A taste of… Otter Creek Spring Ale

Otter Creek Brewing
793 Exchange St.
Middlebury, Vermont, USA 05753
(800) 473-0727

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Otter Creek Spring Ale was purchased for $2.50(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There was a “LOT262421010510” stamped on the bottle.

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: There is a slight haze to this honey colored brew. A sprightly carbonation of tiny to small bubbles builds a quick head of little consequence. There are traces of it in the skimpy Belgian lace.

Aroma: First impressions are reminiscent of bread dough. A second visit reveals a roasted corn aroma. The third nose-dive brought out undertones of malted barley.

Flavor: First impression is a grain cracker followed by a rush of a tongue-clearing tang of hops. Next, a spike of hop flavor that blunts and relaxes into a sweet sensation. The third swig had the flavor and olfactory senses calibrated and agreeing that they liked what they had and were not interested in deconstruction.

Mouth feel: There is a good deal more body to this brew than first impression. By the third swig this becomes obvious… builds gradually.

Finish: There is a bit of a thick sensation that lingers but it is not unpleasant.

Comments: I am familiar with the Kolsch style and find it elusive unless sampled in a kellar or garten in Cologne.

Food & Beer: This is a rich beer that would find a friend in a thick bread pretzel.

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

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/119/40639

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/otter-creek-spring-ale-german-style-kolsch/83662/

A taste of… Wolaver’s Organic Brown Ale

Otter Creek Brewing
793 Exchange St.
Middlebury, Vermont, USA 05753
(800) 473-0727

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Wolaver’s Brown Ale was purchased for $2.50(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There was no “Best by…” date number on the neck.

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 crystal clear amber garnet brew carbonated with tiny bubbles that form a healthy parchment white head of small and medium bubbles.

Aroma: The first impression is a sweet roasted grain aroma. The second visit brings out more roast aromas with undertones of brown sugar. The third visit revealed little new. The moment between lip and sip picked up some sweet.

Mouth feel: A firm handshake would be a fine description of this brew.

Flavor: The first impression is of a creamy smooth sweetness that is almost immediately swept away by a sharp tang. The second sip finds some sharp spikes of almost metallic flavors getting the receptors on the front and sides of the tongue a wake-up call. Finally the third sip has these various forces focused and calibrated. Further indulgence would have probably smoothed the flavors even more.

Finish: The last traces of the emphatic hop tangs saunter towards the finish

Comments: The folks at Otter Creek have groomed the Wolaver’s line of brews into a serious contender in the organic food market. That said, I will have to consult with some brewer buddies to determine the effect the brewing process and packaging that makes using organic grain and hops into anything more than simple perceived value.

Food & Beer: Here is something I would suggest as an accompaniment to a selection of cheeses from the artisanal cheese makers of Vermont.

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

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/119/397

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/wolavers-brown-ale/823/

A taste of... Wolaver’s Organic India Pale Ale

Otter Creek Brewing
793 Exchange St.
Middlebury, Vermont, USA 05753
(800) 473-0727

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Wolaver’s India Pale Ale was purchased for $2.50(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There is a LOT # number on the neck: LOT2593110309.

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 slightly hazy bright amber, well carbonated brew is topped with a fairly dense light parchment white head of small and tiny bubbles. The Belgian lace is casually constructed.

Aroma: First impression is a spring morning new-mowed lawn freshness. A second visit finds a grain sensation. Third visit reveals a relationship between the two previous flavor voices. Between lip and sip there was/was not a sudden surprise.

Mouth feel: Any impression of body is hijacked by the first sexy sting of hop flavor.

Flavor: First there is a hop bitterness that is almost biting. A second sip reveals a sturdy foundation of roasted sugar candy that lets the hops maintain its swagger but sets a framework for the hops. A third sip has all the parties in step and the taste receptors sense a harmony and all is right with this part of the world.

Finish: No sweet kiss goodbye from this brew… a bittersweet farewell.

Comments: In context with the rest of the Wolaver’s line of brews this would be the one comes closer to an India Pale Ale than any of the others. That said, it is a refreshing brown ale that should feel right at home with an organic household.

Food & Beer: This brew would be my choice of beverage on a hot summer day with an organic bacon, lettuce and tomato (heirloom) sandwich on brewer’s grain bread.


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

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/119/399

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/wolavers-india-pale-ale/7487/

A taste of… Wolaver’s Oatmeal Stout

Otter Creek Brewing
793 Exchange St.
Middlebury, Vermont, USA 05753
(800) 473-0727

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Wolaver’s Oatmeal Stout was purchased for $2.50(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There was date number on the neck: “2579 BOTTLED 10/08/09”

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 deep red garnet colored brew is topped with a fairly thin head of tiny, tightly knit bubbles. They were not taught they were of tatting. (No noticeable Belgian Lace.)

Aroma: The first impression is the rich roasted aroma of highly roasted barley malt. A second visit reveals a bit of tobacco and some leather. The third visit has resemblance to a warm chocolate brownie that is remarkable.

Mouth feel: There is more to the body than first met the eye.

Flavor: First impressions are of tobacco, prune and liquorish. The second sip brought out more of the prune and the receding of the sharper flavors first met. The third sip left less of an impression that the first, perhaps because of flavor fatigue (this is not a bad thing… just the taste buds getting used to something new).

Finish: At first this seems to be a coyote-beer sneaking away trying not to wake you up. Then there is a sweet trace of grain that refuses to leave without saying goodbye.

Comments: Here we have a real “Porter”, or as the Irish call it, a “black beer.” If they will give me that I will agree that this is one very nice porter.

Food & Beer: Baked ham, sliced not too thin, with a layer of thin sliced sharp cheese, and a touch of sweet brown mustard, on a half loaf of crisp baguette would make a fine snack to pair with this dark brew.

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

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/119

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/wolavers-oatmeal-stout/28631/