Paul and Amy on Beer
http://paulandamyonbeer.com/
The same great content in a pretty new format.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Summer: Part 2
While so far our blog has been dedicated to reviewing beers local to us, Paul and I wanted to make sure that at least some of the beers we were talking about were available on a national scale. With that in mind we chose three summer beers that can be purchased from here to Florida to Washington. Unfortunately, what we discovered is that sometimes there's a compromise between quality and quantity. I know there are some fabulous summer beers out there (Harpoon for example makes a great one, but they're done distributing it this year), we just didn't happen to get any in this week's tasting.
Summer Ale
By Narragansett
Summer ale - 4.2% ABV - Narragansett, RI
Amy: Of these three summer beers, the cheapest was by far the best. Narragansett's summer ale is light and summery with a low ABV that made for mild flavors and easy afternoon drinking. There's a slight hint of coriander or orange peel, which is a nice touch in the heat of August. It's very drinkable and refreshing without any off flavors. If you're looking for a cheap and reliable summer beer, reach for this can.
Paul: Predictably, there's nothing special going on here. Basically, if you're on a budget and you want a summer beer, this is your guy. With virtually no nose, minimal flavoring either of hops or malt, and an extremely light body, this is the beer for the non-beer drinker at the BBQ. That being said, there's nothing wrong being a pretty neutral crowd-pleaser, and this beer is bland without being offensive.
Paul: Predictably, there's nothing special going on here. Basically, if you're on a budget and you want a summer beer, this is your guy. With virtually no nose, minimal flavoring either of hops or malt, and an extremely light body, this is the beer for the non-beer drinker at the BBQ. That being said, there's nothing wrong being a pretty neutral crowd-pleaser, and this beer is bland without being offensive.
Amy - 3.5 stars
Paul - 2 stars
Total - 5.5
Summer Rye Ale
By Mayflower Brewing Co.
3.8% ABV- Plymouth, MA
Amy: I wasn't sure what to expect from a "summer rye" as I normally think of rye as being dark and heavy. This beer was surprisingly pale blond in color with a light, bright, fruity, and wheaty nose. I was wondering how much of the rye would come through until I took a sip and was hit with the slightly burnt, malty, bitter flavor of the rye in the tail end of the drink. Those flavors aren't necessarily negative, they're something I enjoy in a hearty winter draught, but were really out of place in a summer ale. The Mayflower summer rye mostly tastes like a light, wheat beer, but the flavor of the rye sticks to your tongue, leaving an unpleasant sour/burnt taste that lingers. I'd take a sip, think, "this isn't that bad," and then that aftertaste would sneak up on me, making me dread the next sip.
Paul: In a summer brewing field dominated by beers flavored with orange peel and coriander, this is certainly an odd duck. This ale has an extremely light body that carries a sour rye flavor with a hit of malt. While I agree with Amy on the bitterness at the back of the palette, I didn't mind it at all. Instead, I wish there had been more body to the beer so it could stand up to the rye and hops more effectively. As it is, this beer is light to the point of watery, and so suffered from a lack of structure for the pronounced and interesting flavors. A rethink of this recipe might produce a delicious beer, but for now I'd skip it.
Paul: In a summer brewing field dominated by beers flavored with orange peel and coriander, this is certainly an odd duck. This ale has an extremely light body that carries a sour rye flavor with a hit of malt. While I agree with Amy on the bitterness at the back of the palette, I didn't mind it at all. Instead, I wish there had been more body to the beer so it could stand up to the rye and hops more effectively. As it is, this beer is light to the point of watery, and so suffered from a lack of structure for the pronounced and interesting flavors. A rethink of this recipe might produce a delicious beer, but for now I'd skip it.
Amy - 2 stars
Paul - 1.5 stars
Total - 3.5
Summer Ale
By Samuel Adams Brewing Co.
5.3% ABV- Boston, MA
Amy: Why is it that the worst beer of the bunch is the one I see most often when I'm out of town? Sam Adams Summer Ale, that staple of airport bars, is a cloying, watery-sweet, and overwhelming beer. There's so much going on that you can't focus and enjoy any specific flavor. It's like drinking a mouthful of spices whisked into water. This beer is way too heavy for summer sipping. I told Paul at first that drinking it felt like being hit in the face with a potpourri-ed, frilly, and fluffy stuffed animal, but I'm not sure that's true. I'd never be able to ignore being hit in the face, but after half a Sam Adams I managed to block out the flavors completely.
Paul: Let me preface that I like Sam Adams as a brewery. Some of the experimental and high gravity beers from them have been phenomenal, and their early success spurred the growth of many other craft brewers across the country. Unfortunately, this isn't one of the beers I like to remember them for. This ale, with grains of paradise and lemon peel, is overwhelming. I believe the exact phrase I used on the tasting notes were "overwhelming herbal flavors with some orange, pepper, and coriander." That's a lot for one bottle, and I think it is probably too much. To me, it's indicative of a microbrewery gone macro. I can see them saying: "These are the flavors that will make this beer taste like a craft brewed beer" and then getting it all wrong because they've become a little out of touch with the people who used to drink their beer all the time (me). For shame, Sam Adams, for shame.
Amy - 0.5 stars
Paul - 2 stars
Total - 2.5
View this post on our new blog: http://paulandamyonbeer.com/2012/08/20/summer-part-2-2/
Monday, August 13, 2012
Fire it Up
Pepper + Beer. Why didn't anyone think of this before? When I first saw a bottle of beer brewed with peppercorns, I was skeptical. It could be too hot, it could be too mild, it could taste totally fake. It probably didn't help my anxieties that I once tried a pepper infused vodka and was ill for a day afterwards. Fortunately, pepper beer and pepper vodka seem to have little in common and I can recommend the former whole-heartedly. Don't believe me? Try one of these two yourself:
Farmhouse ale with peppercorns - 6% ABV - Cambridge, MA
Rye ale brewed with agave & habanero - 7.2% ABV - Everet, MA
Amy: I first tried this beer at a local craft brew festival and then had to wait months before the beer was available by the bottle. In the noisy, crowded building drinking my sample there wasn't a lot of context for the beer, but I knew it was a beer with habanero and I knew I liked it. I'm glad that I had no bottle to look at, since I might have skipped tasting it if I knew of the rye ale and agave in here. It's not an intuitive combination and I can't claim to be a fan of either rye beers or agave sweetened anything. Thank goodness I didn't know what I was getting into.
This beer is deep, rich, toasty, and spicy. It has a warming richness that would be great for winter, and yet the fruity habanero flavor was a good fit for the 80+ degree day we tasted it on. The agave, which I was very biased against, brings a subtle sweetness that doesn't stand out, but balances out and mellows the darkness of the rye. The heat from the habanero is subtle, but noticeable. Unlike the Sgt. Pepper, this heat doesn't build up over time (good thing too, since this is 7.2% alcohol). Looking at the label I wouldn't suspect that these ingredients would go together, but Night Shift has won me over with rye and habanero.
Paul: This is, in a word, delicious. I'm a big fan of rye ales (look for an upcoming review of Harpoon's Rye Pale Ale), agave, and habanero pepper. But together? Yes indeed. Habanero, of course, is famous for being one of the spiciest peppers in the world at 100,000-350,000 on the Scoville scale. Needless to say, you don't normally see it as an ingredient in beer, but while drinking Viva Habanera it makes perfect sense. Sure the pepper is spicy, but it is also one of the most flavorful of peppers, with a delicious fruity quality underneath the heat that also makes it one of the best contenders for hot sauce that I know of. The nose on the beer smells almost sweet, but the first taste opens out onto complex flavors of spice, flowers, pepper, and a soft mouthfeel (I suspect this is the agave). The guys at the recently opened Night Shift Brewery should be very proud, since this a masterful display of balance and finesse. The heat doesn't last, so I could drink it all day (but don't, because it is 7%), and I'd pair it with anything fresh and spicy. Try it with tacos, guacamole, whatever you want, but please, please, please try this beer. You won't be disappointed.
View this post on our new blog: http://paulandamyonbeer.com/2012/08/13/fire-it-up/
Sgt. Pepper
By Cambridge Brewing Co.
Farmhouse ale with peppercorns - 6% ABV - Cambridge, MA
Amy: In Sichuan cuisine there's a flavor combination known as "ma la," or spicy-numbing. It's a flavor I love and drinking this beer brought me back to it with each sip. Sgt. Pepper is a golden, honey color with a light, bright ale flavor and a nice kick of heat. The pepper is noticeable, but not painful. The bottle specified that four types of pepper were used, but didn't say which ones, so we had lots of fun guessing. My final guess is black (for the heat), green (for the brightness), pink (for the flower notes), and Sichuan (for the numbing quality). One of my favorite things about the beer was its wonderful floral aroma, like that of pink peppercorns. I'm normally not overly interested in the way beers smell. I sniff them a bit at the beginning to see what I'm getting into and then never bother smelling again. I kept coming back to the bouquet of the Sgt. Pepper just because it was so pretty, like walking into your kitchen when your partner has surprised you with freshly baked bread. One thing to note: the heat of the beer grows over time, which could be dangerous, as you keep sipping to cool your mouth.
Paul: While I hate to be the one to say it, this is one of those rare occasions Amy and I agree. CBC hit the sweet spot with this light-bodied farmhouse ale. The peppercorn flavors are subtle, but definitely present. A malty backbone perfectly complements the spicy hit of the (black?) peppercorn, creating a distinct and savory effect on the palette. And, as Amy says, the nose follows the palette on this one. You won't ever forget that your beer was brewed with pepper. I'd drink this with anything off the grill, but a creamy cheese or sauce could work well here also to cut the bite.
Since CBC started bottling its beers, I've been thrilled with the brewing skill apparent in the beers coming out of their shop. And people are paying attention: check out this review from Beer Advocate. As the CBC gets some much deserved attention for their often experimental brews, we'll be watching, and rating, their delicious products!
Since CBC started bottling its beers, I've been thrilled with the brewing skill apparent in the beers coming out of their shop. And people are paying attention: check out this review from Beer Advocate. As the CBC gets some much deserved attention for their often experimental brews, we'll be watching, and rating, their delicious products!
Amy- 4 stars
Paul - 4 stars
Total - 8
Viva Habanera
By Night Shift Brewing
Rye ale brewed with agave & habanero - 7.2% ABV - Everet, MA
Amy: I first tried this beer at a local craft brew festival and then had to wait months before the beer was available by the bottle. In the noisy, crowded building drinking my sample there wasn't a lot of context for the beer, but I knew it was a beer with habanero and I knew I liked it. I'm glad that I had no bottle to look at, since I might have skipped tasting it if I knew of the rye ale and agave in here. It's not an intuitive combination and I can't claim to be a fan of either rye beers or agave sweetened anything. Thank goodness I didn't know what I was getting into.
This beer is deep, rich, toasty, and spicy. It has a warming richness that would be great for winter, and yet the fruity habanero flavor was a good fit for the 80+ degree day we tasted it on. The agave, which I was very biased against, brings a subtle sweetness that doesn't stand out, but balances out and mellows the darkness of the rye. The heat from the habanero is subtle, but noticeable. Unlike the Sgt. Pepper, this heat doesn't build up over time (good thing too, since this is 7.2% alcohol). Looking at the label I wouldn't suspect that these ingredients would go together, but Night Shift has won me over with rye and habanero.
Paul: This is, in a word, delicious. I'm a big fan of rye ales (look for an upcoming review of Harpoon's Rye Pale Ale), agave, and habanero pepper. But together? Yes indeed. Habanero, of course, is famous for being one of the spiciest peppers in the world at 100,000-350,000 on the Scoville scale. Needless to say, you don't normally see it as an ingredient in beer, but while drinking Viva Habanera it makes perfect sense. Sure the pepper is spicy, but it is also one of the most flavorful of peppers, with a delicious fruity quality underneath the heat that also makes it one of the best contenders for hot sauce that I know of. The nose on the beer smells almost sweet, but the first taste opens out onto complex flavors of spice, flowers, pepper, and a soft mouthfeel (I suspect this is the agave). The guys at the recently opened Night Shift Brewery should be very proud, since this a masterful display of balance and finesse. The heat doesn't last, so I could drink it all day (but don't, because it is 7%), and I'd pair it with anything fresh and spicy. Try it with tacos, guacamole, whatever you want, but please, please, please try this beer. You won't be disappointed.
Amy- 4.5 stars
Paul - 5 stars
Total - 9.5
View this post on our new blog: http://paulandamyonbeer.com/2012/08/13/fire-it-up/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)