Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project: Hedgerow Bitter

Oh, Pretty Things! Personally, I have become quite the fan of Pretty Things. The first time I had one of their beers was at Stone Bistro and Gardens. I was there with some friends, and I discovered that they specifically preferred saisons over any other style of brew. I quickly gathered the bottle list and picked a saison for us all to try. It was Pretty Things' Jack D'Or. I had no idea it was their staple brew, but nevertheless, all four of us enjoyed it greatly. One thing I like about this brewery is their sticker over the bottle cap. A minute detail, yes, yet I still love finding that sticker on every bottle of Pretty Things I pick up. Here's why: it difereciates their bottles from any other bottle on the shelf. Their artistic labels may blend in with other labels if you aren't looking carefully. However, you know it's a Pretty Things bottle by looking at the neck and top of the bottle. You will find the teal band with red flowers and the Pretty Things shield on top.

Now that I've effectively shown my appreciation for the "Beer and Ale Project" myself, it's time to get to the beer. The beer pours a golden light amber color with about an inch of head, with decent head retention on the glass. The aromas present are slightly spicy with hints of clove and yeasty fruit (similar to that presented in aromas from a Belgian yeast strain). I don't get much hop character in the aroma.

The flavor is dead on, as it reminds me of an English style bitter pub ale (and yes I know that is what these brewers are going for). I would say that this beer "tastes as it smells," but I feel that doesn't effectively describe it because of the minuscule bitter aspect of the beer! The bitter dryness presented in these types of beers is nothing like the West Coast hoppy bitterness that breweries don't let us forget out here. It's nice to have something different, while still classic, from Massachusetts. Additionally, though, as you progress in drinking the beer the bitterness seems to fade away as the tongue gets used to it. It still lingers in the aftertaste, but it's not as predominant as it was upon first tasting the brew.

Go get some of their brews if you can find them. They're worth it in my regard. I like it, Pretty Things. I have three more of your beers to enjoy soon. I'm most looking forward to "Our Finest Regards," as barley wine-styled ales are quite the favorite of mine. Folks, I'm spending my Thursday evening enjoying Pretty Things; I hope you are spending your Thursday in similar fashion.

Samuel Adams (Boston Brewing Co): Griffin's Bow Oaked Blonde Barleywine Ale

I was actually pretty excited to find this brew. Apparently, from what I read, Samuel Adams had four brews that were going to be terribly difficult to get out here in California; this brew just happened to be one of the four. However, I presume it was all self-produced hype from Samuel Adams because I have heard of a number of places out here that have them. Either way, since I am a sucker for Barley Wine styled ales, I was intrigued by this one. Apparently the brew is aged in "Toasted Oak." Let's give it a try.

The beer is clean. You know us Americans, we are obsessed with clear beer. What I am surprised about is that the bottom of the bottle has absolutely no sediment in it. I find this rather strange for a "barley wine," with bottle-conditioning and all. Either way, it's definitely filtered; quite honestly, I do not necessarily know how I feel about it. I suppose it does not matter too much, but I just don't like the idea of filtering something like a barley wine. Oh well. The head leaves almost no retention around the glass as it drops away.

The aroma is quite plain to be honest. I smell malts, some citrusy fruit notes, and toffee. That's all I get. I don't particularly smell any sort of toasted oak, but perhaps it'll come across in the flavor of the brew.

Wow. This guy packs a punch! The flavor actually surprised me because of the beer's lack of aroma. I get a huge grapefruit on the front, almost like a glass of ruby red. Then I do, in fact, get some oak mixed with a lot of alcohol. The grapefruit flavor is, for me, the strongest and most apparent in the brew. It is quite complex in flavors, but the finish is even bitter with undeniably lingering grapefruit notes. Sometimes when there are just a hodgepodge of ingredients, they can cancel each other out and only a small number of them are actually noticeable. I think this is one of those beers. It's not bad in any sense of the word, but it's also very boozy. Is it balanced? I would say so. Would I recommend it to others? Absolutely, especially if you like bitter citrus. Would I buy it again? Probably not, but never say never. Let's not forget the fact that it's a blonde barley wine and just that alone takes talent to produce. When I really think about it, hats off to Sam Adams for brewing some beers that are more complex than a basic lager or porter. If you can find it, give it a shot. At 11.5% ABV, it's worth the $6.00 you'll spend on it. I'm going to grab the other three and compare them all. Cheers.

Deschutes Brewery (Boulevard Brewing Co.) Conflux Series: No 2

"The Conflux Series: Where we unite with fellow craft beer zealots separated by distance, but not passion, to create unlikely, one-time only collaborations." -Beer Bottle

I read somewhere that this beer is quite the treat, and considering it's Halloween and I don't really eat candy, I thought I'd treat myself. The label describes the contents inside the bottle as a citrusy, smooth white India Pale Ale which combines Deschutes' hop skills with Boulevard's deft wheat touch. It also says it's brewed with orange peel and coriander with spices added. Naturally, with the sudden heat wave Southern California has been subject to (big surprise, right?), this brew seems just perfect for the occasion.

The appearance is a clean light golden color. I've never had any of Boulevard's beers, but I was expecting at least a bit of cloudiness considering the whole "deft wheat touch" aspect of the label. This is neither here nor there because appearance isn't that big of a deal to me (or professional beer judges to be honest). There is a nice white foamy head which leaves a nice retention around the glass. Speaking of the glass, since a beer geek loves matching glassware to the beer they are consuming at that precise moment, I busted out my Deschutes Brewery Public House pint glass for this one.

As far as aromas go, I get the citrus on the nose with some grassy aromas. By grassy, I am referring to certain different varietals of hops which contain aromas similar to, well, grass. Green and earthy does not mean bad when it comes to hops. I can also smell some slight bitterness on the nose as well.

Wow, this is definitely a delicious brew! It starts off fruity and citrusy as I would expect, but then suddenly gets a bit spicy. I do not mean "hot" spicy, but spicy in terms of flavor. As the spices settle, the hops power through and the finish leaves the mouth marginally bitter and dry. As I continue to enjoy the beer, the dryness seems less predominant in the finish. I would definitely say that if you enjoy Saisons, this beer is right up your alley! Delicious and definitely refreshing, this brew is masterfully crafted. I wouldn't expect anything else out of Deschutes. I do not believe I've ever tasted a beer I have not enjoyed from them. They are completely reliable as far as I'm concerned. Let's here it for the Conflux Series! What's next for No. 3?

New Belgium Brewing Company: Lips of Faith Kick

After such a long day at work, I think it's time to wind down with a new brew that I'm, quite honestly, excited to try. New Belgium's Lips of Faith series has yet to disappoint my taste buds, and I highly doubt this one will be the first. This ale is 75% brewed with pumpkin and cranberry juice, 25% ale aged in wooden barrels. Ranking in at 8.5%, I have high hopes.

It pours a nice golden color with an egg-white colored head. Malty sweet aromas come off the nose with some spices as well. I do get some pumpkin off the nose, but nothing like Shipyard's Smashed Pumpkin. Time to taste...

Oh my! It's a sour! If you enjoy sours, you will love this. On the front of the tongue I get all the tartness I would expect from a sour. The tartness brings out a bitter cranberry flavor with is actually quite balanced and pleasant. As the beer warms, the tart cranberry gives way to the pumpkin as the recognizable flavors seem to switch. The warmer it is, the more pumpkin I taste. I like this a lot. Overall I'm quite pleased with how well balanced this ale is. I didn't expect it to be a sour, but the wooden barrels obviously did their job well. What is so impressive about this beer is that it's 8.5% ABV. Most sours tend to be in the 5-6, maybe 7, range in terms of ABV. Obviously there are many exceptions to this non-intentional grouping of "sours," but something at 8.5% does indeed stand out when you don't taste any alcohol in the beer. Go buy one and enjoy it! It won't be around for long, I can promise you that. Well done, New Belgium.

Hangar 24: Oktoberfest (Celebration)

As I sit here and drink my morning coffee, I have decided to try something a little different. It has been months since I last blogged about new/exciting brews. It is not because I have lost interest or I have stopped analyzing beer; I can promise you that is not the case. I have just slacked off a bit when it comes to anything that channels my strong relationship with academia. However, it is time to return to the world of beer through text. Now, onto something a little bit different.

Last week in the IE, Hangar 24 Craft Brewery celebrated its release of their Oktoberfest, a Marzen-style lager. Last year the release party for the brew was held at the brewery itself. I attended this celebration, and it is insane to think about how much a brewery can grow in one year. While the Oktoberfest in 2010 was packed shoulder to shoulder with almost no shade, it was still relatively easy to get a beer. In fact, they even put on a special cask of the 2010 Oktoberfest with raspberries added, and it was delicious. The pros definitely outweighed the cons.

Transition back to 2011, and let's discuss Hangar 24's 3rd Anniversary celebration. It was still held at the brewery, but this time they rented a huge tent for shade (Redlands is not known for its shade or cool weather to say the least). They had live bands, specialty brews, and enough room for every person to comfortably move around. The celebration seemed to be carried out successfully to a tee. This is what I was expecting for their Oktoberfest release. Yet, I do not manage the books for a brewery so I have absolutely no idea what the difference in costs were between this, and what they did for their Oktoberfest this year.

Now I feel I have provided enough background information to inform you, the reader, of my experience at this year's Oktoberfest. When it comes to situations and events like this, I'm not very picky. Let me just get that out of the way. This year's celebration was held at a park directly across the street from the University of Redlands. A nice strategic move by Hangar 24, and completely understandable on my end. The $5.00 cover was donated to the Optimist Club of Redlands, an organization to help youth (from what I understand). It was relatively comedic, however, that the old men kept calling the brewery "Hangar 21." I don't know why I found it so entertaining, but maybe it was because it brought back my Megadeath days; all I had to do was subtract 3 from 21, and I'd have Hangar 18! With that being said, the celebration was fun in my opinion. While there weren't many activities to fill time besides old, traditional socialization, it was still an entertaining experience while holding a fresh Oktoberfest lager in hand.

 (Oktoberfest lager resting next to glass stein filled with commemorative shirt)

The beer itself is rich and malty, with a little bit of spice to it that I do not remember from last year. This could have been a reaction to something I ate earlier in the day, but I am not entirely sure. The brew then had a slight, or should I say very slight, hoppy finish. Hangar 24 knows how to make a good beer, and this year's Oktoberfest lager is no exception.

(Polka band playing "Just Because")

(Stein holding contest)

 

Now back to the celebration itself, I must obviously give my opinion on my disappointments. While the lack of activities didn't bother me much, the beers available did. I understand it's hard to transport a large number of your beers in the trucks-turned-bars, but the disappointment came when there were only 4 beers available. The beers available were: Orange Wheat, Helles, Alt-Bier, and of course Oktoberfest. None of these beers are bad, that's not my point here. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that one of the pros of having it at the brewery itself is the option to have something different if desired. Or, in fact, have the special cask put on for the festival. At the brewery, there is always the option to have something different. At a park, you only have four choices. That's my only issue with the celebration. The food was good, the polka was great, and the people from Hangar 24 are always really nice and relatable. I will definitely return to the Oktoberfest next year, so I suppose I better start browsing some authentic lederhosen online.

Stone Brewing Co: Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout

Another Belgo. I have been waiting for this one to come out for quite some time (since the Belgo Old Guardian) and the moment has finally arrived. The descriptions and notes on the bottle beat you over the head with the whole anise thing, so I figure there is going to be a lot of black licorice flavor present in this brew (Education on ANISE). These are just, obviously, predictions. It pours just as I expected it would: black, no translucence at all, and a dark khaki head.

The most prominent aroma? Anise. Not that this is surprising considering I know the story behind the creation of this beer, but wow, it is quite pungent. I also get oakiness, molasses, and alcohol on the nose. As I continue to smell the brew, I find slight traces of smokiness as well. Not much (nor do I expect it to taste smokey at all), but I can still pick it out. The flavor profile does not differ much from the nose. Lots of anise on the front with very identifiable alcohol. As the beer hits the back of the throat, the flavors of the traditional IRS appear only to be suddenly smothered by more anise and alcohol for a bitter finish.

Honestly, I am not sure about this, nor the Belgo idea as a whole. I would never say this is a bad beer, because it's not. It's actually quite original. However, there's just too much anise. I feel Stone's use of the Belgian yeast with the two Belgo styles this year hasn't worked as precisely as they would have wanted. At least not for enjoying the beers upon the date of their release. I'm really hoping this beer mellows out after a while (as I hope with the Belgo Old Guardian Barley Wine). It definitely punches you in the face with flavor and uniqueness, and I'm also quite anxious to try it on tap. My only fear is that the alcohol and anise will be even more prominent on tap. I did not have this beer cold either; I drank it at room temperature. It ranks in at 10.5% ABV. I'll try the other one I bought in about a year. Do I recommend it? Yes. I think everyone should taste this. Spend the $6.00, support local breweries, and enjoy it slowly.

Caldera Brewing Company: Ginger Beer

I must say, I don't really know how I feel about Caldera out of Ashland, Oregon. I've only had a couple of brews from them, and they have all been "decent." By decent, I mean I'm glad I tried them but really have no desire to buy them again. With that being said, I will try any brew at least once. Consequently, I purchased this beer and immediately began judging the book by its cover. I know I shouldn't do this, but it is difficult for me to get past this beer's name: Ginger Beer. Really, Caldera? You couldn't have come up with something witty or ironic or something? Anyways, now that everyone knows that I take a beer's name seriously, I will get to actually trying it.

It pours a translucent straw yellow with a fizzy head (Fizzy Yellow Beer). Again, unimpressive. The aromas don't really catch my attention either. I smell citrus and a slight malt character. That's about it. I truly hope the flavor of the beer knocks me off my feet...

Nope. I don't really know what I expected from this guy, but it's just an all-around unimpressive brew. I can taste the ginger, but it's not beating me over the head with the ginger flavor. Instead, it's just somewhat lingering in the initial taste. The citrus is present throughout and the finish is slightly dry with a tad of a hop character; again though, there's nothing too special about this. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad. For all I know, this is what Caldera was going for. In regards to the beer, the bottle states, "A summer beer designed for hot weather quaffing." They are definitely not wrong. I mean, I get it. Ranking in at 4.7% ABV, it's definitely a session-style beer that could be enjoyed all day. Summing it all up, for me, this is just a brew filled with so much mediocrity that I'd recommend grabbing something else if you are torn between this or something else. Have no fear though, Caldera Brewing Company. I'm going to buy your "Vas Deferens" Belgian-Strong Ale next. I believe there is a beer or yours out there for me, and I'm hoping that is it. At least the artwork is amazing, right?

(Photo courtesy of Caldera Brewing Company's website)

Cheers!