Maybe it is because it has been so long since I have brewed my own beer, but I have not spent much time pondering brewing ingredients lately.  Though I know that using pretty much anything is possible I do not think that I ever would have considered popped popcorn as an option.  That is why I found this video so interesting . . .

Has anyone actually tried this beer?  I would love to know how the popcorn comes through in the flavor.

This was not the beer review that I originally intended to post today, but with the name it seemed very appropriate to get back into reviews with after a long holiday weekend.  It took a moment to finally decide not to do a post yesterday, but with the few weeks ahead being very busy I found a better use for that time.

What harm would it do to give a little preview of what will be coming up on this site a some point soon?  Well, I have a beer glassware presentation to give this week and I think that will trickle into at least a few posts.  Then there is the giveaway of the tickets to Taste of the Nation Orlando 2011 that I will being doing here (probably going to wait for the menu release).  Then last but not least on my mind is that this week I will be shooting a pilot for a web based beer education show with a good friend.  Hopefully that goes well since I would really like the chance to keep going with future episodes.  Good thoughts.

Now very slowly getting started after a few days off . . .

Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Company (Lakewood, NY)

Name: Farmer’s Tan

Style: Imperial American Pilsner (and so a Specialty Beer in my view)

ABV: 8.60% (on bottle and website)

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pilsner glass per the recommendations on the bottle.

Aroma: Low to moderate grainy sweetness on the nose with a mild spicy, slightly floral hop character as well.  Pretty mild overall aroma. – 7/12

Appearance: Light golden yellow in color.  One plus finger, frothy white head that holds well and leaves some lacing along the glass.  Very clear with rising bubbles visible. – 3/3

Flavor: A bit of sweet maltiness up front that transitions quickly into a firm hop bitterness that holds on from there.  The balance seems to lean heavily to bitterness.  The finish is slightly dry with some lingering hop bitterness after washing the bit of grainy sweetness away. – 14/20

Mouthfeel: Medium(ish) body (certainly heavier than it appears) and a moderate to high level of carbonation.  Slightly creamy on the palate, but also with good crispness and some warmth in there. – 4/5

Overall Impressions: Pretty tasty, but not all that refreshing as a lighter style (though I realize and imperial version of one).  The warmth starts to come through much more as the beer warms up some.  Not necessarily a style that I love imperial versions of, but it is not bad overall and pretty enjoyable when cold.  AS I drank it, the beer took on an almost Pale Ale quality on my palate . . . which was a good thing.  – 7/10

Overall: B (35/50)

Southern Tier Brewing Co. - Farmer's Tan

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.

Though I do not remember the reason for every time I have decided to go with a review for my Saturday post, I am fairly sure that most of them have been because I either lack the time or mental capacity to come up with something else on that day.  After getting to bed very early this morning (or late last night if you choose to look at it that way) and knowing what lies ahead of me for a schedule today, I am throwing up my hands and taking an easy way out for my entry on this day.  Let me just say there is beer to drink and work to do and sometimes simultaneously.

To show how my opinion can change based on variables, you can see here that I had a slightly different impression of this beer when it was being consumed along with a pizza (and other beers) over a year ago.

So for this Saturday evaluation . . .

Brewery: Orlando Brewing (Orlando, FL)

Name: European Pilz

Style: Bohemian Pilsener

ABV: 5.20%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pilsner glass.  12oz bottle via a gift from the Carlins.

Aroma: Smooth, lightly malty aroma with a hint of spiciness.

Appearance: Medium gold color.  One finger, cream color head that is thick with good retention and leaves some trail.  Clear with many rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Light maltiness with some prominent bitterness from middle through finish that lingers a bit and borders on harsh.  Fairly well balanced overall.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation.  Creamy on palate with some astringency.

Overall Impressions: Quite interesting to me with more hop bitterness than I am used to in a pilsner.  It also has a fuller flavor than I am used to from the style.  The bitterness hooks me as I drink it more.

Grade: B-

Orlando Brewing - European Pilz

This one may be a little rough to read as I am going to try to do four beer reviews in one post.  I did not even know that these beers existed before Gregg offered me some bottles to evaluate, so I was curious to see how they tasted.  Though I only had them that one time, they turned out to be not that bad all in all.  Hopefully this rundown of the four with shorter reviews for each will make some sense.

For a Saturday set of reviews . . .

Brewery: Kirkland Signature (Costco) – contract brewed by New Yorker Brewing Co. in Utica, NY which I can only assume is associated with Matt Brewing Company.

Name: Amber Ale (AA) – German Lager (GL) – Pale Ale (PA) – Hefeweizen (H)

Style: American Amber Ale (AA) – German Pilsner (GL) – American Pale Ale (PA) – Weizen (H)

ABV: AA – 5.70%, GL – 5.50%, PA – 5.40%, H – 5.50%,

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass (AA and PA), pilsner glass (GL), and weizen glass (H).

Aroma: AA – Some malty sweetness, but mild overall.  GL – Light graininess, slightly bready, and light overall.  PA – Even, fruity hop aroma, and some sweetness.  H – Really mild, lightly yeasty/bready nose.  Tough to do back to back with really mild aromas.

Appearance: AA – Medium amber color.  Slight cream color head with moderate retention and some trail.  GL – Golden amber color.  Moderate, off-white head with good retention and a heavy trail.  PA – Light amber color.  Little, off-white head with decent retention and some trail.  H – Golden color.  Slight cream color head with good retention and a light trail.

Flavor: AA – Low toasted malt flavor and slight bitterness.  GL – Slight grainy flavor with low bitterness.  Very light overall.  PA – Medium, somewhat floral hop flavor with some malty sweetness.  H – Some malty flavor with light breadiness.  Not what I expected.  Difficult back to back with similar flavor profiles among them.

Mouthfeel: AA – Medium body and somewhat creamy with pretty high carbonation.  GL – Light body, moderate carbonation, and some crispness/bite.  PA – Medium to light body with fairly high carbonation and slightly crisp.  H – Light body with lowish carbonation and creamy with a slight bite.

Overall Impressions: AA – Really nice flavor (compared to others).  GL – Quite bland but refreshing.  PA – Pretty good hop flavors overall.  H – Strange to me for style.  Not bad and fine for hot weather backyard grilling, but certainly nothing special.  I do not know cost but I am sure it is likely a great value for what they are.

Grade: Probably start at B- and work down.

Ranking the four (best first):

• Me – AA, PA, H, and GL
• The Wife – H, AA, GL, PA

Not sure where the review picture is, but here is proof they were spending time with our broccoli.