Bell’s Brewery – Oberon Ale

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Nov 262010
 

Though I am still catching up with the beer reviews I did over the summer, there are only a few left before I can move onto those that are more recent and seasonally appropriate (not that I let that drive what beers I choose). This beer is one that is considered a summer seasonal, but one that is on the shelves all year long here in the warm weather of Florida. I suppose I could have said that I just reviewed it yesterday (rather than months ago) and it would have been believable!

Now for the Friday that feels like a Saturday but gladly is not review . . .

Brewery: Bell’s Brewery, Inc. (Comstock, MI)

Name: Oberon Ale

Style: American Wheat Beer (Pale Wheat Ale)

ABV: 5.80%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a weizen-like glass. Went with steep, almost vertical pour. Acquired for free after pouring for Bell’s at an event.

Aroma: Light grainy sweetness with a slight, pleasant, fruity aroma. Pretty light overall, but quite nice.

Appearance: Pale gold in color. Three finger (plus), frothy, thick, white color head with great retention and leaving a laced trail. Pretty clear with rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Moderate malty-like sweetness with a low hop bitterness and a bit of spice. Light, faintly floral estery quality with a slight dryness at the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with a moderate to high level of carbonation. Smooth on the palate with a slight warmth noticeable.

Overall Impressions: Refreshing and very easy drinking for sure. Flavor falls flat, though that tends to happen for me with this style. Knowing that it is very popular (and available all year in Florida), it has never been a favorite of mine and falls at the bottom half of Bell’s beers for me . . . that speaks more about the overall quality of their brews than anything bad about this one.

Grade: B- to B range

4899992384 f4c53fda77 Bells Brewery Oberon Ale

Bell's Brewery - Oberon Ale

4899992450 2e475110ef Bells Brewery Oberon Ale

A view from above

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

Abita Brewing Company – Purple Haze

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Nov 022010
 

Though generally I don’t reach for wheat beers and fruit beers are not a common sight in my house, there is something quite refreshing about a well-balanced combination of the two. This beer is an example of one to enjoy on a hot summer day and when served ice cold the crispness becomes very enjoyable. Beyond that, it happens to be a beer that The Wife is fond of so it finds a way into our fridge more often than most others.

So for the Tuesday review this week . . .

Brewery: Abita Brewing Company (Abita Springs, LA)

Name: Purple Haze

Style: Fruit Beer

ABV: 4.20%

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

Aroma: Slight maltiness with some jam/jelly-like fruit sweetness and (maybe) a hint of acidity.

Appearance: Pale honey to straw in color. Slight white color head with a moderate level of retention and leaving a very slight trail. Clear with a bit of haze and many visible rising bubbles.

Flavor: Moderate (but prominent) berry flavor with a low level of malty sweetness underneath and a hint of wheat in back. Crisp then slightly dry at the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with a fairly high level of carbonation (without adding any bite). Some creaminess on the palate.

Overall Impressions: Not much depth of flavor but nice to drink outdoors on a hot day and easy to drink more than one (or a few) at a time.

Grade: B-

4290106783 15219c38f5 Abita Brewing Company Purple Haze

Abita Brewing Company - Purple Haze

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

Ithaca Beer Co. – White Gold

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Jul 032010
 

Today I am continuing with the series of beer reviews that I officially (sort of) announced yesterday.  Having a theme to fall back on certain helps to make the decision of what to post very easy.

I cannot remember for sure, but I think that these few beers gifted to me by Cousin Daniel are the only beers that I made an attempt to seriously evaluate outside my home.  Usually when I am away I try to enjoy myself and not worry too much about specifically documenting the beers that I drink.  A few notes on a napkin or a scrap of paper are usually as far as I go.  Even the notes on these are shorter than normal.

So for today there is . . .

Brewery: Ithaca Beer Co. (Ithaca, NY)

Name: White Gold

Style: (American?) Pale Wheat Ale

ABV: 8.0%

Tasting Notes: Stored in a cooler (not cold) and served in (my Ithaca Beer Co.) pint glass.  Bottle marked with batch E!012.  Served on family lobster night in Maine!

Aroma: Lightly grainy aroma with a fruity nose in back and (maybe) a bit of spice.

Appearance: Pale, apple cider-like in color.  Short, white head that quickly dissipates.  Cloudy with tiny, champagne-like bubbles.

Flavor: Apple-like fruitiness and light sweetness in what is a pretty mild overall flavor.  No noticeable hop flavors and a very slight dryness at the finish that does not linger.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with a medium amount of carbonation.  Quite smooth and somewhat creamy.

Overall Impressions: It foamed and foamed out of the bottle (similar to Old Habit) and that may have flattened it some and likely affected the flavor (take final grade for what it is worth as a result).  Somewhat champagne like to me, at least more so than beer-like.  Certainly OK, but no need to have again immediately with so many other good Ithaca beers to choose from.

Grade: B- (to C+)

3975650398 3a316c76cb Ithaca Beer Co. White Gold

Ithaca Beer Co. - White Gold

3975649682 a67885c168 Ithaca Beer Co. White Gold

Then in a different location.

3975651742 a248f70236 Ithaca Beer Co. White Gold

Better light for reading

 Posted by Lucas at 2:00 pm  Tagged with: , , ,
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