Friday Beer O'clock Selections

 

Brooklyn Brewery Summer Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 5-20-2011

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This week I was looking for a clean refreshing summer selection that I might be able to mix things up with during the summer months. After browsing the stock, I came across the Brooklyn Summer Ale and decided to go for it. The Brooklyn Brown Ale left such a great impression, I figured I try it and see if Brooklyn Brewery had the stuff or if they were just a one night stand.. :)

ABV: 5%

Appearance: Poured into a mug with a subtle haze, light golden wheat color with very slight orange hues and formed a white fluffy 2 head with a lot of small carbonated bubbling action. The head "deflated" after a minute releasing large air/gas  bubbles leaving behind a scattered foam layer across the surface with a decent callar and lacing.

Aroma: I picked up a little bit of citrus lemon/orange and apricot on the nose with coriander and bready malts. I'm also getting a earthy chalkiness (lack of better description) and wheat straw.

Taste: Consistent and balanced straight through. Wheaty malts, subtle honey sweetness with mild hops that add a slight bitterness, coriander. Finish is a nice mild bitter hop and lemon citrus with mild sweetness.

Feel: I really like the mouth on this. Great carbonation. On the lighter side with a semi-dry finish. Refreshing and crisp.

Drinkability: I'm a fan. This has great drinkability. Clean, refreshing, flavorful. When I think of Summer Ales, I tend to gravitate to Sam Adams Summer Ale for comparison. This certainly meets the expectations I have for a good summer ale.

Conclusion: Move over Sam Summer Ale - You've got some competition. I plan on adding this to my go-to summer ale line up.

What do you think of this weeks' selection? Have any other suggestions for a great summer ale?

Filed under  //   Ale   Brooklyn Brewery   summer   summer ale  
Posted May 20, 2011 by Ed Stafford 
 

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

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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? 

Filed under  //   Ale   Magic Hat   Seasonal   flavored   summer   vegetable  
Posted August 20, 2010 by Ed Stafford 
 

Blue Moon's Honey Moon Summer Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 10-13-2010

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This week's Friday Beer O'Clock Selection comes from Blue Moon Brewing Company. Honey Moon Summer Ale is brewed in small batches and is available from May thru mid-August.

ABV: 5.20%

Appearance:

The pour created a lot of bubbling, but  produced only a thin head that dispersed in seconds. Lacing is non-existant with the excpetion of a few stray bubbles that find their way to the edge of the glass before vanishing. Turbidity is clear and the color is a golden yellow ochre.

Aroma:

Definately citrus orange and spice (corriander?) with sweet malted wheat and bready yeasts.

Taste:

Good balance in the mouthful with yeast bread, orange and spices up front. I didn't really pick up the honey untill the finish where it really comes out an lingers in all it's sweet glory before conceding to slight hints of grain. 

Feel:

Some carbonation at the back of the throat giving way to a smooth velvety refreshing liquid. On the lighter side, but with a slightly chewy character and semi-dry in the finish.

Drinkability:

Definately up on my drinkability scale. I like the balance of citrus, spices and the sweet flavors of the wheat malts and honey. It has a nice range of flavors and the spices tend to come out more as the beer warms. With an average ABV, it won't hurt to have a couple.

Overall:

I like it (for a filtered Coors family brew) !  ;-)

Filed under  //   Ale   Seasonal   blue moon   flavored   honey   summer   wheat  
Posted August 13, 2010 by Ed Stafford