HI.P.A. (Magic Hat Brewing Co.)

Another Magic Hat Brewing Company beer!  Yay!  If you read that without noting the scarcasm you must have been reading this blog very long. I’m not really that thrilled about this as I feel like I haven’t had anything good from them.  No offense to Magic Hat Brewing Company, but I just haven’t been that impressed.  Perhaps if you were in Kansas and I had the option I could grow to like you more but as it is I have no problem that you are not here.

The body color is a light copper with the head white.  The aroma was florally with a bit of caramel (which made a nice chocolaty smell).  The taste was also florally, but had a nice spiciness to it with a great creamy mouthfeel. He liked something! The bitterness was towards the back of the tongue and not at the front.  That’s about it.  It’s an IPA but it’s the first Magic Hat beer that I’ve enjoyed.  Figures that since it’s a limited release beer it would be one that I would enjoy.  This one I wouldn’t mind seeing in Kansas (note to Magic Hat Brewing please make more like this and send it).

I was just as surprised as you to find a Magic Hat Brewing Company beer that I enjoyed.  I wish I had more of this one to really feel it out as to if it’s 6 pack worthy.  I think it is.  There isn’t anything special that I noticed about it but it is a good IPA.  If it didn’t come in a mixed pack with beers that I’m not found of I would highly recommend it.  But maybe you like the description of the others from the pack so in that case run out and find the Magic Hat Brewing Company mix pack (I’m sure by now there are some new beers in it except for #9).

Prost!

Celebration (Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.)

Chalk this one into the not very wintery ales but it’s still quite tasty.  Hops are totally wintery. They’re green like Christmas trees. Celebration is Sierra Nevada’s winter seasonal and is actually an IPA.  This is a bit odd (good) but it is a little more potent then the Pale Ales and Brown Ales that we’ve done.  To me an IPA just doesn’t say winter ale.  It says awesome. I would have to say that the Fresh Hop Ale, or in this case the use of the growing season’s first batch of hops, is catchy but about the only thing going for this one. What?! Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed this one but it tastes like any other IPA. Any other really good IPA maybe.

The color is a coppery amber and the head an off white.  The aroma is primarily floral with some malt and a hint of citrus.  The taste has a very floral bitter finish with a malty/caramel body that makes it semisweet.  This is the hoppiest holiday beer we’ve had all season. It’s very refreshing. As far as IPAs go this is very tasty.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company makes a lot of great beers.  This is definitely another great one, but as for it being a winter seasonal I just don’t find it that awesome.  Heresy. But it sure is awesome to drink.  Speaking of awesome to drink stay tuned for tomorrows post for Schlafly Coffee Stout.

Prost!

duganA IPA (Avery Brewing Co.)

Avery Brewing Company is a really great brewery.  Really great. Their beers are fairly unique and slightly off-kilter.  My father likens them to Dogfish Head, but I don’t think they are that off-center. I’d say they’re more extreme with a purpose than off-center. It’s a nuance thing. They come out with some beers that just knock your socks off.  duganA IPA is one of those beers.  This beer was designed to be a pure resin hop flavor.  They did not let down on that at all.  If you are not into hops I would avoid this beer.  Hops come in different flavors; some are citrusy, some florally, some piney and earthy.  duganA IPA is utilizes the piney and earthy flavors to the max.

The color is a dark gold with an off white head.  The aroma was almost florally with a note of caramel and just a hint of pine.  The taste was almost pure piney, resiny bitterness.  I didn’t get much in the way of malt as the hops are the main focus of this beer.  In fact, the hops are so prominent I found this beer to be dry.  The initial sip I took was not what I expected it to be based off of the aroma.  This beer quite literally took my breathe away; the piney/resiny bitterness was almost overwhelming.  As you drink it though you get used to it.

When we did In Pursuit of Hoppiness by Grand Teton we noted that the hops were used to showcase their ability to not be overwhelmingly bitter.  In the case of duganA IPA I believe they wanted to showcase the flavors from hops that are piney and resiny.  This isn’t a beer that Amber would enjoy as she doesn’t like piney hops.  He knows my taste well enough to know when he can review something without me there. I find them to be a change of pace from the usual citrus and florally hops. I’m a citrus and florally kind of girl. Both with hops and in general. Coincidence? I think not. If you are really brave, try this double IPA and be prepared for a shock to your system.

Prost!

I.P.A. (Big Sky Brewing Co.)

Having had Big Sky Brewing Company’s Summer Honey this summer and not been fan of it, I decided it’s time to give them another try.  I decided to try I.P.A. in hopes of a good outcome.  It was a really great outcome too.  IPAs are generally pretty good. I find that small breweries have a way of creating IPAs that are slightly different and very tasty compared to some of the larger craft breweries.

The one thing I wish I could get in Kansas from Big Sky are their cans.  I know they put their beers in cans, but here in Kansas all we get are bottles.  So Big Sky if you see or read this post please send cans.

The color of the head was off white and the body copper.  The aroma was citrusy and malty which gives it an almost chocolatey smell. I thought it was florally and  grapefruity. Two things I love. The taste is malty with a nice hop backbone.  It was also smooth.   I really like the balance.  The hops are not overwhelming at all.  It has a really nice hop bite at the end that almost drys your mouth out making you want another drink.   The finish is a little grapefruity. Like chewing on grapefruit skin, but in a good way.

The Summer Honey offered by Big Sky Brewing was a bit of a let down.  Their I.P.A. was not.  I’m glad my friend convinced me to give Big Sky Brewing another chance.

Prost!

Schlafly A IPA (St. Louis Brewing Co.)

There can’t be good living where there isn’t good drinking – Benjamin Franklin

That was a quote found on the bottle of Schlafly A IPA.  I have to agree with Benjamin Franklin.  Life does seem a little nicer when there is good drinking with good friends.  And it seems the more I drink Schlafly the more I like their beers.  I haven’t had too many that I thought were bad or that I wouldn’t drink again.  In fact, the only one I can think of was their Raspberry Hefeweizen.  I’m not a big fan of heavy fruit flavors in beer so I typically stay away from them.  I think fanatically opposed might be the correct term. This beer is an American IPA (hence the A IPA).  What that means is that they use all American hops and malts in it.  It also means it will be hoppy. Americans are obsessed with hops. In fact a friend of mine informed me that when a beer says American and then the style it means it will be hoppy (for example Rogue American Amber Ale is a super hoppy Amber Ale).  Schlafly A IPA is no different.  It’s hoppy but really good.  Here’s the review.

The color of the body is dark copper and the head is light tan.  The aroma was caramel with citrus notes.  The taste was sweet caramel with a grapefruit/citrus hops flavor.  The hops cause a warming sensation on the way down which means this beer is bitter.

The grapefruit flavor is a very welcome change.  Despite the hop burn it is really good.  I’m a big fan of their Coffee Stout but I think I might add this one to my list of favorites from Schlafly.  If you are brave enough for the hops give this one a try.  I think the grapefruit notes will be a bit of a pleasant surprise.

Prost!