Samuel Adams – Alpine Spring *

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Jan 242012
 

If this beer was simply to replace Noble Pils I would be pretty upset about the switch, but since it simply slides into the Spring seasonal spot so Noble Pils can be available all year I am willing to accept it.  As mentioned below I think it would actually be great as the beer for the hotter months, but it is a solid beer nonetheless.

An early start to Spring for today . . .

Brewery: Boston Beer Company (Boston, MA)

Name: Alpine Spring

Style: Maybe a Helles or maybe a Premium American Lager (not really sure)

ABV: 5.50% (internet)

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge before serving in one of my incredibly awesome Genny Cream Ale glasses (sort of pilsner-like).

Aroma: A lightly floral aroma with a hint of citrus and a faint sweetness underneath.  Pretty subtle overall. – 8.5/12

Appearance: Medium golden yellow color.  One finger fluffy white head that holds well and leaves solid lacing.  A slight haze but is otherwise clear with rising bubbles visible. – 3/3

Flavor: A slightly sweet maltiness up front that is faintly honey-like.  Very little bitterness at all with a touch of citrus flavor.  Pretty well balanced overall.  Finishes smoothly and mostly clean with a touch of lingering citrusy sweetness. – 15/20

Mouthfeel: Light body with a moderate level of carbonation.  Very smooth and lightly crisp on the palate. – 4/5

Overall Impressions: Light in body but has a bit of creaminess to it and especially so after warming just a bit.  I still prefer Noble Pils, but a very good lighter beer that I actually think would be great for the summer months.  Goes down very easily at least in part because of the good balance of flavors.  Glad to have it around as a seasonal. – 7.5/10

Overall: B+ (38/50)

6754866127 d7784a1ffe Samuel Adams Alpine Spring *

Samuel Adams - Alpine Spring

 Posted by Lucas at 11:00 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

New Zealand Breweries Ltd. – Steinlager Pure *

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Aug 232011
 

There are days when you simply want a thirst quenching beer (or three) and after working in the Florida heat for many hours I found myself having one of those days.  Sure I could have grabbed something else, but I had never tried this beer before and that usually tips the scales of my decision making process.  Of course I would also love to get to New Zealand someday to visit some of The Wife’s family, so maybe drinking a few beers from there will help me get some good mojo toward that end as well.

Oh yes, I should mention that I called this a Premium American Lager because that is where Heineken belongs and that is the closest relative I could think of after tasting this beer.

From a land far, far away . . .

Brewery: New Zealand Breweries Ltd. (Auckland, New Zealand)

Name: Steinlager Pure

Style: Premium American Lager

ABV: 5.00% (on bottle)

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge before serving in a pilsner glass.

Aroma: Mild malty aroma with a bit of grainy sweetness and (I think) a slight fruity character.  Very light overall aroma. – 6/12

Appearance: Pale straw color.  Two finger plus, frothy, white head  that holds pretty well and leaves some lacing on the glass.  Very clear with many rising bubbles visible. – 3/3

Flavor: Light grainy character with a very slight sweetness and a faint bitterness.  Seems well balanced, but I do notice the maltiness more.  Finishes pretty crisply and is very clean. – 10/20

Mouthfeel: Light body and a pretty high level of carbonation that gives it a slight bite.  Has some creaminess on the palate. – 3/5

Overall Impressions: Has to be really cold to be enjoyable (surprise, surprise).  Certainly prefer this beer to the other stuff that comes in green bottles as I think it it finishes more cleanly.  Would rather just drink it from the bottle since the aroma is pretty weak.  Very refreshing when thirsty and that, in combination with the clean finish, makes it easy to get through a handful of these pretty quickly if you so choose. – 5/10

Overall: C+ (27/50)

6069656398 bbe11600fe New Zealand Breweries Ltd. Steinlager Pure *

New Zealand Breweries Ltd. - Steinlager Pure

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

Saranac – Season’s Best (Nut Brown Lager)

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Jan 112011
 

There had been a good run of reviews lately of beers that I cannot get in the stores down here and I think this is the last of those for at least the near future. I suppose a few more like them could show up at my door today or tomorrow, but I am not expecting any. Beyond that, the way that I review the beers and take pictures of them will finally be changing very soon as well. Had I been more organized I would have started that change to begin the year, but I think the beginning of February will work just fine.

Now to keep this week rolling along nicely . . .

Brewery: Saranac (Matt Brewing Company – Utica, NY)

Name: Season’s Best (Nut Brown Lager)

Style: Vienna Lager

ABV: 5.30%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pilsner glass. Part of Christmas package from The Dad.

Aroma: Lightly sweet aroma with a faint nutty character underneath.

Appearance: Coppery brown color. Slight tan color head that has good retention and leaves a nice trail along glass. Super clear with lots of small rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Toasted malty flavor up front and throughout that is faintly caramel-like. Bitterness from middle through to the finish (some/most from hops and some from the super toasted malts). Dryness present at the finish with some lingering.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with a moderate level of carbonation. Somewhat creamy initially but finishes very crisply.

Overall Impressions: Neat to get this kind of style as a winter seasonal. Nice nutty/toasty flavor that grows on me as I drink more of it. Find myself wishing that it had a bit of sweetness to balance it out some. Nice level of carbonation and somewhat surprisingly a little better as it warms just bit.

Grade: B- (maybe B)

5343983655 5c56d0ed6c Saranac Seasons Best (Nut Brown Lager)

Saranac - Season's Best (Nut Brown Lager)

5343983689 e60521777d Saranac Seasons Best (Nut Brown Lager)

A little closer now

 Posted by Lucas at 8:00 pm  Tagged with: , ,
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