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Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Tuesday Tasting: Ten Beers on My Mind


Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we taste ten brews that have crossed my path during the last month.

Over the last few weeks I've had the chance to try a number of noteworthy brews. There is plenty of new product activity in the market right now and you should be on the lookout for these brews.

Otter Creek World Tour Otter San: This Japanese-style brew is the latest in the Vermont brewer's world beer tour. Made with koji and sake yeast, this beer is a pale gold color. There is a slight sweetness to this beer. This is a delicate beer that would be perfect for lighter summer meals.

Cinder Cone Red Seasonal Ale: From Oregon's Deschutes Brewery, this beer is a deep red color and offers up a thick off-white head of foam. Solid hoppiness, with a nice balancing malt character in a 5.4 percent alcohol by volume package. Rich and thick.

Hop Henge Imperial IPA: Another Deschutes gem, this Imperial IPA packs an 8.75 alcohol by volume punch with 95 IBUs. Part of the brewer's Bond Street Series, this beer has a firm floral hop nose and flavor base.

Green Lakes Organic Ale: This is the first organic brew from Deschutes. Nice level of hops makes this a refreshingly crisp beer for the end of a hot day.

Reunion '08 Organic Red Rye Ale: This beer honors Virginia MacLean, who lost her battle with Mutiple Myeloma on June 4, 2007. Brewed at Bison Brewing by Pete Slosberg and Alan Shapiro the beer raises funds for the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research. Amber color and a thin head, with a pleasant sharp edge to this brew from the combination of hops, rye and caraway seeds used in the brewing.

Beach Bum Blonde Ale: A summer seasonal from Anheuser-Busch, this beer has a touch of sweetness in a light bodied package.

Lakemaid Lager: August Schell Brewing combined with fishing lure maker Rapala to launch this brew that features "lakemaids" (half woman, half fish) on the label. This is a smoth lager, with a nice level of hops. Perfect for the end of a great day fishing.

Highland Shining Rock Lager: O.K. I was expecting a light golden lager. What I got was a very nice Vienna style lager. Copper color, sweet malt flavor. Very well built brew. A new favorite.

Flying Dog Kerberos: The Flying Dog website says this beer is named for the creature that guards the gates to hell. Why would they use that name for such a nice Belgian tripel? Dark brown color, thin head. Good fruitiness enhanced through bottle conditioning, with a 8.5 percent alcohol by volume kick.

Rogue Charlie 1981: This special ale from Rogue was brewed to honor Charlie Papazian of the Brewers Association. It weighs in at 9.1 percent alcohol by volume and is a dark, slightly reddish color. Nice malt and hop combination. There is a hint of fruit and toffee in the finish. A nice addition to the John's Locker series from Rogue Ales.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I remember years ago my favourite drink was double diamond a sweet tasting beer, but now I drink low c quite in contrast to my fave tipple, but I just can not seem to get DD any where.