Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Co. – Vacationland

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Dec 072010
 

The more current reviews are closer than this summer seasonal evaluation might lead you to believe. I pretty much shut down the beer review efforts for the entire time of the fall seasonals this year. That does not mean that I did not have my fair share of pumpkin beers and Oktoberfest brews, it just means I did not bother with the formal note taking process. It was quite nice to just enjoy beers for a while without doing that, but it also does not help me learn as much. So soon will be more recent ones with some winter seasonals and a new approach to my personal reviews. Until that time I choose to still think that it is summer in my mind.

For the first review of this week . . .

Brewery: Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Co. (Freeport, ME)

Name: Vacationland Summer Ale

Style: (American) Blonde Ale

ABV: 4.90%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass. Gift from Cousin Adam.

Aroma: Nice sweetness with a fruity character that seems to have a tart quality to it.

Appearance: Golden straw color. One finger plus off-white color head with pretty good retention and leaving some laced trail. Very clear with some rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Nice even maltiness with some bitterness shortly after and with some fruit flavor floating underneath. Also an underlying earthy character and some light dryness at the finish that lingers nicely.

Mouthfeel: Light body with a moderate level of carbonation. Smooth and lightly creamy on the palate.

Overall Impressions: Really interesting underlying fruity and earthy flavors that combine very nicely within the overall. Seems to have a little of quite a wide range of flavors and is very easy drinking. Would definitely like to try again when in Maine again (closer to the source).

Grade: B

5229334096 d9867155cd Gritty McDuffs Brewing Co. Vacationland

Gritty McDuff's Brewing Co. - Vacationland

 Posted by Lucas at 7:00 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Orlando Brewing Partners – Blonde Ale

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Aug 102010
 

I find myself trying to figure out how I am missing the picture for this one when I have the photo for another beer that I evaluated on the same day.  That is quite strange.

Orlando Brewing is really the only show here in town and I don’t find myself down there as often as I should or would like to.  Aside from just wanting to support my local brewery, the other reason I like to go to the tasting room is for the other beers.  I (generally) like the other styles of beer they offer at the brewery much more than the brews that are more widely available in bottles around town.  Of course enjoying beer at the source certainly helps the enjoyment as well.

Now on with the show . . .

Brewery: Orlando Brewing Partners, Inc. (Orlando, FL)

Name: Blonde Ale

Style: American Blonde Ale (Specialty Beer)

ABV: 4.73%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass.  Gift from the Carlins.  Organic brewery.

Aroma: Grainy, somewhat bread-like aroma with a slight sweetness.

Appearance: Straw to honey in color.  One finger, white, frothy head with decent retention and leaving a slight trail.  Very clear with many small rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Mild graininess with some slight dryness at the finish.  Not much in the way of hop flavor.

Mouthfeel: Light body with a high level of carbonation that lends some bite/sharpness.  Slightly creamy.

Overall Impressions: Very easy to drink, but rather bland in flavor (maybe I just expected more).  Drinks much like more commercial lagers/pilsners.  Not my favorite of their beers.

Grade: C

Assuming you are in the general area of Orlando look for the brown bottles with green and yellow labels.  Orlando is written on a black banner across the middle and Blonde Ale is in yellow block lettering.

 Posted by Lucas at 7:00 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Fort Collins Brewery – Wheat Wine Ale

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Jun 182010
 

As much as I am a sucker for an interesting label, I am also one for a style that I have not tried previously or one that is relatively new to me.  Since I enjoyed the Maibock from Fort Collins, I had little hesitation in trying their Wheat Wine as the first of the (unofficial) style for me.

To me the body that the wheat provided struggled to hold up against the higher ABV and muted the bigger flavors of what would be a Barleywine, but I will continue sampling others for comparison.  A rough job, I know!

Now on we go . . .

Brewery: Fort Collins Brewery (Fort Collins, CO)

Name: Wheat Wine Ale

Style: American Barleywine (?)

ABV: 9.33% (+/-)

Tasting Notes: Stored in the wine fridge (52 degrees +/-) and served in an oversized wine glass.

Aroma: Light, sweet, slightly fruity aroma with some faint notes of caramel and alcohol in back.  Interestingly, the aroma really fills the nose despite being relatively light overall.

Appearance: Full amber to copper color.  Short, solid, frothy, cream color head with good retention that leaves a solid trail.  Pretty clear (though dark) with some rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Light sweetness initially with some bitterness and a low level of (hop) spiciness after that.  Relatively mild flavors overall with a sharp, somewhat minerally dryness at the finish.  The alcohol also comes through at the finish and dominates the previous flavors left on the palate.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with a moderate amount of carbonation that is very volatile when agitated.  Smooth and creamy with some warmth from the middle through to the finish.

Overall Impressions: The first wheat wine for me and there was certainly a noticeable difference in mouthfeel versus a Barleywine.  The warmth (and bitterness) becomes too dominant with the lack of a big, malty profile.  Not really that well balanced and one that does not get better as the glass empties.  The Wife gave it a one sip and done C.

Grade: C+

4563166390 1580cb4272 Fort Collins Brewery Wheat Wine Ale

Fort Collins Brewery - Wheat Wine Ale

4562537579 a0b297dee8 Fort Collins Brewery Wheat Wine Ale

A closer look.

4563166336 0329ff659e Fort Collins Brewery Wheat Wine Ale

In case you choose your beers from above.

 Posted by Lucas at 1:00 pm  Tagged with: , ,
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