Sawtooth Ale

Thanks to Mr. Joshua Schipp (and Thomas Behne for recommending to me a while back) for surprising me by leaving nearly a sixpack's worth of Left Hand beer's in the fridge over the weekend. I had assumed I had them all (but I still have not completely had a chance to re-taste everything that was in my original journal). Anyway I fortunately realized as I was halfway through the last bottle that this one hasn't been posted. Purchased (I'm assuming) from the Rock Island Hy-vee in the Assorted Craft pack.

Appearance: Oranged amber with a spotted lacing on the sides of the glass. Not much by way of head. It looks still and un-eventful, while maintaining a a very nice clarity. Doesn't look to have a lot of carbonation, but the pop of the cap said otherwise.
Aroma: A bit yeasty, or for other words, aromatics derived from yeast byproducts. Has a really beery smell to it, something drawn from when I was younger and smelling miller-lite or something of that caliber. Must be them hops! Some herbalness, but relatively the aroma doesn't make a wordy impression.
Taste: From the taste, I would of said golden ale, but ESB works. Lightly carameled malt foundation with a touch of sappy hop residue. More dominantly I can pull herbal and deciduous-like woodsy-ness from the finish of this beer. Not a typical pale ale with the balance between malt and hops citrus. This carries with is a more neutral bitterness while still remaining deceptively sweet from the clash of malt and hops. Perhaps some orange pith is present, but I'd take other suggestions. The finish and aftertaste resonate a grassy flavor and coat the mouth.
Mouthfeel: The carbonation is certainly there. Bubbly, soothing and apparent. Light in body and a zippy textured. Drying in the finish.
Overall Impression: I still think Golden Ale... The beer holds back on the malt while presenting the hops full throttle, floral and neutrally bitter. Very drinkable and refreshing. I'd say worthy to the person looking for something bitter but also has a knack for the unusual.


85/100

Stranger American Pale Ale

Tasted following a 7 mile bike ride broken up by a 1.2 mile run in the middle and prior to enjoying yet another, lazy day in the pool. Thank goodness it finally feels like summer.

Appearance: Poured slightly hazy, a nice golden amber color. The head was frothy and foamy, only about a 1/4 of a inch tall and dissipated rather quickly, leaving a cluster of bubbles in the middle. Moderate carbonation can be seen through the chilled glass.
Aroma: Primarily made up of a mild maltiness. Kind of a bready character that dominates but is heavily complemented by citrus-like hops. Notes of grassy and caramel aromas resonate in the nose. Additionally, there is a hint of floral hop aroma that can be detected.
Taste: Begins kind of sweet and malty with a touch of caramel. Blossoms into a baked bread and biscuity sort of flavors complemented by an earthy character similar to tomato vines. Slightly resiny and perhaps a bit of rye? Citrus hops and grassy flavors contribute to a slightly dry and bitter finish. About half done with my glass and I can taste a bit of alcohol on the tongue.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied ale with a fair amount of carbonation that spikes the tongue and contributes to a crisp finish. Brings about a metallic sort of taste near the middle/end that doesn't stick around for long. Slightly bitter aftertaste though.
Overall Impression: Metallic flavors are a turnoff for me. Other than that, this APA is fairly drinkable if you don't mind a touch of bitterness near the end. Fairly drinkable, not my favorite, but I would probably drink two in a sitting if I didn't have anything else.


Jen: 81/100

Note: Check back for an additional rating from Tim once I give a bottle to him!

Fade to Black

Thanks to Tom Bergman from Binny's in Highland Park for trading me this so I could try it. Tasted following a team dinner at Hy-vee and in for a relaxing night after a tough workout.

Appearance: Snifter poured. As the liquid left the bottle it resembled quite a thick consistency. The color is pitch black with a deep tan foamed head. The head dissipates into a thin foamed film across the surface of the beer. Micro fizzed carbonation only visible against the glass, and nothing more.
Aroma: Sweet and roasted malt immediately hits the nose. There is a mellow coal fire spiced note at the finish but is overwhelmingly pushed to the back by the rich malted aroma. Some licorice/maple and even molasses touches the nose.
Taste: Starts quite sweet, but immediately transitions into a full forced smoky bitterness that resembles a half burned coal pit after some one tried putting it out with maple syrup. Gradually my palate adjusts and the enjoyment is prolonged, but still has yet to accept the finish. I enjoy the start as it combines toasted and roasted malt with a maple-like sweetness. The licorice remains an integral part of the beers mid-taste. Burnt dry finish.
Mouthfeel: A fantasizing mouthfeel and a thick full body. The carbonation is minimal, yet just enough to distribute some complexity throughout the palate. Extremely smooth and delicate texture, and maybe even chalky, makes this characteristic top notch...for a porter?
Overall Impression: A strange and far out beer, representative of the types I enjoy seeking out. These are the types of beers go against the grains of American beer and re-define or establish a stylistic flavor that is achievable and favorable to the public. Well done, This was different, palatable as well as entertaining to my senses, although I may not be a fan of the finish, its with these beers that one can become accepting of foreign flavors.


89/100

Polestar Pilsner

This was the last 6 pack at Binny's, so I had to try it. Bought it just before closing and tasted it the following day once I got home from working there at around 10 p.m.

Appearance: Golden straw color with no head. Clarity is optimal while there is a minimal carbonation. Ever so slight chill haze. The top of the glass is the only place on the glass that holds the lacing
Aroma: Spunky and lagered with a brief crisp and pungent yeast note. some lemon peel and spices carry the nose along with a brief pils malt undertone. It's really difficult to pinpoint the layers of smell over the dominating pungent lagered aroma.
Taste: Crisp and tart with a nice lemon-like combination with funky malt sweetness and a finishing Saaz or Hallertau bitterness. Spice and crisp is tasted more so on the back of the roof of the mouth than anything else. Washes down clean with some grassiness sensed in the far back of the throat. Citrus lemon plays a partial role in flavor and aftertaste as well.
Mouthfeel: Light and fluid with a medium carbonation that is none too aggressive, like most other pilsners. Bubbles felt mostly on the tip of the tongue and that's it.
Overall Impression: I still have difficulty describing Pilsners partially because their isn't much free-variation between the style without being too offensive. This beer was a little more sweeter than most I think, but still accurately presented a crispy and refreshing beer.


85/100

400 Pound Monkey EIPA

Thanks goes out to Josh Schipp for your great host skills and your even better beer appreciation (the room erupted in wave of glares when a case of Coors light entered the room). Tasted this Saturday night at the Nieu Coope, Centre for the Higher Arts accompanied with a number of interesting people. Paired well with a Acorn/ butternut squash, pumpkin crisp that everyone devoured.

Appearance: Coppered bronze with a mediocre foamed head that dissipated relatively quickly. Due to lack of proper glassware, this beer was tasted in a Ball mason Jar, which I found kind of cool. Forceful carbonation was even visible amongst the turbid profile of the ale.

Aroma: Robust malt/caramel character presented through the sweet baked aroma. Smells slightly grassy at the end but the sweetness is far more apparent. rich floral notes. Permeating through I find notes of biscuits and even quite notable spices at the nose.

Taste: My first impression of this ale fell along the lines of a club soda. Not particularly a favorable characteristic. Extremely grassy and bitter totally misrepresented by the sweet aroma. In fact there was little malt sweetness to the flavor at all. It wasn't until the after burp did the sweetness perceived in the aroma reveal itself as the roasted biscuit malt taste. Interesting. potential grapefruit zest flavor.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation is high, and even prickling to the tongue, which only added to the overwhelming bitter finish. Lighter body, and the mouthfeel isn't cloying.

Overall Impression: It's rather unfortunate the bitterness entirely overwhelmed the potential complex flavors of this beer. I found that it finished plainly bitter...Warrior hops? with little residual/alternative complexities to the hop profile. Generally, if it were just the aroma I was rating, this beer would get higher score, but unfortunatley much of the loss in the overabundance of bitterness

68/100

Milk Stout

A Sunday afternoon following a day at West Lake Beach before seeing Inception (A great movie by the way) and Salt in a double-hit-one-ticket movie excursion.

Appearance: Nice, rich, dark chocolate hue that poured strong and silky. Even almost black with no head to note.

Aroma: Sweet malted caramel aroma with hints of chocolate and roastiness.

Taste: Noticeably sweet right off the bat (I tasted it first....woops). Again, Chocolatey sweetness reinforced by a sweet, dehydrated milk status. Initially I would relate this to a sugary coffee drink you'd purchase from Starbucks, Yet it's beer! There is a bittersweet element to it of cream and lactose followed by a pleasant finish of hops and perhaps pine-like (though not bitter) taste. A complementary roastiness of Black Patton malt.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and delicious with a silky coating to the tongue. Creamy texture is reinforced by the fact that the carbonation is the finishing mouth sense. I think it really helps carry out the final mocha caramel flavors.
Overall Impression: A stellar stout in its own category. I really enjoy the unusual balance of flavor and feel. Definitely worthy of a 6 pack.

Note: Left Hand designed a totally new label, so I actually ended up logging this one twice in my journal!

86/100