Capital Dark Lager (2011)

Thanks to Joshua Schipp for getting me an assorted six pack for Christmas. This was one of the beers, as I'm guessing he remembered from one of our other beer tastings that several had recommended it. Tasted Monday afternoon following a brief attempt to run (fail) after the car accident last Tuesday.

Appearance: Dark brown with a red hue when held to the light. Clear during pour, but color makes any visibility impossible. Head is soapy and bubbly during its short life, but soon dies into a soapy white ring around the inner perimeter of the glass. Filtered.
Aroma: Toasted malt bill with hints of crystal and even  minute undertone of roasted malt. Clean scent. Nutty and even hints of bittersweet chocolate are present, but very minimally. Definitely a clean lager smell about this beer.
Taste: Very light foretaste sweetness. Much of the flavor is in the second half when the noble hops come in with a drying, faint floral bitterness. To complement this, a roasted grain flavor emerges, paralleled by chocolate. A nutty sweetness provides the foundation for these flavors, acknowledgeable once the beer warms up. Overall this beer is very clean tasting.
Mouthfeel: High carbonation, but enticingly deceptive (for those who relate dark with heavy). Bites the back of the mouth, and provides a light lagered spiked texture on the palate. Dry and extremely refreshing and drinkable.
Overall Impression: Very tasty and extremely drinkable. A beer made for all occasions. Whether it's something to bring to a dinner party, or you're still in college and you want something easy drinking but classy. Nice work, Capital.


90/100

Supper Club Beer

Enjoyed Wednesday night with the roommates while listening to Simon & Garfunkle following a large organic Mexican dinner. Thanks to Josh Schipp for picking this up a couple weeks ago prior to our beer tasting from the Rock Island Hy-vee.

Appearance: Golden blonde color. No head in existance. There is ever present haze about this beer, and to reach that clarity and to not have any dregs in the bottom of the beer, I suspect it to be chill haze. Some carbonation can be seen within.
Aroma: Yeasty and partially astringent. Pale malt sweetness with an element of honey. Hops contribute a subtle herbalness. Maybe some faint pear oriented esters are present.
Taste: The front of the beer definitely has an aspect of honey with pretty much makes up the majority of the malt bill. Slightly bready and cereal grains, but other than that? Not a whole lot. Pilsner oriented noble hops are prominent alongside a lagered character. The hops also contribute an earthiness alongside a mildly skunky character of an "MGD," says Josh. Some spice is there, but negligible. I almost want to say it has a character of hay and straw to it, but more clean. A lingering dough flavor is left on the palate.
Mouthfeel: Interesting. The body is medium in stature, but feels watery. The front half is flat, but then one gets a dose of carbonation at the back of the mouth and as the beer travels down the throat. Biting. Ends with a gluey mouthfeel.
Overall Impression: A craft take on a light American Lager? With not much else going for it. Honey is there which is nice. I cannot really say anything more for it, besides being unimpressive.


71/100

Winter Skal (2011)

Thanks to Joshua Schipp for bringing this back to the house last Friday for our (now) weekly beer tasting event. out of that assorted six pack I hadn't tried 4 of the beers, including Boulevard Zon, New Belgium BELGO, Argus reserve and one other. Tasted Monday morning while watching Dexter.

Appearance: Ambered with a soft frothy off white head, that in dim light takes on a grey appearance. Very clear and bright looking with a persistent carbonation rising from the bottom. Lacing covers all edges of the glass.

Aroma: Toasted and spiced with hints of cinnamon. Floral to say the least, along with an undertone of nuttiness. Some yeast character is present on the edge.

Taste: Toasted malt seems faint under the surprising appearance of a above average bitterness. The front complements a subtle maltiness, introduce the following of spiced herbalness and bittered tannic residue. Hops certainly are the dominant factor of this beer, as the also parallel a slight alcoholic flavor in the finish. Aftertaste is slightly reminiscent of grains and wood. Take a step back and you might perceive an earthy, squash-like character....interesting.
Mouthfeel: Bubbly but still harbouring a body to it. Clean and refreshing. Bubbles up a after a short time on the tongue and then foams down the throat. Finishes dry.
Overall Impression: Much different than last year? Eh, not really (but perhaps my palate has changed), but still packing some winter warmth and holiday spice. I do enjoy how drinkable this beer has remained though.


83/100

Capital Pilsner

Thanks to Joshua Schipp for picking up a six pack of this for the evening of cooking homemade pizzas and cleaning out the chicken room (yes, we have chickens, did I mention that?) Anyway tasted around 10:30 Friday evening following a short run through Moline

Appearance: With the perfect pour, this beer exhibits a mushroom topped head with a soapy white foam consistency. Dissipation is quick while high carbonation from below enlarges the bubbles on top. Accumulation of carbonation clings to the side of the glass. Overall the beer is a straw gold with an ever so subtle haziness, attributed to chill haze. 

Aroma: A basic pale and pils malt make of the base, but most noteable it the yeast astringency and acetyladehyde. Some lemon citrus and notes of very clean but zesty peppery hops perfume up the nostrils. Undertone of bread throughout, yet balanced by the crisp hop character.
Taste: Light lemony foretaste is quite appealing, there isn't so much fruitiness as I would say a citrus zest. The pils simply acts as a base malt by which the hops are the stars. Lemon is tasted right off the bat, then pauses as the carbonation settles down on the palate. Then at the back of the throat, the rest of the hop complexities emerge with a rich pepper zest character. Very clean in flavor, while leaving the palate with something to think about aside for being perpetually refreshed. Big noble hop background.
Mouthfeel: The carbonation is a big contributor in this beer. It prescribes a fore-textured bite that pronounces the flavors of the beer, then as it mellows out, it enables others to emerge. This is an extremely light bodied beer with a spiking texture. Refreshing and crisp at the very finish.
Overall Impression: The peppery kick does it all, along with the lemon complexity. This is a light bodied, extremely drinkable and enjoyable beer for anyone. One can easily surpass the flavor and knock down six, while other's like myself can appreciate it for its refreshing texture and taste and the unique flavor profile. Light, lemony and peppery, perfect summer.


88/100

Island Wheat Ale

Thanks to Nelson Curran for giving me this beer at Ryan Biesterfeld's party last weekend. I was surprised to find Capital Brewery began canning (perhaps a theme?). Enjoyed while finishing making the organic Black Bean and Garlic Salsa I started earlier this afternoon.

Appearance: Huge bubble head which forms peaks and divots on the surface. Soapy and bright white. Lacing is styrafoamed but still wet. Color is of blonde/straw hue with a complete haze. There isn't any apparent carbonation, as the beer looks quite still.

Aroma: Initially, I can pick up an acute lemon zest that spikes the nostrils. Underneath a wheat citrus malt with a touch of graininess and zest predominate. Quite a bit yeasty with a similar bready aspect. Clover and banana can be acknowledged as alternative undertones. Yeast.

Taste: Again, the foretaste maintains a lemon character, but interestingly remains a bit watery. Aside for the lemon, a dash of wheat is exhibited, but not enough to make an enticingly sweet foretaste. Midtaste is lackluster at best, only hinting at the phenolic grain-husk. The end has subtle notes of tannins but likewise some vanilla, hops and bittering earthiness. Yeast is another prominent contributor, following along some fine line of a hefe and a wit, the attenuation was more-so completed. The finish has yeast and a dry bready aspect to it.

Mouthfeel: Bubbly with a spike at the tip of the tongue. Body is relatively light, making it an easily drinkable beer. Nevertheless, the mouthfeel is soft and free flowing, making a forgiving and smooth texture. Finish is still dry and crisp.
Overall Impression: I noticed this beer's motivation is more towards the drinkability for an audience who isn't as well acquainted with craft beer. For a wheat, it supposedly hits the style, but I thought it was missing a bit. taste is especially watery when cold, but "girths" up as it warms. Drying phenolic aftertaste. Not very exciting, but hell, they can. Cool.


73/100

Capital Dark

Tasted Friday evening after a long, productive day at the brewery, lab and the first day of conference. Enjoyed with some 483 pale pitachips made with olive oil, organic flour, rosemary, basil, and oregano, and fermented with Saison yeast! I've seen this brewery so many times but for some reason over look it. I recommend not doing so.

Appearance: A bubbly/soapy off white foam sits on top of the beer. It aggressively dissipates but is still fueled by the carbonation which resembles a soda character with much of it clinging to the side of the glass. The color is a dark bronze with an orange hue. Quite clear. A sticky lacing follows the beer down the glass.

Aroma: A little grainy to the nose with a splash of roasted barley and chocolate malt. A crisp lagered component along with a vigorously sweet sugar cane scent. Some dark roasted fruit permeates the nostrils alongside the roastiness.
Taste: Robustly sweet with a toasted bill and the ever prominent roasted flavor and a lagging chocolate to take the finishing role. Bittersweet cocoa and an abundance of extra sugar adjuncts help make this beer resemble that of a dark Mexican lager. As the beer warms, more of the hops are pronounced towards the finish to encourage the fresh clean flavor. Similarly the beer also leaves a woody (ceder), tannin flavor at the end. Could be associated with a burnt/over roasted grain flavor.
Mouthfeel: Light body and a softer mouthfeel. Carbonation is sufficient in that it doesn't take away from the beer, but still just enough to easily make it a very drinkable beer. Some resins are produced in the finish. Predominantly smooth
Overall Impression: A nicely balanced, and richly flavored drinkable beer. I could have a couple of these in one sitting. It also incorporates some unique earthy elements to it, especially from the flavors resembling chocolate. Both warming but a perfect summer beer


Tim: 90/100
Jen: 90/100

Pale Ale (2011)

Thanks to Nathan McDowell for donating this beer to me. During a Sunday night dinner festival with an Indian food buffet at the Eco-house and some Hop*A*Potamus Rye PA, he headed back to his house to pick one up for me. How kind. This was tasted during practice (of which I took off) with some pita chips.

Appearance: Amber in color with a slight haze about it. There is a puffy white head that sets atop of the beer with interspersed varying degrees of large and fine bubbles. Dissipation is quick. Carbonation is present as it rapidly surfaces. Resined lacing on the sides.

Aroma: Amazingly aromatic choked full of citrus and pine. Some mild fruit and skin tannin scent is matched up against a toasted malt and caramel backbone. However it is the pine that takes dominion in this category.
Taste: Almost right of the bat the hops make known their presence. The pre-bitterness leaves little room for the malt to expose itself, though it re-appears in the midtaste in a subtle biscuity character. Finally, with a headstrong of hops, the beer finishes with a robust pine sharp bitterness as well as an aspect of butteriness while retaining the resins and zest in all. Some dark fruity flavors permeate through to the finish as well, which furthers the complexity. Aftertaste reveals a mix of toasted maltiness and juniper pine bitterness that is far drawn out. As this beer warms, more of the malt in the forefront emerges. Some grapefruit available but on the puckering bitter side.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a higher carbonation but on the finer side. The mouthfeel is a bit cloying and tacky but seems to rebound with a very drying and resinous feel in the end.
Overall Impression: Big time hoppy profile. I wish there was a little more in the front to balance, but nevertheless I really enjoyed the simplified pine bitterness that the beer had to offer. Dark fruit and raisins seemed to be ever present elements of the sweetness that stood out in the mid taste. A well crafted beer that was definitely made for the hop-head.


84/100

Winter Skal

Simple dinner tasting with the usual sauteed farmers market zucchini, summer squash and eggplant. Purchased from Binny's in Plainfield from winter seasonal leftover corner.

Appearance: Pint poured.A bright orange color with a 1/4 finger head. Glowing orange haze to it.
Aroma: I smell caramel and fruit with a hint of flowery nuttiness. Very effervescent and clean.
Taste: Has more of a bitterness to it than most winter ales I've tasted. Similar to a finishing IPA, yet less alcohol and more so the bittersweetness. Still very malty with a hard to distinguish flowery/tannin bitterness at the finish. Somewhat of a bread like sweet role combination (or my ideal). Simple sugar sweetness at the nose and a finishing burn midway through finishing with a coated mouth.
Mouthfeel: well balanced but more on the robust body side with foamy texture, but not tacky at all.
Overall Impression: Still a good beer, but I don't find myself drinking it again. There was somewhat of a pumpkin taste that I really like though, or that may just be due to having just finished a bowl of sauteed squash...

78/100