Life On Tap

Episode#214: Three From Two Brothers

In this episode from the crypt, Dan and his dad sample some beers from Chicago-area brewer Two Brothers at the Old LOT Compound.

Beers Tasted

Two Brothers Ebel’s Weiss (0:46)

Their year-round German hefeweizen is unfiltered and weighs in 4.9% ABV with 12 IBUs.

Notes: Hazy and yellow in color, banana and clove on the nose. Balanced with a creamy mouthfeel, this is a perfect summer beer with lighter dishes.

Two Brothers Dog Days  (3:12)

Their seasonal Dortmunder lager weighs in 5.1% ABV with 27 IBUs.

Notes: Clear, pale yellow, with bigger bubble carbonation and biscuity presence on the nose. Dry, with a hint of smoke on the mid-palate, this one is crisp, clear and sessionable and should be had with hot dogs at a ball game.

Two Brothers Domaine du Page (5:28)

Their award-winning flagship beer, this year-round amber (French Country Ale), weighs in 5.9% ABV with 24 IBUs.

Notes: Brilliant amber in color, with nice lacing on the glass. Malt-forward, sweet and a little bready. Very accessible but complex and would be extremely food-friendly.

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.

Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools

Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

Episode#212: Beer Camp Revisited and More

In this episode from the crypt, Dan, his family and some close friends south of the Equator taste the 2012 Beer Camp brews and two more at the Old LOT Compound.

Warning: Uncalled for Earth, Wind & Fire impression around 6:20 or so. Oh and a butchered Frank Herbert quote at 13:21.

Beers Tasted

2012 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #43 Imperial Pilsner (0:46)

Notes: Clear, nice head, bready and floral aromatics, bratwurst-worthy, crisp and refreshing. Surprising that it’s an imperial at such a low ABV, but packs flavor well.

2012 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #53 Floral IPA (4:10)

Notes: Unfiltered/hazy, great head, floral notes all the way, extremely dry with a huge hop note on the palate through the finish. For hop-lovers and spicy food pairing.

Uinta Brewing Company Hop Nosh IPA (5:50)

Notes: Orange, filtered/clear, huge fluffy head, herbaceous with pine and resin notes, but with a delicate balance. Drinkable and almost sessionable despite being over 7%.

2012 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #65 Imperial Red Ale (8:17)

Notes: Scarlet red/amber in color, fairly clear with a solid head, pine and malt on the nose, dry and full of flavor with expert balance. Would love to see this as a regular, as it’s not only tasty but could pair with a lot of different food.

2012 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #45 Oatmeal Stout (10:15)

Notes: Beautiful dark complexion, tan and plentiful head, chocolate with a hint of honey and toast on the nose. Roast and smoke with a hint of nib on the palate. We all were desiring some cheesecake with this one.

Flying Dog Brewery The Fear Imperial Pumpkin Ale (12:46)

Notes: Smells like spices from banana/pumpkin bread (nutmeg, clove, allspice). Sweet on initial approach but turns more bitter after the mid-palate. Medium body and not too overpowering despite the higher ABV. Right up there with the Gonzo.

 

All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.

Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools

Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers

In this previously recorded episode, Dan gets a recommendation for a Double Rye IPA from Southern Tier Brewing – 2xRye.

Southern Tier Brewing 2xRye

2xRye is a 8.1% Double Rye India Pale Ale brewed with three varieties of hops, five types of malts by Southern Tier as an autumn seasonal since 2013.

Appearance

Brilliantly clear, orange/copper, reminiscent of a nice Canadian whiskey. The pour resulted with a moderately-small head with fairly tight bubbles.

Aroma

Sweet aroma with a hint of rye bread as expected.

Taste

Very tasty and unique. Rye-forward with the other malts balanced with the hop bill, adding to the complexity and no detectable alcohol.

Mouthfeel

The rye and companion malts merge together for a textured and delightful mouthfeel with a medium body.

Overall

If you are looking for a balanced fall beer, this is one to seek out. While hop lovers might not flock to this beer, I believe it will please most people’s palates. Pair with moderate, seasonal dishes.

In this previously recorded episode, Dan continues to drink through the hop-forward beers with an American Black Ale from Maine Beer Company, Weez.

Maine Beer Company Weez

Maine Beer Company Weez is a 7.2% ABV American Black Ale brewed with Maris Otter, American 2-Row, Munich, Crystal-80, Caramel 80L malts and flaked wheat, black barley and midnight wheat specialty malts. Hopped with Cascade, Citra, Simcoe and Warrior.

Appearance

Huge, tan head and VERY dark. Smelled the hops from far away with a delicate blend of resin blended with chocolate from the malts.

Taste

Hop-forward with chocolate presence with a mid-palate of roastiness and hop bitterness on the finish.

Mouthfeel

Pleasant and medium body for the mouthfeel.

Overall

This is an amazing fall beer, but could also be enjoyed for hop fans through the winter. I highly recommend that you pick this beer up if you see it, as it is encourages exploration of various palate extremes as well as unique ingredient combinations.

Bear Republic Cafe Racer 15

Bear Republic Cafe Racer 15 is a 9.75% ABV Imperial IPA with Citra, Amarillo, Chinook and Cascade hops.

Appearance

Dark, straw yellow typical of some Imperial IPAs.

Aroma

Pine is up front on the this with the Citra providing a citrus element.

Taste

More citrus than pine on the palate, with the Chinook/Cascade hitting the finish along with the dry malt backbone creating a really nice balance. Citrus makes another appearance in the mid-palate. A little warming in the chest, but the alcohol is absent on the taste.

Mouthfeel

Has some weight, but not overly syrupy like some high-ABV/IBU beers.

Overall

As is the case with many California-based hopcentric beers, this dry/well-hopped combo has great balance. I highly recommend this beer with spicy food (I was craving a Cajun-spiced chicken sandwich and Thai in the video).

Evil Twin Molotov Cocktail

Evil Twin Molotov Cocktail is a 13% ABV imperial IPA brewed with natural flavors.

Appearance

Really intense orange tinge to its color, though the head dissipated quickly. Bottled date was around three months prior to my recording date.

Aroma

Syrupy resin along with citrus from the intense hop additions.

Taste

Rollercoaster! Hop resin followed by malt sweetness which gets defeated once again by hops. Aftertaste is quite intense and dry, but the alcohol is not easily detected until you feel it in your chest.

Mouthfeel

With the malt backbone, it waxes and wanes between resiny and syrupy with a good bit of weight and coating.

Overall

Not for the feint of heart or hops. Much like the 1000 IBU offering from his brother at Mikkeler, this is an intense hop bomb that I would not recommend sampling unless you are a hophead or an equal opportunity taster like myself. If you are either of those however, you are in for quite a ride at that high ABV mark. It’s a good one to share and discuss since these hop-forward Imperial IPAs can be quite polarizing.

Strongbow Honey & Apple Hard Cider

Welcome to the last in a series of five posts care of Heineken USA via Kayla at The Brand Action Team (connect with her here).

Full Disclosure: I was provided with two (2) of each sample with the exception of the Dos-A-Rita.

The Strongbow Honey & Apple Hard Cider comes in a standard-sized bottle. Please note that the “Gluten Free” mark is fairly prominent on the back label. Strongbow has been around since 1887, so it’s not a new brand by any means.

Appearance

A little bit larger bubbles, clearly filtered with a light golden hue.

Aroma

Honey crisp apple and lots of sweetness.

Taste

A lot sweeter than the Golden Apple, with a wax and wane of intensity throughout the palate almost to cloying note towards the finish. A tiny hint of acidity at the end of the first part of the taste helps flow the flavor. “Apple pie sweet” comes to mind.

Mouthfeel

Not as dry as the Golden Apple, which changes the weight and feel on the tongue.

Overall

Once again if you’re not a beer drinker or have an issue with gluten, cider is a great way to go. It’s food-friendly (most of the time) and has a dizzying array from dry to sweet. You’ll also see things like honey or other fruit and spices being thrown in, so in this sense it is similar to craft beer. With tons of ciders out there, the best thing to do is to talk to someone (at your local store or a friend), or if you have some disposable income just to taste what’s out there.

Strongbow Gold Apple Hard Cider

Welcome to the fourth in a series of five posts care of Heineken USA via Kayla at The Brand Action Team (connect with her here).

Full Disclosure: I was provided with two (2) of each sample with the exception of the Dos-A-Rita.

The Strongbow Gold Apple Hard Cider comes in a standard-sized bottle. Please note that the “Gluten Free” mark is fairly prominent on the back label. Strongbow has been around since 1887, so it’s not a new brand by any means.

Appearance

Small bubbles, clearly filtered with a light golden hue.

Aroma

Golden apple with a Mott’s Apple Juice like nose.

Taste

Golden Delicious with a MacIntosh-like taste on the finish. You do get a lot of sugar sweetness (from the residual plus corn syrup I am guessing).

Mouthfeel

Light carbonation from the aforementioned small bubbles, but fairly light and dry.

Overall

If you like apple cider, but would prefer an adult version of it, this is a good bet. It’s only 5% ABV, so it is totally sessionable but be wary if you have an issue with sugar. The balance of dry to sweet with cider is challenging; everyone prefers it differently as one can see at ciderfests. This is more of an “American” cider, though in Asturias, Normandy and other European appellations, you can range into “funky” territory as well. Overall, really accessible for most so give it a try with your gluten-averse friends.

Desperados

Welcome to the third in a series of five posts care of Heineken USA via Kayla at The Brand Action Team (connect with her here).

Full Disclosure: I was provided with two (2) of each sample with the exception one can of Dos-A-Rita.

The Desperados comes in a clear bottle.  This new beverage is a blend of Dos Equis Lager with 100% agave nectar and margarita flavors.

Appearance

The appearance is very similar to Dos Equis Lager at first glance, though the carbonation is significantly more on the pour and then less, with the remaining tiny bubbles running up the side of the glass.  Most likely this can be attributed to the other ingredients (natural flavors) in the beverage.

Aroma

Lemon/lime up front, with a hint of some lager essence of biscuitiness/breadiness and a hint of earthy/mossy notes.

Taste

The agave nectar’s sweetness hits pretty hard, but is immediately followed up by lime flavor sans acid, followed by lemon, and then a hint of lemon/lime peel.  Bubbles from the carbonation are definitely tighter than other Mexican lagers.  The advice to serve this on ice would definitely prevent some of the peel taste, providing a more balanced and refreshing taste and finish most likely.  Like the Radler, this would be appropriate pool-side, at the beach, or on the patio.

Mouthfeel

This is more syrupy than the Dos Equis Lager on the mouthfeel as the result of the agave nectar.  The slight carbonation would be enhanced by following the directions of putting it on ice.

Overall

As I stated in my video, the Desperados is an interesting beverage.  I am not sure if the natural flavors or something else did not agree with my palate, as I think the concept of a barrel-aged lager is intriguing.  If you like Mexican lagers, you might not appreciate barrel-aging.  Some might use this just like the Dos-A-Rita to use it as a base for other cocktails.  I would have liked to have tasted the base beer before and after aging, as I would have better understood the process and its intended results.

Dos-A-Rita

Welcome to the second in a series of five posts care of Heineken USA via Kayla at The Brand Action Team (connect with her here).

Full Disclosure: I was provided with two (2) of each sample with the exception this one can.

The Dos-A-Rita comes in a single serving can, half-size of most normal cans.  This new beverage is a blend of Dos Equis Lager with 100% agave nectar and margarita flavors.

Appearance

The appearance is very similar to Dos Equis Lager at first glance, though the carbonation is significantly less and the bubbles that do remain are tiny and run up the side of the glass.  Most likely this can be attributed to the other ingredients in the beverage.

Aroma

Lemon/lime up front, with a hint of some lager essence of biscuitiness.

Taste

The agave nectar’s sweetness hits pretty hard, but is immediately followed up by lime flavor sans acid, followed by lemon, and then a hint of lemon/lime peel.  The advice to serve this on ice would definitely prevent some of the peel taste, providing a more balanced and refreshing taste and finish most likely.  Like the Radler, this would be appropriate pool-side, at the beach, or on the patio.

Mouthfeel

This is more syrupy than the Dos Equis Lager on the mouthfeel as the result of the agave nectar.  The slight carbonation would be enhanced by following the directions of putting it on ice.

Overall

As I stated in my video, the Dos-A-Rita can definitely serve its purpose for those who want the flavor of a margarita without either the effort of mixing one or the alcohol involved.  While the product is definitely not suited for me (or others who do not mind mixing their own cocktails), some might be able take the beverage another step forward and use it as a base for margaritas or other cocktails.  I would like to see larger serving sizes, as this would work better if it came in a larger container for gatherings.