Choosing a 12 ounce brew as opposed to larger bottles is both harder and easier… It's more difficult in the sense that there are fewer niche styles that are offered in the smaller servings, but that also makes it easier because there are fewer to choose from… I've also realized that the smaller serving brews are somewhat telling of the breweries efforts on the whole… It's not always the case, but it seems that if a brewery doesn't offer a decent beer in their "standard" selection, what they brew in small batches will rarely impress...
Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company - Timber Beast [Back Porch Series | Rye IPA] (12oz ---> Dogfish Head Curved Pint Glass : 9.0% ABV : 80 IBU)
Whilst browsing the sixers, I came across a brewery I'd never heard of, "Lazy Magnolia..." In addition to the "Timber Beast," they offered a "Southern Pecan" nut brown ale that I passed up, but I promised myself that I would DEFINITELY go back and get it... The only thing that stood in my way of choosing it that evening, was that they weren't in a cooler... Being impatient as all Hell, waiting for brews I purchase to cool off in the freezer is something I haven't exactly embraced... Regardless of my indecisions, the brew I chose to enjoy that evening was still an excellent choice... I gently poured this golden-orange beer and a two inch, off white head formed rather quickly atop the hazy liquid… I left a small amount in the bottle as there seemed to be some yeast sediment in the final ounces of the pour, suggesting bottle conditioning, but my research neither confirms nor denies that… The head settled fairly slowly, leaving quite a bit of lacing and a nice sized retentive cap atop the brew… Nice citrusy, piney hop aromas are the first to grace my nasal palate, amongst some less prevalent spice notes, as well as some earthy wheat notes… Surprisingly, it's a decent amount of brown sugar sweetness that I tasted first, with the piney hops filing in shortly after that to become the prominent flavor… The bitterness is there, as 80 IBU's are no small number, but they seem to be mellowed out a great deal by the immediate sweetness… Mid-palate is some earthy hops and well as some more of those grainy, wheat notes picked up on the nose… The finish is where the spiciness really presents itself and adds that extra element that sets this beer apart from many other IPA's… The mouthfeel is fair, as it's somewhat thick and syrupy while first drinking it, but somehow still manages to finish nice and crisp… I do feel as if it could use a touch more carbonation though, just to round out the mouthfeel and possibly enhance some of the mid-palate flavors… Overall I'm extremely pleased with this brew, as it encompasses a classy approach on an IPA, while still setting itself apart with it earthy and spicy elements… Another great brew - Cheers!!
Firestone Walker - Velvet Merlin [Limited Release Oatmeal Stout] (12oz ---> Left Hand Pint Glass : 5.5% ABV : 27 IBU)
Firestone Walker is a brewery that holds a special nostalgic spot in my heart, as their Wookie Jack is one of the first bombers I began picking up on a regular basis… So when browsing the sixers for a formidable brew to write a review on, seeing they had this limited release stout available made the decision fairly easy… An aggressive pour right down the center of the glass led to a nice two inch khaki colored head, composed of relatively small bubbles that faded moderately quickly and left pretty much no lacing… It's extremely opaque, but some rays of light do happen to find their way through the beer, emitting a deep ruby color amongst the black liquid that fills the remainder of the glassware… On the nose is the richness of coffee, with traces of earthy hops and sweet chocolate also finding their way to my nostrils… Light chocolate flavors are the first detected on the palate, which match the nose in depth, as they're pretty delicate… The roasted coffee notes soon follow and begin to take over mid-palate, bringing with it the light sweetness of caramel… Near the finish, the oats begin to develop their presence, adding a healthy amount of complexity to the still developing flavors… The earthiness of the hops again show up in the finish, though not a huge presence, it's enough to "freshen" up the brew and give it that much more depth… The mouthfeel of this beer is much like the name describes, smooth like "velvet…" It's got a decent amount of richness, as well as a good amount of sweetness, as well as a few dashes of creaminess, which all meld together together to compliment the flavor profile of this beer quite nicely… Overall it's a touch light for my liking, but that's really my only critique as the flavors blend together nicely in creating a very well balanced beer otherwise… Another great brew - Cheers!!
No comments:
Post a Comment