A taste of… Grand Teton Tail Waggin’ Double Wheat

Grand Teton Brewing Co.
430 Old Jackson Highway
Victor, Idaho, 83455
United States
phone: (208) 787-9000

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Grand Teton Tail Waggin’ Double Wheat was sent to me by the folks at Grand Teton Brewing Co. for inclusion in these tasting notes. There was a yellow stamp on the neck that noted: “bottled 03/18/10”.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This is a faintly cloudy straw yellow brew with a thin head of small bubbles. Carbonation is fairly active but not enough to build a lasting head.

Aroma: The first sensation is one similar to Bavarian wheat brews, with a sharp lemon citric aroma. The second visit revealed more of a bread aroma to back up the continuing citric sensation. The third nose dive has a balancing act going on with the previously explored aromas.

Flavor: The tang of wheat and the unique esters (specific flavors and aromas) from the fermentation of the yeast used for this brew are evident in the first sip. The second showed more of the citric tang than the banana and bubble gum found in the Bavarian wheat brews. The third sip had the taste receptors settling in with the flavors and noticing less specifics.

Mouth feel: This is a fairly full bodied brew.

Finish: There is a fairly long lasting tang that finishes almost metallic.

Comments: American Wheat beers are not one of my favorite brews. This is a fairly good copy of a Bavarian (where this style was born) brew. However there is sharpness to this brew that is not familiar and gives it a particular taste and finish.

The flavor tang and sharp flavors would go very well with a nacho style platter of corn chips, chili, peppers and sour cream.

The Brewery: http://www.grandtetonbrewing.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/413/57630

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A taste of… Ranger India Pale Ale

New Belgium Brewing Co.
500 Linden Street
Fort Collins, CO 80524-2457
(970) 221-0524

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Ranger India Pale Ale was sent to me by the folks at New Belgium Brewing Co. . (There is a dating code on the label of the bottle is 16JULY10.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A deep golden honey colored brew is carbonated by tiny bubbles that develop into a rocky slightly sandy colored head of tiny and small bubbles. There is significant Belgian Lace as the head slowly recedes.

Aroma: The first impression is of fresh hops flowers. The second visit reveals more layers to the grassy green hop flowers. (If you have never had the chance to smell fresh hops this is as close as you can get to that aroma.) The third nose dive had my olfactory senses calibrated and my flavor receptors anticipating a hop flavor onslaught.

Flavor: The first impression, after the refreshing chill, is a series of citric impressions that bounce between lemon and grapefruit with some orange thrown in. The second sip found a caramel under taste that smoothed the citric tang. The third swallow was tuned and ready for the flavors but found a few new touches of dryness.

Mouth feel: A full bodied brew.

Finish: There is a dry finish here with the hops leaving town on the express train.

Comments: This bottle is most likely over a month old. However, it was kept cool and in a dark place. My overall impression is that it was a fine fresh brew that could have used a bit more hops.

Should I be asked to bring a beverage to an event where grilled brook trout was going to be featured I would take a six package of this brew.


The Brewery: http://www.newbelgium.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/192/55081

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/new-belgium-ranger-ipa/108325/

A taste of… Good JuJu

Left Hand Brewing Co.
1265 Boston Avenue
Longmont, Colorado, USA 80501
(303) 772-0258

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Left Hand Good JuJu was sent to me by the folks at Left Hand Brewing Co. for inclusion in these tasting notes.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A honey colored brew is lightly carbonated with tiny bubbles that build a thin head. The head is short lived but leaves a slight Belgian lace.

Aroma: The first impression is caramel malt with just a hint of ginger. The second impression is more of the same aromas but with a bit of butterscotch at the end. The third nose-dive revealed a honey note.

Flavor: The first sip, after, the refreshing sensation, revealed a malty sweet flavor that hid a hint of ginger behind its sweetness. The second swig brought out more of the malt and only let the ginger sneak out at the end. The third sip left me looking for more ginger and not finding any. However, the finish is already beginning.

Mouth feel: This seems a bit light in the mouth feel and carbonation.

Finish: There is a long finish to this brew that makes a liar out of the mouth feel and initial flavor sensations. However, it is neither emphatic nor shy.

Comments: This sample was served at cellar temperature in a pint glass poured to reveal the color and head. However, retrieved from an ice chest on a hot summer afternoon while taking in the sights of the Jersey Shore would allow it to make a different impression altogether. I can’t wait to try it!


The Brewery: http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/418/1876

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/left-hand-good-juju-ginger/432/

A taste of… Left Hand 400 Pound Monkey

Left Hand Brewing Co.
1265 Boston Avenue
Longmont, Colorado, USA 80501
(303) 772-0258

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of 400 Pound Monkey was sent to me by the folks at Left Hand Brewing Co. for inclusion in these tasting notes.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This crystal clear honey colored brew is topped by a foamy head of small bubbles that form a fairly dense tan head of sparkling bubbles.

Aroma: First impression is of sweetness. A second impression adds to the sweetness with a burnt sugar presence. The third nose-dive reveals a citric orange hint.

Flavor: The first impression, after the refreshing chill, is of a citric tang that is fighting with the previously mentioned burnt-candy aroma, now a flavor. The second sip reveals a tart tang that takes no prisoners… rips those tasters up by the roots so to speak. The third sip lets the flavor receptors get up off the floor or roof and begin to appreciate all the efforts of the hopper.

Mouth feel: Has a fuller finish than start.

Finish: What little sweetness exists in this brew is left to sweep up after the hop onslaught.
Comments: I will have to go to the references to re-learn the technical definition of an India Pale Ale. I don’t think this is one of them. It is one very good highly hopped pale ale but it is no India Pale Ale.

Just as American Amber Ale is known for the grapefruit citric tang of the native Cascade hops, an India Pale Ale has a traditional hop bite that is particular to the origins of the ale and is necessary to make it what it is.

Just as I have difficulty with the peculiar flavor of North American Wheat brews I can appreciate this as a good beverage to savor with a black-and-blue hunk of entrecote.


The Brewery: http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/418/44706

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/left-hand-400-pound-monkey/91991/

A taste of… Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale

Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson Ave.,
Bend, OR 97702
USA
541.385.8606

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale was sent to me by the folks at Deschutes Brewing Co. for inclusion in these tasting notes.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A bright golden copper colored crystal clear brew is topped with a lacy head of white with an almost-orange tint.

Aroma: From the beginning of the pour there were hints of berry aromatics. The first impression brought a peach nose to the forward and the second visit an almost strawberry presence. The third nose-dive found some spear-mint aromas.

Flavor: grainy flavors sharpened with a slight tang that builds into a non threatening wave of floral flavorful tang. The second sip found where the fruit aromas were coming from… the hop flavors have more than a little citric tang… less the grapefruit fragrances and flavor of Cascade hops. The third sip left noting more for the imagination and made for the flavor exit.

Mouth feel: A remarkably light feel to this brew.

Finish: There is a refreshing sensation that is not hindered by any sweet or sharp finale.

Comments: On a cedar deck, on a hot late Saturday afternoon, in the last of the sun’s heat, an ice cold swig of this brew would do you no harm.


The Brewery: http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/17984

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/deschutes-twilight-ale/35730/