Friday Beer O'clock Selections

Clown Shoes Clementine White Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 4-29-2011

This week's Beer O'Clock Selection came as a recommendation. I've seen it on the shelf a few weeks back and made a note to try it, when "The Beer Guy" at my favorite local provider convinced me it's worth a try. I liked their Eagle Claw Fist Imperial Amber, and with the recommendation, I expect this to be a decent brew as well. What am I talking about, you ask? It's Clown Shoes Seasonal Clementine White Ale (Witbier).

ABV: 6%

Appearance: This brew poured from it's bottle into a pint glass with a light golden ochre color with forming a deep white and frothy head at about two fingers. It's a bit cloudy but provides enough visibility to catch the active carbonation. The head gives out after a bit and leaves a dense film on the surface with a thick collar around the edge.

Aroma: First up front is a bready malts and wheat aroma with floral and coriander notes. A little deeper and I get some orange and clove as well.

Taste: In front I definitely pick up the wheat malts but moving into the middle the orange rind/peel take over and mingle with some hop bitterness and coriander to the end where things linger with bitter orange peel and coriander. There's a lot of bite in the flavor and some might bite a bit too hard for my taste. At the same time it makes for an interesting blend that starts to grow on you.

Feel: Crisp and light with a mild body and medium wetness through out. Finishes on the drier side and carbonation is a bit abrasive.

Drinkability: If the conditions are right [hot summer day] this might be a decent brew to break out, but I didn't find this one to live up to it's expectations.

Overall, I had higher hopes for this. I loved the introduction, but the orange peel flavor and bitter combination make it a bit awkward for me. Orange peel could be brought down a peg or two, in my opinion. I've got another bottle of this and will save it for the hotter days of summer which it seems more appropriate for. Maybe I'm just missing something in this one.

Thats my version! Whats yours?

Sierra Nevada 2010 Celebration Fresh Hop Ale - Friday Beer O'clock Selection 12-03-2010

Let me start this week's Beer O'Clock Selection by saying "Wow, what an amazing week", and I mean that. In addition to scoring two more bottles of the epic Stone 10 10 10 Vertical Epic, something I had lost hope for finding more of, this week's selection is another winner.

This week I picked up some of Sierra Nevada's 2010 Celebration Fresh Hop Ale. I was looking for a nice winter seasonal and the label on this is all about the season with snow covered log cabin and pine trees decorated with a frame of Poinsettias.

From the label, this brew is described as:

...A special ale for the holidays. Featuring the first hops of the growing season, this pioneering IPA is full of complex flavors and aromas from the generous use of whole cone american hops.

ABV: 6.8%

Appearance:

Poured with a warm slightly hazy copper color, forming a mountainous 3 finger thick foamy cream colored head that has incredible retention. Lacing is also impressive coating the sides of the glass and holding on for dear life.

Aroma:

Aroma is loaded with pine and citrus (grapefruit) with undertones of bready hop and bits of floral sweetness.

Taste:

Tastes as good as it smells. Right up front is a nice mellow sweetness with caramel malts that quickly gives way to citrus and pine in the middle with plenty of bitter hops in the back. The finish lingers with dominant bitter citrus and strong pine flavor balanced with the slight caramel malt flavors.

Feel:

Even with the moderate carbonated bite, it still "feels" pretty smooth, clean. Lighter side with clean, crisp quality.

Drinkability:

As far as IPAs go, this one ranks way up on the drinkability charts in my opinion (and I'm net a big fan of IPA). I would pop another top on this again (and considering I bought a six, I guess I have no choice).

So there you have it. Like I said, I am not a big fan of IPAs, but this one is excellent.

That's my opinion, but what do you think?

Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog Ale – Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 11-26-2010

This week's selection is Really Old Brown Dog Ale (Big Beer Series) from Smuttynose Brewery in New Hampshire. I had the Old Brown Dog Ale from tap a while back, and really enjoyed it, so I had high hopes for this as well.

ABV: 10%

Appearance:

Poured with a deep dark brown amber color forming a brown head at about 1-2 fingers. The head dissipated quick and lacing was thin and spotty.

Aroma:

Delicious aroma from this one. Picking up rich malts, molasses and a lot of chocolate with caramel and a hint of plum.

Taste:

This is where I was taken by surprise. The flavor in this brew in BIG!! Like the aromas there is some fruit with a lot of rich malt and chocolate in abundance in the front trailing into slightly bitter mosasses and hint of coffee in the back and finish. It's all very good but I picked up some acidity the alcohol is evident and hard not to notice. BUT... in it's defense, this brew should be left to age for a while and is expected to mellow with some time.

Feel:

This has great body. Upper Medium weight with some chew and fairly smooth over all. Theres a bit of a carbonated bite that is magnified by the warm burn of the alcohol. The Alcohol also warms the gut a bit.

Drinkability:

For what it is, I thought this was a nice brew. Similar to a Port in some ways. A snifter of this on a cool night will do a lot to warm the spirit. But keep it cool and don't let it sit too long. The alcohol flavor and heat intensify as the brew warms, so drink up.

Keep in mind that it is recommended to age this for a while before opening.

Sam Adams Octoberfest – Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 11-5-2010

Another quick addition this week. My apologies. This week's selection is Sam Adams Octoberfest.

Appearance:

Rolled into the mug forming a two finger head that dissipated pretty quick. Color is a nice clear amber with orange/red hues.

Aroma:

Came across with an earthy spiced, semi-sweet citrus and caramel malts.

Taste:

To be honest, I'm having trouble picking out the flavors. Definately picking up malts and spices (clove) with a subtle hop finish. Overall very suitable for an autumn seasonal.

Feel:

Not big on body coming in on the upper low end. Pretty wet with moderate carbonated bite but over all crisp, clean and pleasant.

Drinkability:

One of the best characteristics of this brew is it's drinkability. It's a clean well rounded autumn seasonal and goes down easy.

Stone Cat Pumpkin Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 10-29-2010

This week's Beer O'clock Selection is Stone Cat  Pumpkin Ale from local brewery here in Ipswich Massachusetts - Mercury Brewing Company, Inc.

I'm a bit short on time this week, so I'll have to make this one a quick review.

ABV:

5.4%

Appearance:

Poured with a deep dark color forming a one finger beigh/brown head and leaving pretty even lacing.

Aroma:

Pumpkin spice nutmeg cinnamon top the aromas with molasses, coffee, chocolate, roasted malt and hops mixed in.

Taste:

Dark roasted flavors with coffee, mild bitter hops and subtle pumpkin. Very good balance

Feel:

Medium body with a crisp velvety feel. Moderate carbonation bite.

Drinkability:

Like the Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, I like this one for it's more subtle pumpkin flavors. It's not high on pumpkin, allowing other flavors (coffee, molasses, roasted malt) to come through and play a bigger part.

Sierra Nevada Tumbler - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 10-22-2010

This week's selection is Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

From the Bottle:

As the nights grow cool, the leaves on the valley oaks begin to turn and fall. In honor of this yearly dance, we bring you Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale and invite you to enjoy the show.

We use malt within days of roasting at the peak of its flavor to give Tumbler a gracefully smooth malt character. So pour a glass, and grab a window seat to watch as the leaves come tumbling down.

ABV: 5.5%

Appearance:

Poured with dark brown color forming a one finger light brown foamy head. Low turbidity with good carbonated action.

Smell

Roasted, toasty malts and sweet smokiness dominate the nose with hints of nuttiness.

Taste:

As expected, nice toasty semi-sweet malts on the front giving way slight coffee and modest bitter hop flavors in the back and finishing with a lingering bitter smokey hop flavor.

Feel:

Good carbonation with some tooth. Body is on the light to medium side with a dry finish.

Drinkability:

Very drinkable brew here. Good trade between the semi-sweet and modest hop flavors - neither is outdone or over bearing. ABV is not off the charts meaning a couple (or more) won't cripple you. Really comes across well as a seasonal Autumn Ale. 

Conclusion:

Pick a cool fall evening, start a fire in the pit, pull up a chair, crack a couple of these with some friends and enjoy. Now THAT's living.

Do you have your own thought on this one? Leave a comment, we'd love to hear it.

Shipyard Brewing Co. Smashed Pumpkin Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 10-8-2010

This week's Beer O'Clock Selection comes from Shipyard Brewing Co. in Maine. I had planned on featuring something other than another Pumpkin Ale, but then I found this sitting wide-eyed on the shelf begging to take it home with me. How could I refuse? Besides, I've heard good things about this one. And the selection is ...... Shipyard's Smashed Pumpkin Ale (Pugsley's Signature Series)

From the bottle:

Smashed Pumpkin is a big-bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg. The OG and final Alc./Vol. provide the structure and body. Pale Ale, Wheat and Light Munich Malts combine with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate spiciness of Willamette and Hallertau Hops to balance the sweetness of the fruit. To fully enjoy all the flavors, this ale is best drunk at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Smashed Pumpkin pairs well with sharp cheeses, nuts, lamb, hearty stews and desserts like flan or pumpkin pie. Chefs find this an excellent beer to cook with in dishes such as braised short ribs.

ABV: 9%

Pour:

The brew poured with a clear light copper color with golden/orange hues and formed a loose 2 finger head that dissipated after about a minute or less. Carbonated bubbles are pretty active otherwise.

Aroma:

There is the obvious pumpkin but it does not come across as strong as some of the other pumpkin ales featured here. Nutmeg comes out as the dominant aroma here but there is also a good amount of wheat. I also pick up a bit of caramel, maple mixed in here with hops. Organic and earthy.

Taste:

Not much of a surprise here. Tastes is pretty much the equivalent of the aroma. Good organic flavors. Nutmeg, pulpy pimpkin, and maple. Flavors are smooth and consistent blending nicely across the tongue. A bit sweeter on the front and transitioning to a very slight bitterness at the back. Alcohol comes out a bit right away, but more in the middle. Finish is also mixture of sweet malts and slightly bitter hops that lingers a bit. Spices start to come out more as the beer warms. Really good balance overall.

Feel:

Medium body has some weight with an overall smooth, almost syrupy feel. The alcohol sting combined with mild carbonation keep it from feeling flat.

Drinkability:

Another high ABV coming in at 9% keeps this from being pounder, so as usual, pace yourself. I don't feel that it has the "refreshing" quality to consider more that one or two in a sitting but it make for a tasty treat.

Overall:

I can't say I did not like it. What I like most about this one was the simplicity. Compared to other pumpkin ales, this one is a bit less complex. The flavors are not competing as much as they are working together to create a nice blend of flavors.

Southern Tier Pumking Imperial Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 9-24-2010

This week's Friday Beer O'Clock Selection continues with the seasonal pumpkin selections and was chosen based on a lot of buzz and recommendations from others based on their experience with last year's release. So without further delay, this week's selection is ... Souther Tier Imperial Pumking Ale! 

From the Bottle:

Pumking is an ode to Púca, a creature of Celtic folklore, who is both feared and respected by those who believe in it. Púca is said to waylay travelers throughout the night, tossing them on its back, and providing them the ride of their lives, from whichthey return forever changed! Brewed in the spirit of All Hallows Eve, a time of year when spirits can make contact with the physical world and when magic is most potent. Pour Pumking into a goblet and allow it’s alluring spirit to overflow. As spicy aromas present themselves, let its deep copper color entrance you as your journey into this mystical brew has just begun. As the first drops touch your tongue a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds making it difficult to escape. This beer is brewed with pagan spirit yet should be enjoyed responsibly. 

ABV: 8.8%

Appearance:

Poured with a golden brown color, a bit lighter than other pumpkin ales I've had, and formed a generous creamy head at about 3 fingers.

Aroma:

Another Brew pushing my olfactory senses into hyper-drive. A lot of sweet bready/crusty aromas dominating the nose with spices and pumpkin coming in underneath. I'm also reminded of toasted almonds, amaretto and sweet yams smothered in caramel. (hungry yet?)

Taste:

Sweet in front as expected, with genuine toasted pumpkin spice flavors coming out in the middle mingling with crusty bread. Toasted pumpkin spice finally submits to the dominating crusty bread on the back. Finish lingers with bitter, breadiness with hints of sweet caramel spicy pumpkin goodness. 8.8% alcohol bites a bit, but does not overpower the overall flavors, however, it does become more pronounced as the beer warms.

Feel:

It's certainly got some weight behind it but not a heavy beer. Also has a pretty smooth texture and comes across on the dryer side.

Drinkability:

At 8.8% ABV, this one might leave a dent after the first round or two so pace yourself. 

Conclusion:

This is a treat. When I think of pumpkin, I imagine the full spectrum of flavors that come out in the autumn harvest spread across a Thanksgiving table - squash, yams, pumpkin, breads, and the assortment of flavors they bring. This beer comes about as close as you'd imagine to bringing all that together ( even the burps are pretty good ). If I had to take points away, it would be because of the dry bitterness that comes out in the back and lingers in the finish. It just seems out of place here and throws the balance off just a bit for me. But in the end, after getting past the expectations, I do like it - maybe not as much as the Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, overall - but still, I like it.

This is a complex brew for sure!! If you've tried this one, we'd love to hear what you thought.

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale – Friday Beer O'Clock Selections 9-10-2010

This weeks Beer O'Clock Selection comes from Dogfish Head Brewers, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Given that we are beyond Labor Day here in the States, marking the popular end to another summer, the fall seasonal brews are finding their way to the shelves. This week's Selection is a seasonal spicy pumpkin brew - "Punkin Ale" (yes, that is spelled correctly)  :)

ABV: 7.0%

Appearance:

This beer poured with nice creamy head at about one finger before slowly withering to a consintent smoot coating across the surface leaving smooth lacing along the sides. Color is a beautiful clean light brown / copper. In the glass there is a nice crisp clarity and lots of carbonated bubbly action.

Smell:

WOW! This smells So good! Right up front is a mixture of sweet nutmeg, pumkin, and spice. Reminds me of Mom's sweet pumpkin pie, only in a glass. I can just pick up some very slight hops in there too.

Taste:

This is the part I was waiting for... And...
Not what I expected. But not necessarily a bad thing. Pumpkin and roasted barley all the way through. Sweet and spicy up front with Brown Sugar, Malts, and nutmeg dominating. Cinnamon and all-spice come out in the middle and play nice while the back brings it all together with some hoppyness. The finish is slightly bitter at the back of the mouth and the alcohol really comes out here as well. In the end, more sweet and spice than pumpkin in my opinion.

Feel:

Overall it is pretty smooth with a little bit of a bitter carbonated bite. Has a nice hearty medium body and a warming alcohol feel that comes out in the finish.

Drinkability:

I can't see throwing more than a couple of these back at a time. It's a nice, warm your gut kind of brew to enjoy on a cool night but I had some trouble getting past the sweetness and, warming alcohol at first.

Overall:

In the end, I did like this. Full of flavor, decent balance, and nice body. It's not a session beer and I'd likely only have one or two in a sitting anyway. It's good, but I did feel a little cheated after the pour and the amazing smell.

Magic Hat Wacko - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 8-20-2010

This week's Beer O'Clock Selection is called Wacko from Magic Hat. Magic Hat spent some time in the lab with this one, concocting a combination of beet sugar, pale malts, Apollo hops, fermented with an English Ale strain.

ABV:

4.50%

Appearance:

The beer rolled out with nice red color with orange accents forming a bright white head at about a finger's width and then quickly disappeared leaving a filmy residual layer of bubbles. Lacing was hard to find aside from a few stray bubbles that found their way to the edge. Bubbling was slow and almost null halfway through consumption. Turbidity is very low and very clear. Appears as a crisp light clean beverage.

Aroma:

Immediately picked up on a tangy sweetness similar to cherries, but also reminded me of carrots. Hint of floral hops, but over all nothing distinguishing.

Taste:

Again, like the aroma, nothing overwhelming here. A little weak and watery overall, but different somehow. More on the sweeter tangy side. But swirling and agitating the brew a bit did bring out more of a bitterness and some hop flavors. The finish pops a little more of the bitterness and hops, but it struggles and doesn't quite get there against the sweet tangy characters.

Feel:

Seems to have little body and is a bit watery. Carbonation is low and comes across on the smooth side. Left a fuzzy mouth film feeling after consumption.

Drinkability:

For the most part, drinkability is alright. With the 4.50% ABV, it won't hurt to nurse a few of these and it is refreshing (as a summer brew should be).

Overall:

It's not un-delicious, but it's probably not what you'd expect and does leave a lot of room for improvement in my opinion. To be honest although a bit bland, part of me likes this, but there are definitely better options. Props for Magic Hat for trying something new here, but I'd consider this a work in progress.

If the beer straight up don't cut for you, maybe have a look at their Waco Marinated Grilled Salmon recipe.

Do you have an opinion on this beer?