Looking Back – Seattle International Beerfest

 Looking Back  No Responses »
Oct 122011
 

When I introduced this week of looking back at some of the more fond memories of beers and beer reviews I did not make the same statement as I did when starting last week.  I did not say that I would only be highlighting five beers because I knew that I was going to cheat a little.

Besides getting to be with our good friends Mr. and Mrs. Seattle Jeff and the fact that we were in a city that we really love, spending time at the Seattle International Beerfest was a fond memory because of some of the beers I was able to sample.  After spending some time at Epic Ales I spent the afternoon sampling primarily beers that I don’t see where I live.

I would love to do that again and if not perhaps just get a shot to sit down and review beers from some of those breweries I do not see down here.  Click on the photo below to see how that day went for us . . .

4772835520 334790d935 Looking Back Seattle International Beerfest

 Posted by Lucas at 10:00 am  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Epic Ales Terra Saurus & Simple Ale

 B Notes  No Responses »
Aug 182010
 

In order to eventually throw away the various scraps of paper on my desk that have beer notes on them I have to somehow translate the scribbling into writing.  After working through the first half of this sheet previously, today’s entry should be enough to finally send it to the recycling bin.

There are two reasons that I have considered all of these beers from Epic Ales as ones that possibly fall into the Specialty Beer style.  The first is that Cody uses sake yeast for his creations, which does not exactly appear in any of the style guidelines (that I can remember).  The second is that Cody himself did not really have a direct answer when I asked him the styles of we tasted that day.  Though they are at least based in part on a specific style I don’t think they really align directly with one in the end.  That is not a bad thing at all, but I thought I should explain my notes a bit.

For the first of two for today . . .

Brewery: Epic Ales (Seattle, WA)

Name: Terra Saurus

Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer?  Stout?  Specialty Beer (probably)?

ABV: 4.50% (?)

Location: Epic Ales brewery (with Cody) and Seattle Jeff’s apartment

Tasting Notes:

  • Brewed with both dried and fresh shitake mushrooms.  Cody says they do affect the head retention (among other things).
  • Black . . . really dark, dark brown color.
  • Nice roasted aroma with faint notes of sweetness.
  • Smooth, with a slight roasted bitterness bite and some sharpness up front that leaves immediately.
  • Hint of earthy character.
  • Really awesome with the cheese pairing in the tasting room.  The two bring out the best qualities of each and I think the beer is slightly better with the cheese than without.
4772853252 1efc6c9f94 Epic Ales Terra Saurus & Simple Ale

Epic Ales - Terra Saurus

4772214991 fd54e65e20 Epic Ales Terra Saurus & Simple Ale

A beautiful sight.

And now for the second . . .

Brewery: Epic Ales (Seattle, WA)

Name: Simple Ale

Style: American Amber Ale (probably Specialty Beer though)

ABV: 6.00% (?)

Location: Epic Ales brewery (with Cody) and Seattle Jeff’s apartment

Tasting Notes:

  • Hazy copper in color with a thick, frothy head that leaves a solid trail.
  • A bit of fruit in the aroma . . . apricot? With honey sweetness?
  • Lightly sweet with some earthiness.
  • Slight bitterness that lasts through to finish.
  • Good carbonation with a slightly dry finish.
  • Interestingly nice.
4772228667 63b3e49357 Epic Ales Terra Saurus & Simple Ale

Epic Ales - Simple Ale (and a sunset)

Cheers!

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

Epic Ales Solar Trans-Amplifier & Simply Summer

 B Notes  No Responses »
Aug 142010
 

It is fun to see what I find written on the various sheets of paper that end up on my desk.  What I found today will turn into a “B Notes” post for a few brews enjoyed while we were in Seattle last month.

We had the opportunity to stop by Epic Ales on our first day in town and we were able to try some very interesting beers.  What I found  fascinating about the beers we tried (beyond flavors like ginger and chamomile) was the mouthfeel of them all.  Cody uses a sake yeast to ferment his creations and it lends a very unique characteristic to them all.  Certainly a place to visit if/when you are in Seattle.

Now on to the first of two for today . . .

Brewery: Epic Ales (Seattle, WA)

Name: Solar Trans-Amplifier

Style: Spice/Herb Beer (maybe considered a Specialty Beer)

ABV: 5.00% (?)

Location: Epic Ales brewery (with Cody) and Seattle Jeff’s apartment

Tasting Notes:

  • Hazy orangeish honey in color.
  • Lightly sweet herbal aroma . . . definitely pick up the chamomile.
  • Slight sweetness to flavor with herbal notes from middle to finish . . . reminds me of drinking a chamomile tea.
  • Light spiciness underneath . . . perhaps the ginger?
  • Nicely crisp via a fine carbonation.
4772854020 b0b9f7aa68 Epic Ales Solar Trans Amplifier & Simply Summer

Epic Ales - Solar Trans-Amplifier

And now the second . . .

Brewery: Epic Ales (Seattle, WA)

Name: Simply Summer Ale

Style: Saison (again might be considered Specialty Beer)

ABV: No idea

Location: Epic Ales brewery (with Cody) and Seattle Jeff’s apartment

Tasting Notes:

  • Pale, hazy, white grapefruit juice-like color.
  • Lightly citrusy (lemon) aroma with a hint of spice behind.
  • Flavor is very similar to aroma with a light sourness thrown in.
  • Well carbonated with a bit of bite and sharpness (at a nice level)
  • Very nice dry finish.
  • To me it is like drinking a dry Saison . . . Cody compares to a beer from southern France (he referred to as “goat beer”)
4772220621 c4ac427b45 Epic Ales Solar Trans Amplifier & Simply Summer

Epic Ales - Simply Summer Ale

Cheers!

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