Czech Style Pilsner

Tasted following a workout of 4 x 200m, 6 x 400m, 1 x 1000m and 4 x 200m with all 200's @ 31 with 30 s rest (the hardest part) and 400's @ 68, while the 1000 was in 2:58. Downed 3/4 a growler of water and got right to tasting prior to eating, and quite frankly, I'm feeling the 6%!

Appearance: A bright golden color remains the essential aspect of the thirst quenching liquid. Complete clarity with only the minuscule bubble arising here and there. The head is only made up of a thin white ring around the inside of the glass.

Aroma: A peppery zest is what dominates much of the smell. Some citrus and lager pungency, but overall a spicy hop character is the one notable element of the scent.
Taste: Starts mildly sweet, reminiscent of a corn flavor. Next during a spike in carbonation a huge wave of lemon peel and lemon grass rushes across the palate. Into the end of the carbonation spike and rounding the finish, the lemongrass flavor remains but is no sooner masked by a very peppery and spicy hop profile from Saaz's I assume. Slight herbal qualities are present perhaps from other additions to the beer. Otherwise it presumes a very clean, but interestingly complex flavor. Only some of the lemon bitterness remains in the aftertaste, but not for too long. Alcohol fuels a dry clean end.
Mouthfeel: Light and peppy with a drawn out carbonation spike that lasts into the finish of the beer only to fuel the spicy finishing flavor. Mouthfeel is spiked and textured, but fluid initially. The finish is clean and dry
Overall Impression: A well made pilsner. It presents a wealth of complexity but focuses primarily on what the hops offered the beers flavor profile. I liked how the beer focused more on the hops instead of the lager aged qualities that most pilsners have. Worth a try if you want to see the potential outside the box of the common Czech pilsners.


83/100

Fiddler Oatmeal Stout

Thanks to Joey Waldorf for donating this beer to the blog. I currently just got business cards for the blog, So I hope it will boost hits for the blog! Tasted following a tough track workout and making malt agar plates in order to inoculate them with Great River's house yeast and begin developing a yeast library!

Appearance: Very dark brown in the glass while the pour was clear and mahogany. A nice cloud-like foam head of tan complexion layers the top with a fluffy film. Lacing is speckled. To bring light the beer does have some clarity making me think it was definitely filtered.

Aroma: Robust toasted malt sweetness with caramel and roasty complexity. Some nuttiness but also a little bit of oxidation makes it seem somewhat papery but more along the lines of a vinous scent. Some roasted nuts permeate as well.

Taste: Very smooth and sweet. Caramel and roasted flavors are immediately picked up. Similarly I find rich chocolate malt and nuts. Bitterness is nicely settled into the alcohol, by which is definitely on the high end, and gave the beer that viney smell. The beer reminds me of a Starbucks coffee with a hint of baileys. Develops into a toasted malt, but the booziness persists. A big sweet stout with not a whole lot of bitterness. Nevertheless the beer has a very clean and well defined taste because it was filtered. No yeastiness or grit/graininess present.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation and body, though on the thinner side. Very drinkable, so the alcohol hits surprisingly, the only warning is the mild alcoholic taste. I would have expected it to be a lot thicker with the oats. A little tacky to the lips.
Overall Impression: Actually this beer was quite decent, aside for the fact that I couldn't really find the oats in the body, and I'm unsure really how to pick them out in the taste. It boasts a big chocolate and toasted malt flavor, but still just seems thin.

83/100

Snake Hollow IPA

Second tasting of the night following the Potasi Cave Ale. Enjoyed with Joey Waldorf and Jen. Served from a micro snifters for sharing.

Appearance: Pale straw color. More head that soon dissipates to a white ring head, far more than the cave ale. Carbonation visibly and uniformally rising to the surface. Some haziness to the beer, but nothing to

Aroma: Smells very fresh and outdoorsy. Pine and juniper berries. Some mild biscuit malt undertones. Excellent aromatic complexity. Mostly hoppy and citrusy with a touch of grassiness.

Taste: Starts biscuity sweet that is overbalanced by the outstanding pine and citrus flavors of the alpha acids. A great combination of bittering and aromatic hops. The foretaste has a bit of fruitiness to it as well as a honey undertones. Midtaste exhibits the greatest complexity of both toasted malt and the pine flavors. Grassy and herbaceous towards the finish. The aftertaste is quick and sweet but still maintains a crisp bitter flavor.
Mouthfeel: Light body, surprising for the malt sweetness. Carbonation is perfectly done, as it encourages a very smooth yet crisp texture. Mouthfeel is anything but harsh, and more so soft. Finish is very dry.
Overall Impression: A lighter IPA but don't let the color fool. This beer is definitely full of flavor in every way. I'd say this is one of the better IPA's I've had. Completely fresh and crisp and drinkable. I'd say this is one of the best go to IPA of the Hy-vee selection


Tim: 90/100
Jen: 90/100 (highest given for an IPA)

Pure Malt Cave Ale

Thanks to Joey Waldorf for picking this up as a part of an assorted six pack. Tasted following a 14 mile run through Moline and East Moline at 9 pm.

Appearance: A hazed amber straw color with an aggressive formation of carbonation against the glass. Little head formation
Aroma: Very aromatic and chocolaty with a carameled sweetness and toffee undertone. Very malt smelling with a mellow hop character that perfectly complements the malt. A little tart peach
Taste: Taste is mild and toasted with a biscuity. Some nutty bark like flavors are paralleled with earth sensation, as well as a complementary bready palate. Some metallic flavor to the finish. The beer finish is dry with a bit of a sour flavor. Similarly I find some husk tannins. The foretaste isn't as malty as the aroma led on, it falls more indistinguishable. A little salty. I think there is a yeast element to this beer that is the main contributor to the strange dry spiced finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium body and light carbonation that's just enough to carry out the flavors. Dry textured at the end.
Overall Impression: I think I liked the aroma the most. The flavor was far more different and less balanced than I expected. This beer emphasized a bitterness that didn't just revolve around the hop character, but drew some from the grains themselves. Too grainy and strangely tart.


78/100