Orlando Brewing – European Pilz

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Sep 252010
 

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-

4303180171 c88ced4988 Orlando Brewing European Pilz

Orlando Brewing - European Pilz

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

Kirkland Signature Beers

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Sep 182010
 

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
4032805663 7d5af45abe Kirkland Signature Beers

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

 Posted by Lucas at 7:00 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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