointed in Long Hammer IPA awhile back, and I seem to remember that Fuggle hops were featured prominently in that particular beverage. Samuel Smith'sWinter Welcome starts out fairly malty in flavor but it seems to fade as the dry, hoppy finish takes over after the swallow. The aftertaste of the Fuggle and Golding hops is jus a little too funky for my taste. I prefer a bigger, bolder dose of malt and a different breed of hop. The Winter Welcome is finely crafted and well-balanced, just not to my ideal of the perfect winter warmer. It is sufficiently warming at 6% abv, but I think I want to be put to sleep by an ultra-smooth, malt-heavy, snowed-in-at-a-ski lodge, served-in-a-tankard doppelbock with a touch of cocoa and figs.
Like other winter beers: Medium body, smooth and malty, warming 6%. Unlike other winter beers: Signature English mellowness that is funkified by Fuggle hops.
Samuel Smith'sWinter Welcome Ale:
Representation: .95 Accessibility: .925 Style: .95 Personal Preference: .85
The Kickin Chickins Play The Main Stage at the Trocadero in Philly:
Friends of The Ferment Nation, The Kickin Chickins (myspace.com/kickinchickins) bring their signature serving of "Poultry with a side of Metal" to the main stage at the Trocadero, Saturday, February 13th. El Presidente himself issued this newsflash to the Nation, encouraging any and all citizens go who want to get out of the snow and warm up with some hot metal music. [BUY TICKETS HERE]
What: Yards General Washington Tavern Porter 7% abv Where: Undisclosed Location When: February 10, 2010 What-have-you: "Yards George Washington Porter. 7% abv. Dark and a lil smoky with coffee notes. Earthy bittersweetness from the molasses. Um... Perfect porter? Maybe."
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This reddish-brown winter warmer has a pretty apparent malt flavor, but is just a bit light on the body. It isn't weak, however, since the hoppy bitterness creates an interesting finish. The aftertaste is bitter and lingers quite awhile.
Flying Dog has some good stuff (like Gonzo Porter and Double Dog IPA), but they have a lot of brews I'm not 100% enthused about. K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale is pretty good but I prefer my malty beers a bit maltier and my hoppy beers a bit hoppier. Some exceptions exist, but those are extremely well-balanced brews that don't pop up all that often. I feel that Flying DogK-9 Cruiser would be really on the money if it had a bit more malty body and just a touch less bitterness. Then it would be approaching my perfect winter warmer scenario. Actually I may get a K-9 Cruiser and a Gritty'sChristmas and pour them into the same big-ass mug and see what happens. Flying DogK-9 Cruiser is worth a try if you're a beer geek on a winter ale kick, but don't put it in front of a newbie. Stylistically sassy, the flavors don't blend together smoothly enough to convert a non-craft drinker.
Like other winter beers: warming in your belly (6.4% abv does the job). Unlike other winter beers: no other tell-tale spices or flavors.
Flying DogK-9 Cruiser Winter Ale:
Representation: .90 Accessibility: .80 Style: .95 Personal Preference: .875
This India Pale Ale from Long Island, NY is just over the edge of Pale Ale, but not quite reaching the upper echelon of IPA territory. Hoptical Illusion is actually pretty malty, but not in a rich, dark, warming kind of way (like you might get from a bock or a winter warmer). Rather, the malt flavors are quite pale indeed with crispness and dryness that work well with the extra hops to creatte a pretty well-balanced brew. The body matches the color nicely -- pretty light but not pilsner-y. Almost light enough to be a session beer, but 6.8% abv doesn't exactly fit the description. Even though this review was written smack-dab in the middle of winter, I would recommend Blue PointHoptical Illusion as a fine barbecue beer. I'm kinda looking forward to sampling this brew again with some grilled meats like chicken or pork (mmmm... bratwurst). And though I like this beer a lot, expect some strange scores. Representation: This would be an awesome Pale Ale but it isn't too terribly hoppy and therefore not the best IPA in town. Accessibility: there's the sweet spot. Style: Good, not great. Personal Preference: Like it very much, don't love it.
Do I recommend it? Oh yeah! If you like Pale Ales but crave a little more jazz and pizazz, this is the perfect beer for you. Hoptical Illusion won't blow hop-heads away but remember the barbecue!! The "all-seeing eye" may not be able to understand everyone's tastes but you have to admit ... El Presidente gets pretty close.
Blue PointHoptical Illusion:
Representation: .72 Accessibility: .99 Style: .85 Personal Preference: .90
"My friends said they hated this beer, but they said I would like it. Much love to Pete + Dave, because they know me too well. Sweet, with banana tones. I like it."
Representation: 1.0 Accessibility: .75 Style Points: .75 Personal Preference: 1.0
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