Sierra Nevada Kellerweis
Glad I held on to this one folks as the heat has hit and this quaffable wheat is perfect for those scorching temperatures. The nose is light and floral with subtle aromas of licorice, bananas, sour peaches, grapefruit, clove, and sweet corn. The nose was very delightful for such a light style. The taste is sour and tart up front with flavors of granny smith apples, cantaloupe, and candy hearts. The finish is creamy with soft flavors of cooked red apples, licorice, and creamed corn. This wheat beer tasted, at least to me, like it was more of a Saison or a Farmhouse Ale. Either way thought, it is perfect for these warm Summer months ahead.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8/10
Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Fresh-Hop Harvest Ale
I look forward to this beer every year. The Northern Hemisphere seems to garner more accolades but it has my least favorite hop, the Centennial hop, in it. This one is a beautiful blend of Southern Cross, Pacifica, and Motueka hops that makes for a fresh nose on it. Citrus, new foliage, grapefruit, and soap prevail in the lighter nose. Hints of walnuts were also picked up as the beer warmed. The taste is well balanced with strong flavors of grapefruit, tea, and grass up front while softer flavors of salami and pine mixed in. The finish was bitter with flavors of wheat, cracked pepper, and light earth notes. Tyler and I differed on the score, but he tends to enjoy the Northern Hemisphere as well.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.25/10
Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA
Many were sad when this beer blew off the wall a week and a half ago. Who would have known that it would return so soon? Or that this keg would be better than the last? The nose is just as pungent and diverse as last time sans the seaweed aroma. Sweet scents of chives, freshly cut grass, armpit, and fresh linen were present with softer floral aromas and hints of raisins and hazelnuts. While bitter up front, you get tons of lemon zest and soap with hints of alcohol. The finish is not as one-sided. While still bitter, flavors of mineral water, lemon pith, toasted sesame seeds, and grapes made for a delightful finish. This is definitely a bitter lemon bomb, but a good one at that.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.75/10
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2012
We have two different vintages of Bigfoot on tap, so we will start with age before beauty. The nose is different with aromas of american cheese, pizza, marinara sauce, citrus, oregano, and alcohol. It certainly wasn't the diverse aroma that I expected. The taste was bitter with floral notes and soft flavors of lemon, burnt nuts, pine, and charcoal. The finish was astringent and acrid with bitter, grassy flavors. I was expecting more malt to this brew after a year of age. Hopefully a week on our tap wall will do to it what it did to our last keg of Double Trouble. If you missed it, let's just say that it got infinitely better after the first few days on tap.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.5/10
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2013
This is the fresher of our two brews and the one that was preferred, oddly enough. While this Barleywine is still young it exhibits strong similarities to an Imperial IPA, and a great one at that. The nose is gorgeous with aromas of coconut, grapefruit, banana nut bread, and starfruit. The hops definitely ruled the day on the nose. The first flavors are sweet with hints of grapefruit, pine, and lemon juice. The finish is quite bitter and has strong herbal flavors with hints of lemon zest and soap. While not as diverse as some of the Imperial IPA's we put on tap, the flavors it does exhibit are stellar.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9/10
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Sierra Nevada Pint Night
Happy Thursday everyone. Tomorrow's Pint Night will feature five different brews from the ever-popular Sierra Nevada:
Quite the delectable selection! Please note that we have the Bigfoot Barleywine from two different years, as the style is great for aging. Expect the 2012 vintage to contain more malt presence and sweeter, yet more intense flavors. The 2013 edition will have more hop presence, while being slightly lighter. It should be a great pleasure to compare the two, while also enjoying the other excellent brews. Stop by tomorrow and take in this pleasure for yourself!
- Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen
- Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Fresh Hop Harvest Ale
- Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA
- Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale 2012 Barleywine
- Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale 2013 Barleywine
Quite the delectable selection! Please note that we have the Bigfoot Barleywine from two different years, as the style is great for aging. Expect the 2012 vintage to contain more malt presence and sweeter, yet more intense flavors. The 2013 edition will have more hop presence, while being slightly lighter. It should be a great pleasure to compare the two, while also enjoying the other excellent brews. Stop by tomorrow and take in this pleasure for yourself!
Friday, May 24, 2013
Weekly Beer Reviews
Great Lakes Ohio City Oatmeal Stout
This Oatmeal Stout from Great Lakes joins our ranks. Haven't heard of this one? That is because it is exclusive to the draft wall. The nose is diverse with aromas of coffee grounds, espresso, milk chocolate, cream, clover honey, and minerals. It definitely has the nose of a sweet stout. However, that is where the diverse part of this beer ends. The flavor is slightly watered down and has notes of smoked wheat, watermelon, soap, and cocoa powder. This mix of flavors that do not mix well put both of us off. Thankfully, it evened out in the finish with flavors of roasted coffee, cream, milk chocolate, and minerals. I found this Oatmeal stout to be a little thin and a little unbalanced, but still a good option for the price.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7/10
Great Lakes Rye of the Tiger IPA
This Rye IPA has quickly become a growler favorite in its couple appearances on the wall. The nose is interesting though it has lost some of its pungency. Hints of rye, snow peas, lemons, and pistachios were picked up. Many of these aromas are present in the taste too. Bitter up front, you are still able to pick up strong flavors of lemon, toasted garlic, fennel seed, and pistachios. The bitterness increases as this beer finishes with strong flavors of rye and resin and just a hint of lemon juice. I tend to shy away from the bitter bombs, but this one packs quite the flavor.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.5/10
Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster
The last few weeks have brought about the end of Alchemy Hour season. However, that isn't completely a sad thing as it ushers in the dawn of a new era...The Lake Erie Monster era. This Imperial IPA is definitely one of Great Lakes best. The nose is quite aromatic with hints of garlic, armpit, onions, melon, grapefruit, and lemon. Definitely a great aroma for an Imperial IPA. The taste is all lemon with soft hints of pine and lavender picked up after that heavy dose of lemon. The finish ramps up the bitterness a bit with dry flavors of resin, pine, and grapefruit. Light flavors of lemon drops was also picked up on the finish. This is surely a worthy IPA on a wall full of hop-heavy favorites.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9/10
This Oatmeal Stout from Great Lakes joins our ranks. Haven't heard of this one? That is because it is exclusive to the draft wall. The nose is diverse with aromas of coffee grounds, espresso, milk chocolate, cream, clover honey, and minerals. It definitely has the nose of a sweet stout. However, that is where the diverse part of this beer ends. The flavor is slightly watered down and has notes of smoked wheat, watermelon, soap, and cocoa powder. This mix of flavors that do not mix well put both of us off. Thankfully, it evened out in the finish with flavors of roasted coffee, cream, milk chocolate, and minerals. I found this Oatmeal stout to be a little thin and a little unbalanced, but still a good option for the price.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7/10
Great Lakes Rye of the Tiger IPA
This Rye IPA has quickly become a growler favorite in its couple appearances on the wall. The nose is interesting though it has lost some of its pungency. Hints of rye, snow peas, lemons, and pistachios were picked up. Many of these aromas are present in the taste too. Bitter up front, you are still able to pick up strong flavors of lemon, toasted garlic, fennel seed, and pistachios. The bitterness increases as this beer finishes with strong flavors of rye and resin and just a hint of lemon juice. I tend to shy away from the bitter bombs, but this one packs quite the flavor.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.5/10
Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster
The last few weeks have brought about the end of Alchemy Hour season. However, that isn't completely a sad thing as it ushers in the dawn of a new era...The Lake Erie Monster era. This Imperial IPA is definitely one of Great Lakes best. The nose is quite aromatic with hints of garlic, armpit, onions, melon, grapefruit, and lemon. Definitely a great aroma for an Imperial IPA. The taste is all lemon with soft hints of pine and lavender picked up after that heavy dose of lemon. The finish ramps up the bitterness a bit with dry flavors of resin, pine, and grapefruit. Light flavors of lemon drops was also picked up on the finish. This is surely a worthy IPA on a wall full of hop-heavy favorites.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9/10
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Support West Sixth Brewing
Greetings growler fans! Normally we have happy subjects about the new beers going on tap or exciting bottled beers that have arrived. However, I am here to bring up the fact that West Sixth is being sued by Magic Hat for copyright infringement. Magic Hat attests that the West Sixth logo is a ripoff of the #9 logo. Tyler and I happen to think that is ludicrous. We ask you all to be the judge by taking a look at this picture here. If you believe as we do, then sign this petition here and check out our store for their 6 packs. Come out and support one of the best breweries that we have in Kentucky.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Great Lakes Pint Night
Hello everyone! This Friday's Pint Night will be truly superb, as it will feature three excellent beers from the always excellent Great Lakes Brewery:
If you haven't had many beers by Great Lakes before, than you have been missing out on one of the best breweries in the nation; fortunately we will remedy this problem. Those of you who are hop heads will be delighted to see yet another two amazing IPAs hitting the wall, while those of you craving something darker will find sanctuary in the fine Ohio City Oatmeal Stout. We will also have Great Lakes pint glasses available for purchase.
With the delicious beers that are still on tap from last week, we will no doubt have one of the finest growler wall line-ups in town! Make sure you stop in to take advantage of this fact! See you Friday!
- Great Lakes Ohio City Oatmeal Stout
- Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA
- Great Lakes Rye of the Tiger Rye IPA
If you haven't had many beers by Great Lakes before, than you have been missing out on one of the best breweries in the nation; fortunately we will remedy this problem. Those of you who are hop heads will be delighted to see yet another two amazing IPAs hitting the wall, while those of you craving something darker will find sanctuary in the fine Ohio City Oatmeal Stout. We will also have Great Lakes pint glasses available for purchase.
With the delicious beers that are still on tap from last week, we will no doubt have one of the finest growler wall line-ups in town! Make sure you stop in to take advantage of this fact! See you Friday!
Friday, May 17, 2013
IPA Takeover Night Beer Reviews Pt 2
This is the second batch of reviews that will shed more light on this wonderful Friday Night ahead of us. 3 of those are growler wall favorites, while 3 of them are beers that have rarely graced our wall at best. So read on an see which of these next 6 strikes your fancy.
North Coast Acme IPA
I have never tasted this beer, so I had little to go on with it. North Coast, it seems, has an IPA worthy of mentioning. The nose is quite floral with lighter aroma's of pineapple, applesauce, lemon custard, and pine. While the nose wasn't packed full of strong aromas, what it did do it did well. It certainly provides a nice entry into this beer. Citrus hits immediately on the tongue with floral notes and lighter flavors of minerals and lemon juice. The finish was creamy with toasty flavors of biscuits and wheat crackers. While not the most complicated IPA, it certainly is a refreshing and tasty IPA perfect for the hot weather we will be having as it practically contains no bitterness.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.5/10
Stone IPA
I shouldn't have to do much to introduce the two Stone's we have on our wall. They are Stone's mainstays and if you enjoy hops...you have had a Stone. Simple as that. The nose is quite the treat on this one. Pine, black tea, lime, pineapple, and lavender make for a fresh hop aroma that is sure to entice you all. The taste has only a slight bit of bitterness to it with strong flavors of grapefruit and pine. The finish takes the bitterness to a new level with flavors of pine, lemon pith, and soap. One of the dryer IPA's on our wall, it is still quite the tasty one despite the slight bit of age taking a little oomph from the grapefruit flavors.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.75/10
Southern Tier IPA
Our only Southern Tier of the night happens to be their single IPA. The nose is still quite prominent despite the trace of age on the keg. Sweet on the nose with subtle aroma's of strawberry, fresh linen, and oak with soft floral notes. Tyler detected an aroma of paint though it seemed to elude my nose. The taste wasn't terribly bitter with this one while providing flavors of oranges, lemon juice, and basil. The lemon was definitely prominent on the finish with lighter flavors of violets, minerals, and thyme. While I wasn't terribly impressed by this IPA, Tyler enjoyed the strong herbal qualities it presented on the palate.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7/10
Breckenridge 471 Imperial IPA
Now we migrate into our Imperial and Double IPA's. We start with the Small Batch from Colorado. Breckenridge 471 is definitely a different Imperial IPA, and so Tyler and I sought to break down the intricacies in this brew. The nose was alight with sweet aroma's of woodchips, cherries, lemon zest, and shag carpet with soft earth notes throughout. The flavor was sweet as well with flavors of lemon juice, honeysuckle, oak, and cherry juice. The bitterness smacks you in the finish with flavors of pine, vinegar, and bran. It is certainly a different Imperial IPA and different from most of the others on the wall.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.25/10
Heavy Seas Big DIPA
This is our second Oak-Aged Double IPA that we have put on tap for this Friday. I have had this out of bottles and definitely looked forward to tasting it off tap. First off, this has a very light and almost non-existant nose. Light aromas of lemon juice, oak, and fruit snacks was present with an almost swampy note mixed in. This beer was more bitter than I remember up front with flavors of oak and vanilla stealing the show. The finish opens up this beer a little more with rich flavors of grapefruit, burnt wood, dark chocolate, and Nyquil. While some of the flavors would seem to not blend well together this beer was very well-balanced.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.75/10
Stone Ruination Imperial IPA
The last on our tasting list is an old favorite that is sure to be a go to on the wall. The nose is diverse with strong aromas of citrus, pine, lime, and banana cream. It was definitely one of our more aromatic beers that we put on the wall. The taste was bitter up front with flavors of lime pith, resin, and grapefruit. The finish displayed even more flavors with hints of lime zest, lemons, soap, and fresh mint. The bitterness continued but seemed to work with the flavors rather than overpower them. This keg of Ruination was definitely the best of the night and the best we have put up in a while.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9/10
North Coast Acme IPA
I have never tasted this beer, so I had little to go on with it. North Coast, it seems, has an IPA worthy of mentioning. The nose is quite floral with lighter aroma's of pineapple, applesauce, lemon custard, and pine. While the nose wasn't packed full of strong aromas, what it did do it did well. It certainly provides a nice entry into this beer. Citrus hits immediately on the tongue with floral notes and lighter flavors of minerals and lemon juice. The finish was creamy with toasty flavors of biscuits and wheat crackers. While not the most complicated IPA, it certainly is a refreshing and tasty IPA perfect for the hot weather we will be having as it practically contains no bitterness.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.5/10
Stone IPA
I shouldn't have to do much to introduce the two Stone's we have on our wall. They are Stone's mainstays and if you enjoy hops...you have had a Stone. Simple as that. The nose is quite the treat on this one. Pine, black tea, lime, pineapple, and lavender make for a fresh hop aroma that is sure to entice you all. The taste has only a slight bit of bitterness to it with strong flavors of grapefruit and pine. The finish takes the bitterness to a new level with flavors of pine, lemon pith, and soap. One of the dryer IPA's on our wall, it is still quite the tasty one despite the slight bit of age taking a little oomph from the grapefruit flavors.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.75/10
Southern Tier IPA
Our only Southern Tier of the night happens to be their single IPA. The nose is still quite prominent despite the trace of age on the keg. Sweet on the nose with subtle aroma's of strawberry, fresh linen, and oak with soft floral notes. Tyler detected an aroma of paint though it seemed to elude my nose. The taste wasn't terribly bitter with this one while providing flavors of oranges, lemon juice, and basil. The lemon was definitely prominent on the finish with lighter flavors of violets, minerals, and thyme. While I wasn't terribly impressed by this IPA, Tyler enjoyed the strong herbal qualities it presented on the palate.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7/10
Breckenridge 471 Imperial IPA
Now we migrate into our Imperial and Double IPA's. We start with the Small Batch from Colorado. Breckenridge 471 is definitely a different Imperial IPA, and so Tyler and I sought to break down the intricacies in this brew. The nose was alight with sweet aroma's of woodchips, cherries, lemon zest, and shag carpet with soft earth notes throughout. The flavor was sweet as well with flavors of lemon juice, honeysuckle, oak, and cherry juice. The bitterness smacks you in the finish with flavors of pine, vinegar, and bran. It is certainly a different Imperial IPA and different from most of the others on the wall.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.25/10
Heavy Seas Big DIPA
This is our second Oak-Aged Double IPA that we have put on tap for this Friday. I have had this out of bottles and definitely looked forward to tasting it off tap. First off, this has a very light and almost non-existant nose. Light aromas of lemon juice, oak, and fruit snacks was present with an almost swampy note mixed in. This beer was more bitter than I remember up front with flavors of oak and vanilla stealing the show. The finish opens up this beer a little more with rich flavors of grapefruit, burnt wood, dark chocolate, and Nyquil. While some of the flavors would seem to not blend well together this beer was very well-balanced.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.75/10
Stone Ruination Imperial IPA
The last on our tasting list is an old favorite that is sure to be a go to on the wall. The nose is diverse with strong aromas of citrus, pine, lime, and banana cream. It was definitely one of our more aromatic beers that we put on the wall. The taste was bitter up front with flavors of lime pith, resin, and grapefruit. The finish displayed even more flavors with hints of lime zest, lemons, soap, and fresh mint. The bitterness continued but seemed to work with the flavors rather than overpower them. This keg of Ruination was definitely the best of the night and the best we have put up in a while.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9/10
Thursday, May 16, 2013
IPA Takeover Pint Night Supremo
Hold on to your hats everyone!
This week's Pint Night will be like no other before, as we will be tapping twelve beers, all IPAs. Take a moment to let that sink in; we will be tapping, all at once:
In addition, we have the Southern Tier 2X Double IPA and the Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA on deck for when anything else blows, so look forward to seeing their appearance as well. We also have the Green Flash Hop Head Red IPA and the Founders Double Trouble Double IPA still on tap; that means up to 16 taps could be IPAs at once, what a possibility!
We will have a host of pint glasses available, including small glassware in case you want to sample all the different IPAs. And don't forget that a flight of six, two-ounce samples is only $5, even if you choose samples that are more expensive than $1, so essentially at least one sample is free. That means that $10 dollars will get you all twelve beers to taste!
Let's not forget that this week is also American Craft Beer Week. In celebration of this and our IPA Takeover Pint Night Supremo, all customers who purchase a growler of any of the many IPAs on tap will receive $1 off. That's a dollar off of nearly every tap!
A clever or elaborate blog entry is not needed, for these beers speak for themselves in volumes. You would be remiss to miss what will likely be the biggest and most exciting Pint Night of all time.
This week's Pint Night will be like no other before, as we will be tapping twelve beers, all IPAs. Take a moment to let that sink in; we will be tapping, all at once:
- Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' IPA
- Anderson Valley Heelch O' Hops Double IPA
- Breckenridge 471 Imperial IPA
- Dogfish Head Burton Baton Oak-Aged Imperial IPA
- Green Flash West Coast IPA
- Green Flash Palate Wrecker Double IPA
- Heavy Seas Big DIPA Double IPA
- North Coast Acme IPA
- Sierra Nevada Hoptimum
- Southern Tier IPA
- Stone IPA
- Stone Ruination Imperial IPA
In addition, we have the Southern Tier 2X Double IPA and the Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA on deck for when anything else blows, so look forward to seeing their appearance as well. We also have the Green Flash Hop Head Red IPA and the Founders Double Trouble Double IPA still on tap; that means up to 16 taps could be IPAs at once, what a possibility!
We will have a host of pint glasses available, including small glassware in case you want to sample all the different IPAs. And don't forget that a flight of six, two-ounce samples is only $5, even if you choose samples that are more expensive than $1, so essentially at least one sample is free. That means that $10 dollars will get you all twelve beers to taste!
Let's not forget that this week is also American Craft Beer Week. In celebration of this and our IPA Takeover Pint Night Supremo, all customers who purchase a growler of any of the many IPAs on tap will receive $1 off. That's a dollar off of nearly every tap!
A clever or elaborate blog entry is not needed, for these beers speak for themselves in volumes. You would be remiss to miss what will likely be the biggest and most exciting Pint Night of all time.
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