The Wharf Rat Taster

 B Notes  No Responses »
May 252011
 

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.
5759112920 b0c35ee00c The Wharf Rat Taster

A very good deal to start the day with.

 

 Posted by Lucas at 4:30 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Coney Island Mermaid and Southampton Altbier

 B Notes  No Responses »
Aug 112010
 

It will take some extra effort on my part to be able to post “B Notes” on any sort of regular basis, but I will do my best to make it a common occurrence.  My intent is to not let them sit around for too long as many of my reviews from home tend to do.  In trying to do that, I am going with another two for one today.

Before moving on I will try to describe Altbiers (see below) for any of you that are not familiar with the style and have not had the opportunity to try one during your beer sampling efforts.  Think of it as a bit of a hybrid between an ale and a lager.  In general terms top fermenting ale yeast is used, but it is then fermented and aged at cooler temperatures much like a lager would be.  The result is a beer with a more subdued ale flavor and with the clean drinking character of a nice lager.  In short, be sure to go find one and try it.

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

Brewery: Shmaltz Brewing Company (San Francisco, CA & Saratoga Springs, NY)

Name: Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner

Style: German Pilsner

ABV: 5.00%

Location: Redlight Redlight – Teege at the bar

Tasting Notes:

  • Don’t usually drink pilsners when out, but I am a fan of Shmaltz
  • Orangish honey color (darker than many/most pilsners) with a frothy white head.
  • Lightly sweet in aroma and flavor.
  • Nice bitterness with some dryness at the finish.
  • Sweetness and bitterness balances nicely on the palate.
  • Crisply carbonated
  • Bitterness dominates (in a good way) . . . leads me to think German Pils (turns out I was correct)
4866069954 11062dcb4c Coney Island Mermaid and Southampton Altbier

Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner

And now the second . . .

Brewery: Southampton Publick House (Southampton, NY)

Name: Altbier

Style: Düsseldorf Altbier

ABV: 5.30%

Location: Redlight Redlight – Teege at the bar

Tasting Notes:

  • Deep amber to copper color with a nice cream color head.
  • Lightly earthy, malty aroma (and flavor).
  • Slightly toasted, bready, nutty maltiness in flavor.
  • Crisp carbonation with some light dryness at the finish.
  • Quite drinkable . . . agreed on by others at table.
4865452919 31e2c563e4 Coney Island Mermaid and Southampton Altbier

Southampton Altbier

Cheers!

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

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