To shake things up a bit as I ponder how to redesign the site a bit and maybe take a new approach to the whole thing going forward I am going to reminisce over the next few weeks.  As I was looking at my list of beer reviews I have posted on this site I was recalling a few beers that I did not care for much at all and others that were more memorable for positive reasons.

So this week I am going to highlight five beers that I still remember not enjoying all that much.  The ones that stood out after quickly skimming the list were all done some time ago and probably deserve a revisit in the future.  It is only fair to try something twice before deciding if you like something or not.

Kicking it all off is the only Rogue review that I have done to date.  I am not sure why that is, but click on the photo below to see what I said about it at the time . . .

There is no reason to make a decision on having a first beer when a place makes it so easy to have three at the same time.  So when I pulled myself onto a barstool at The Wharf Rat and found out that I could do a sampler/taster for 6 bucks I had no need to settle on just one to start with.  The only (self-imposed) rule was that I order beers from breweries that I do not have access to here in Florida.  Being my first barstool of the day I still felt like typing a few notes into the phone (and I do mean just a few).  That ambition passed by about barstool 2 and a half.

Did I mention it was only 6 bucks for three pours of that size (see picture)?

For the first . . .

Brewery: Tröegs Brewing Co. (Harrisburg, PA)

Name: Sunshine Pils

Style: German Pilsner

ABV: 5.30%

Location: The Wharf Rat (Baltimore)

Tasting Notes:

• Golden in color with a slight white head.  Mile, clean, crisp aroma with maybe a hint of floral quality.
• Light, almost buttery malt flavor that quickly fades into a crisp hop bitterness.
• Some lingering bitterness at the finish and a very refreshing first beer of the day.

And for the second . . .

Brewery: Yards Brewing Company (Philadelphia, PA)

Name: Saison

Style: Saison

ABV: 6.50%

Location: The Wharf Rat (Baltimore)

Tasting Notes:

• Sort of yellowy medium amber in color with an off-white head.  Slightly yeasty floral aroma with an almost dry quality to it.
• Lightly fruity and floral flavor up front with some bitterness after that and finishing with a crisp and dry character.
• Smooth on the palate early and finishing quite crisp.
• Not bad, but not all that good either.  Just OK.

And closing with . . .

Brewery: Oliver Breweries (Baltimore, MD)

Name: Best Bitter (cask)

Style: ESB (English Pale Ale)

ABV: 4.80%

Location: The Wharf Rat (Baltimore)

Tasting Notes:

• Reddish amber color with a slight off-white head.  Biscuity and slightly sweet malty aroma with a bit of funky hop character to it.
• Nice biscuity malt profile up front that fades quickly to a nice hoppy bitterness.  Smooth on the palate and finishes nicely dry.
• Really nice flavorful and sessionable beer at 4.8% ABV.  Would want to have it no other way than via cask/hand pump.

A very good deal to start the day with.

Even though I enjoyed it very much, I am almost certain that I have not had this beer again since doing the review for it months and months ago. I really should not be surprised by that since I have noticed that to be the case for many of the beer evaluations posted here. That clearly indicates the number of craft beer options that are out there and also shows me why I have such a difficult time when someone asks me what my favorite beer is. I should come up with a default answer soon.

For the review to lead into the weekend . . .

Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Company (Longmont, CO)

Name: Sawtooth Ale

Style: English Pale Ale (Extra Special/Strong Bitter)

ABV: 4.75% (what I had written down from bottle) and/or 5.30% (Left Hand website)

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass. $1.99 for a 12oz bottle.

Aroma: Low, but full hop aroma with a fruity nose and a caramel-like maltiness as a background.

Appearance: Deep amber color with a slight copper hue. One finger, light beige color head that is frothy and dissipates quickly, leaving a good trail. Pretty clear overall with many visible rising bubbles.

Flavor: Medium (or lower) hop bitterness with a good amount of maltiness in back that has a slightly toasted and somewhat nutty character. Good balance with just enough hop flavor coming through. Hint of dryness at the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with a (seemingly) low level of carbonation. Very creamy on the palate without any harshness.

Overall Impressions: Surprising enjoyable in that I have not enjoyed ESBs as much in the past (though only have a small pool of beers as reference). Very drinkable as the lower level of carbonation actually works well with the flavors. Very likely near the top of the style for me of those I have had to date.

Grade: B+

Left Hand Brewing Company - Sawtooth Ale

When I look back on my early reviews with a lower overall grade part of me feels that I should revisit the beer to see if I missed something of if my taste has changed.  Of course I can’t love every beer I sample and with so many out there yet to try I certainly don’t need to be going back to already evaluated ones.  Part of the reason I started reviewing is to determine what beers better suit my palate and some just do not.  I should not feel too bad about it anyway since Rogue has so many beers for me to choose from and there just has to be some that I put towards the bottom of the scale.  Maybe a flight of Rogue ales is in order?

Brewery: Rogue Brewery (Newport, OR)

Name: Brutal Bitter

Style: Extra Special/Strong Bitter

ABV: 6.5%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the wine fridge and served in a pint glass.

Aroma: Moderate hop aroma (somewhat fruity) and slight maltiness.

Appearance: Medium copper color.  Four finger cream color head that slowly dissipates with a heavy trail.  Clear with some visible rising bubbles.

Flavor: Medium to high hop bitterness with a burnt caramel/malt flavor in background.  Dry/astringent finish that lingers for a while.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body and medium carbonation.  Slight alcohol warmth.

Overall Impressions: Finish is very lasting and not as enjoyable for me as many other pale ales tried.  Glad to try but not my favorite (something unpleasant that I cannot pinpoint).

Grade: C+

Rogue Brewery - Brutal Bitter

You have an opportunity to stop by a Redhook Ale Brewery if you can make it to either coast.  We were able to stop by the one in Woodinville, Washington though you could also swing by the Portsmouth, New Hampshire location.  Like many craft brewers today, part of their company is owned by one of the big boys (A-B in this case).  What that means for most of us not near those two brewery locations is that you are more likely to find some Redhook beers on your shelves wherever you may live.  That is a good thing.

Brewery: Redhook Ale Brewery (Woodinville, WA and Portsmouth, NH)

Name: ESB (Original Ale)

Style: Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale)

ABV: 5.8%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass.  $8.49 for a 6-pack.

Aroma: Low hop aroma with some fruitiness (esters).  Medium malt with a hint of sweetness.  Slightly tinny?

Appearance: Medium to light copper color.  Two finger, cream color head with decent retention and some trail.  Very clear with rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Very low hop bitterness with some astringency (dryness) at finish.  Low(ish) hop flavor and medium to low malt sweetness.  Some minerally/metallic flavor.  Good balance with no overpowering element.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with some (tongue coating) creaminess.  Moderate carbonation.

Overall Impressions: Good beer, but not great.  Very drinkable/enjoyable for a style of beer than sometimes can be more bitter.  Other common beers from this style are Bass Ale and Fullers ESB.

Grade: B

Redhook Ale Brewery - ESB