Citra Pale Ale

Brewer: Yours truly

Style: American IPA

ABV: 5.9%
IBU: 54
Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle poured into Czech pils glass

Pours deep, hazy gold with orange highlights and a finger of dense, offwhite head. The head is persistent, and laces the glass well. Nice hop aroma, mostly citrus/grapefruit and some pine notes aswell. Some small amount of maltiness lurking in the background.

Hop flavor is very citrus, piney, and grassy. Hits the toungue a little sharp, but mellows quick as the moderately high carbonation spreads through the mouth. Very bright, effervescent. Nice and light, finishes dry. Thisrt quencher.

All in all, this turned out quite well. Troubles on brew day were minor, but nonetheless had less an impact on the final product than I expected.

My score: 4/5

Lawnmower

Two more, please

Brewing Classic Styles: Saison

The local homebrew club's August meeting is featuring Saisons, and I've been tasked to present. What better way to honor a style than to pull the recipe from the gold standard text on brewing classic styles, Jamil Zainasheff's Brewing Classic Styles?

Unfortunately, the day was fraught with troubles, starting with two broken thermometers. The mercury thermometer I was left with was very difficult to read, and my mash temperature was well too low. I'm hoping it will still turn out okay, as the style calls for a low mash temp and highly fermentable wort anyway.

However, my mash stuck to no end. There was only 12 oz. of wheat malt in the grain bill, and I didn't think rice hulls would be necessary. When the mash was finally through, I discovered this thick slime caked all over the bottom of my grain bag.

Finally, I was simultaneously building a table. I tried to keep track of both tasks, but both my mash and boil time may have been a bit too long. The mash time I'm not worried about. Low temperatures call for a longer mash to get full starch conversion anyway. A too long boil, while helping DMS, could easily throw off my color. And, oh yeah, I nearly forgot the pound of table sugar, which didn't go in until the rest of the beer was already in the fermenter. As such, I have no reliable gravity reading.

It ferments from 68-80 degrees, rising steadily to make the yeast attenuate as much as possible. At least this part I can control, now that I have a temp controlled spare fridge to ferment in. I'm really hoping that, even though it's not the best beer I could have made, it will remain true to the classic Saison.

Smoked Porter

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.

Style: Smoked Porter

ABV: 5.9%
IBU: 53
Serving Type: 22 oz. bottle poured into English pub glass

Very dark brown with some bright red highlighting. A finger of tan head that settles quickly but clings to the sides of the glass. Smells of woodsmoke and biscuit dough.

The smoke and roasted malts are up front, but there's plenty of bitterness backing it up. Seems like more of a dark roasted bitterness than anything from hops. A touch of chocolate. Mouthfeel is, say, medium. Thinner than I expceted. The roasty bitterness lingers in the mouth.

Pretty good overall, but not my favorite. Makes me want to break out a half-star rating, something I'm normally opposed to. But this definitely falls somewhere between "indiferrent" and "I like it".

My score: 3.5/5

Beer Advocate: A-

Rate Beer: 99/100

Pintley: 3.6/5

Older Viscocity

Brewery: Port Brewing Company

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV: 12%
IBU:
Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle poured into a snifter

Pours thick and pitch black, totally opaque, with a finger of dark brown head. Darker than most similar beers I've had. Fades quickly to a thin film and then a ring around the glass that likes to cling to the sides with every sip. Plenty of bourbon on the nose, plus notes of black coffee and dark roasted malts.

Taste follows nose with bourbon up front. Flavor is very dark, strongly roasted, with just a slight hop bitterness. Coffee is not as strong as in aroma. The beer is super creamy smooth, and easily coats the inside of the mouth. Lightly carbonated. Alcohol warmth is noticeable, though not as strong as I would expect from 12%.

A great beer, though I've yet to find a bourbon barrel stout that I don't like. This one does stand on it's own, though, with little to no chocolate coming through and the super dark, roasted malts playing center stage. It definitely reflects the old motor oil theme they're going for.

My score: 5/5

Beer Advocate: A

Rate Beer: 100/100

Pintley:

Forgotten Cider

Brewer: Yours truly

Style: Cider

ABV: ???

IBU: 0

Serving type: 12 oz. bottle poured into a wine glass

Whoa. This has been in the bottle for 14 months, and could clearly stand to stay there for the foreseeable future. I think I can sense an improvement over the couple bottles I've had in months past, but it's still not ready for general consumption. Super tart and vinegary, and just a bit stomach-churning. Very dry and slightly apple sweet finish. Only a touch of carbonation.

The best thing I can say for it right now is the appearance. Pale, pale yellow and crystal clear. Has the look of white wine more than anything else.

Ah, well. It's back to the basement to be Forgotten for another year.

Dark Truth Stout

Brewer: Boulevard Brewing Co.

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV: 9.7%

IBU: 60

Serving type: 12 oz. bottle poured into a snifter

Pours espresso dark with a finger of dark brown head that clings to the glass. Aroma is subdued at first, but strengthens as the glass empties and warms. Smells like dark roasted coffee and dark chocolate. Some roasted malt is also present.

Taste is also intensly roasted and toasted with semi-sweet chocolate. A touch smokey. Maybe some dried dark fruit. The chocolate turns milky by the end of the glass. Mouthfeel is very creamy, light in carbonation. A nice, heavy body. There's no burn of alcohol in the taste, but a noticeable, pleasent warmth in the chest and stomach.

This is a great entry from Boulevard's Smokestack Series. A definite sipper with a pleasent warmth to remind you of what you're drinking. I drizzled a few teaspoons of this over a slice of chocolate cake that had gone a little dry, and it did wonders for it.

My score: 5/5

Beer Advoacte: B+
Rate Beer: 97/100

Pintley: 3.9/5

The Poet Oatmeal Stout

Brewer: New Holland Brewing

Style: Oatmeal Stout

ABV: 5.2%
IBU:

Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle poured into an English pub glass

Dark brown with a finger of light brown head. Just a few hints of ruby highlighting with a bright light behind. An aroma like lightly roasted coffee with tons of cream, and a side of instant oatmeal.

Taste follows the nose with notes of coffee and toasted and roasted malts. A touch of bitter chocolate. Mouthfeel is medium-heavy, but not too heavy, and oh so creamy. Decent carbonation.

This is one of my go-to beers. Great flavors, not too heavy, and light enough in alcohol to drink a pair.

My score: 5/5

Beer Advocate: B+

Rate Beer: 94

Pintley: 3.7/5