these are my favorite 10 new-to-me sour beer beers of 2008. a collection of traditional Belgian Sour Ales (Lambics, Fruit Lambics, Flanders Red, Flanders Brown) and American Interpretations. all time favorites include Orval, Cantillion Gueze, Cantillion Iris, Boon Framboise, Russian River Temptation, Russian River Supplication.
Russian River Beatification
Blended Gueze 100% Spontaneously Fermented in very old Oak. Batch #2
Wow. This is as sour and bubbly as they come. Almost no brett flavor, very dry, grapefruit, tart and hints of wood, pear, apple. This is an incredibly one dimensional ale, and I mean that in a very good way! If you like sour, dry and bubbly, this is the way to go.
Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga
Belgian Pale Ale fermented in Oak (and spiked with Brett?)
Complex, well rounded, lightly sour ale. Light and spicy, with notes of coriander, clove, vanilla and some malt depth and complexity, slight toffee. A little musty, and flowery from hops. Has that indescribable "brett" flavor, often called barnyard. A definite farmhouse character to this one.
Boulevard Saison Brett
Saison spiked with Brett
A beer more in balance than overpowered by sourness, this Saison has a nice hop and ester spiciness, is slightly creamy, and sour with a bitter finish. Hints of pears, apples, banana, with notes of wheat, grass and a very citrus, noticeably orange, character to it. Very smooth and refreshing.
Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza
Golden Strong ale fermented in Oak (and spiked with Brett?)
Another spicy, sour and hoppy offering from JP. This offering is quite sour, gold colored and hazy, and has esters to boot: pear, apple, slight banana. Doesn't have the quite the barnyard-farmhouse going, possibly due to other organisms besides Brett? Need to find out more.
Russian River Consecration
Pale ale aged in Oak with Pluots.
Sour, cherries, figs, raisins, toffee. It has a dry, vinous character, should age superbly, and the barrel character is quite apparent, slight notes of vanilla, oak, earth. Quite acidic and a lingering sour finish. This one sticks with you.
Zoetzuur Flemish Reserve
Flanders Red
A very sharp, acidic red with a delicious malt backbone. Smells like sour cherries, once again, but has a less musty and muddled aroma, much more tart, and the flavor is cleaner, not musty, but definitely bretty. Hints of oak, raisins, plums and sour fruit. Very dry, almost astringent.
Port Brewing -de Proef Signature 2007
Pale ale spiked with Brett
Pale, refreshing very funky beer. This beer is quite bitter, light on the palatte, and has a grainy undertone. The brett character has nowhere to hide as the malt profile is quite low. The nose and finish are both quite hoppy, grapefruit and orange, but the sour-funkhouse character provides the base for this beer.
Brugge Diamond Kings
Quadrupel barrel aged in french oak and spiked with Brett and pickled plums.
This beer is a powerhouse. Much more malt complexity and even some residual sweetness than most Brett ales. Figs, raisins, cherries, toffee, vanilla, plums, this beer has much more of the barrel flavor to it left than just the beasties. The sourness is gentle, just a slight tartness, mustiness, and funkiness, maybe because it is just such a big beer at 12%.
Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour
aka, Bios Vlaamse Bourgogne. A Flanders Red
Deep, rich malt with sour power. Almost like a sweet tart. Carmel, raisins, cherries, chocolate, oak. Then the sourness kicks in and goes through the finish. Musty, but lacking the horsey Brett Flavor. Richer, fruiter and more luscious than many of its kind.
Allgash -de Proef Les Deux Brasseurs
Belgian Golden Strong ale spiked with Brett from each Brewery.
Tart at the start, sweet and slightly malty-grainy in the middle, quite acidic, with a very hoppy finish. Notes of wheat, grass, orange, grapefruit, pear, apple, cider and slight funk.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Top 10 IPAs and Imperials
my most researched category of the year, these are the top 10 IPA's and Imperial (or double) IPA's new to me in 2008. all time favorites include Speakeasy Big Daddy, Bear Republic Racer 5 , Russian River Pliny the Elder, and Lagunitas IPA.
Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA
Really a refreshing, sessionable offering from Firestone Walker that at the same time is over the top in hop aroma and flavor, quite a feat indeed. Light bodied, full aroma of grapefruit and orange, with resinous flavors that are even stronger, lemon,orange and pine, with a lingering but pleasant bitterness. A note of toast and caramel, but the hops dominate this! Great for Speakeasy Big Daddy fans, a light bodied, low ABV and highly hopped IPA.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
Amazingly 2008 was my first endeavor into the world of DFH and their legendary IPA. This is a bomber, with amazing floral, resiny and sweet. The aromatics are perfume like in their pungence, with pine and citrus assaulting the nose. The flavor begins malty-sweet, slight caramel and toast, then switches to lemon, orange, pine and earth. The impression is very mouth filling (at 9%), sweet but not cloying, resiny, and very bitter through the finish.
Rogue Imperial IPA (XS)
Whew, another bomber. Jet black ceramic bottle with a swing top, just taking a look at this beer makes you shake. I expected a much sweeter, malt oriented ale, but got a hop bomb with the malts playing much more of a background role. Spicy, slightly noble hoppiness, blended with the citrus and grassiness found in northwest varieties. Slight caramel, toast and biscuit come into play, this is a medium bodied ale with a clean, not to bitter finish and unique blend of hop flavors.
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA
Grass, pine and citrus come into balance in this lighter bodied IPA. Toast and biscuit notes come through, but the fresh, resiny hop notes dominate. The finish is pretty bitter, but not distracting.
Bear Republic Apex
A fresh hopheads wet dream, with the powerful resin flavor, overt grassiness and citrus-earthy varieties showcased. Medium bodied, slightly warm and a little slick, the flavors start with caramel and toast in the background, and switch to grapefruit, orange, pine and slight tangerine.
Stumptown Fossil Fuel XP
This IPA has a very complex flavor profile. It tastes super grassy and resiny, like fresh hops. Apparently, however, much of the spiciness and "fresh" character comes from a 45 million year old strain of yeast that resembles brewers yeast! An experimental ale brewed by Stumptown after being approached by scientists, it is a zesty, light and refreshing ale. Notes of lemon, grass, grapefruit, and even a touch of clove, with a slightly toasty and caramelly background. Soon into production by Fossil Fuels Brewing Co.
Bear Republic Rebellion
A light, crisp and slightly grainy IPA, with a floral and very citrus character. Orange, piney and lemon zest in the nose, medium bodied, with a slight spicy undertone and biscuit, toast and almond notes in the background.
Three Floyds Dreadnaught IPA
Grass, pine and citrus. Caramel, toast, toffee. These are all present in massive quantities, with a slight pear ester undertone and slight warmth. Medium bodied, and mouth filling.
Sierra Nevada Chico Estate
Very resinous, medium bodied, almost slick IPA. This is a wet-hopped beer, and has the piney, woody and orangey flavors that go with it. Rather sweet malt profile, caramel, slight apples from the esters, and a considerably sugary finish to go with the bitterness.
Widmer Halo IPA
Really rich, sweet ale that has a solid hop backbone. The smooth caramel, toffee and toast are balanced with piney, floral hops. No residual sweetness, clean, dry, with slightly apple esters from the yeast, has a medium to full body and a lingering bitter finish.
Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA
Really a refreshing, sessionable offering from Firestone Walker that at the same time is over the top in hop aroma and flavor, quite a feat indeed. Light bodied, full aroma of grapefruit and orange, with resinous flavors that are even stronger, lemon,orange and pine, with a lingering but pleasant bitterness. A note of toast and caramel, but the hops dominate this! Great for Speakeasy Big Daddy fans, a light bodied, low ABV and highly hopped IPA.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
Amazingly 2008 was my first endeavor into the world of DFH and their legendary IPA. This is a bomber, with amazing floral, resiny and sweet. The aromatics are perfume like in their pungence, with pine and citrus assaulting the nose. The flavor begins malty-sweet, slight caramel and toast, then switches to lemon, orange, pine and earth. The impression is very mouth filling (at 9%), sweet but not cloying, resiny, and very bitter through the finish.
Rogue Imperial IPA (XS)
Whew, another bomber. Jet black ceramic bottle with a swing top, just taking a look at this beer makes you shake. I expected a much sweeter, malt oriented ale, but got a hop bomb with the malts playing much more of a background role. Spicy, slightly noble hoppiness, blended with the citrus and grassiness found in northwest varieties. Slight caramel, toast and biscuit come into play, this is a medium bodied ale with a clean, not to bitter finish and unique blend of hop flavors.
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA
Grass, pine and citrus come into balance in this lighter bodied IPA. Toast and biscuit notes come through, but the fresh, resiny hop notes dominate. The finish is pretty bitter, but not distracting.
Bear Republic Apex
A fresh hopheads wet dream, with the powerful resin flavor, overt grassiness and citrus-earthy varieties showcased. Medium bodied, slightly warm and a little slick, the flavors start with caramel and toast in the background, and switch to grapefruit, orange, pine and slight tangerine.
Stumptown Fossil Fuel XP
This IPA has a very complex flavor profile. It tastes super grassy and resiny, like fresh hops. Apparently, however, much of the spiciness and "fresh" character comes from a 45 million year old strain of yeast that resembles brewers yeast! An experimental ale brewed by Stumptown after being approached by scientists, it is a zesty, light and refreshing ale. Notes of lemon, grass, grapefruit, and even a touch of clove, with a slightly toasty and caramelly background. Soon into production by Fossil Fuels Brewing Co.
Bear Republic Rebellion
A light, crisp and slightly grainy IPA, with a floral and very citrus character. Orange, piney and lemon zest in the nose, medium bodied, with a slight spicy undertone and biscuit, toast and almond notes in the background.
Three Floyds Dreadnaught IPA
Grass, pine and citrus. Caramel, toast, toffee. These are all present in massive quantities, with a slight pear ester undertone and slight warmth. Medium bodied, and mouth filling.
Sierra Nevada Chico Estate
Very resinous, medium bodied, almost slick IPA. This is a wet-hopped beer, and has the piney, woody and orangey flavors that go with it. Rather sweet malt profile, caramel, slight apples from the esters, and a considerably sugary finish to go with the bitterness.
Widmer Halo IPA
Really rich, sweet ale that has a solid hop backbone. The smooth caramel, toffee and toast are balanced with piney, floral hops. No residual sweetness, clean, dry, with slightly apple esters from the yeast, has a medium to full body and a lingering bitter finish.
Top 10 Porters and Imperials
favorite new Porters and Imperial Porters from 2008. nothing really blew me away this year, the top 3 being the most notable, but it was one of my most researched categories. all time favorite include Anchor Porter, Black Butter Porter, Black Prince Porter, Sierra Nevada Porter and Boulevard Bully Porter. smoked porters not included.
Deschutes Black Butte XX
A really rich imperial porter. Bomber of coffee and very bitter chocolate, A very slight vanilla and bourbon flavors peek through due to the barrel aging. Overall, the bitterness and warmth are in good balance, and this beer is pretty straightforward overall.
Baltika Porter (6)
Very smooth Baltic style Porter. Chocolate notes blend well with coffee and toffee. A medium bodied ale with a sweet finish, and has traces of dark fruit and bannana esters. Much less burnt and robust flavors than its American counterparts.
Meantime London Porter
The overt maltiness of this approaches and old ale or barleywine, but it is still a rounded rich and creamy brown porter. Seems well aged, with a slightly musty character. Caramel and coffee are the most prominent flavors, with dried fruit and a slight roast coming through.
Redhook Blackhook Porter
A really roasty and drinkable porter, with a great hoppy bitterness in the finish. Coffee, toffee, toast, almonds and slight spicy esters blend well behind the roasty and slightly sweet chocolate profile.
Left Hand BlackJack Porter
A more complex porter, blending disparte flavors into one. Dark chocolate, molasses, toffe and licorice mix with spicy, earthy and slightly citrusy hops and light peppery esters.
Speakeasy Hunters Point Porter
A very malty porter. Chocolate and roasty tones come through a solid base of caramel and bitterness. A very nice nuttiness can be found in the background, with dried fruits from the yeast esters.
Kona Pipeline Porter
A really creamy and smooth porter with an almost lactic quality to it. The primary flavor is coffee, with slight chocolate and roast. The finish is neither sweet nor bitter, almost like an iced coffee. Incredibly drinkable and unique ale.
Great Divide St. Bridgets Porter
One of the more American robust hoppy porters of the year. Chocolate and earthy pine balance to this one, with notes of toffee, vanilla and citrus. Finishes bitter and is very mouthfilling. Flavorful yet drinkable ale.
Roots Coconut Porter
Mild chocolatey porter with some creamy, bitter and roasty characteristics. The coconut is very light, almost adds more mouthfeel, and has a slightly lactic and nutty-toasty character.
McMenamins Black Rabbit Porter
A nutty, carmelly and creamy porter, with hints of coffee and chocolate. Much more a brown porter, with slightly spicy-ester aspects. Smooth, creamy and rather balanced.
Deschutes Black Butte XX
A really rich imperial porter. Bomber of coffee and very bitter chocolate, A very slight vanilla and bourbon flavors peek through due to the barrel aging. Overall, the bitterness and warmth are in good balance, and this beer is pretty straightforward overall.
Baltika Porter (6)
Very smooth Baltic style Porter. Chocolate notes blend well with coffee and toffee. A medium bodied ale with a sweet finish, and has traces of dark fruit and bannana esters. Much less burnt and robust flavors than its American counterparts.
Meantime London Porter
The overt maltiness of this approaches and old ale or barleywine, but it is still a rounded rich and creamy brown porter. Seems well aged, with a slightly musty character. Caramel and coffee are the most prominent flavors, with dried fruit and a slight roast coming through.
Redhook Blackhook Porter
A really roasty and drinkable porter, with a great hoppy bitterness in the finish. Coffee, toffee, toast, almonds and slight spicy esters blend well behind the roasty and slightly sweet chocolate profile.
Left Hand BlackJack Porter
A more complex porter, blending disparte flavors into one. Dark chocolate, molasses, toffe and licorice mix with spicy, earthy and slightly citrusy hops and light peppery esters.
Speakeasy Hunters Point Porter
A very malty porter. Chocolate and roasty tones come through a solid base of caramel and bitterness. A very nice nuttiness can be found in the background, with dried fruits from the yeast esters.
Kona Pipeline Porter
A really creamy and smooth porter with an almost lactic quality to it. The primary flavor is coffee, with slight chocolate and roast. The finish is neither sweet nor bitter, almost like an iced coffee. Incredibly drinkable and unique ale.
Great Divide St. Bridgets Porter
One of the more American robust hoppy porters of the year. Chocolate and earthy pine balance to this one, with notes of toffee, vanilla and citrus. Finishes bitter and is very mouthfilling. Flavorful yet drinkable ale.
Roots Coconut Porter
Mild chocolatey porter with some creamy, bitter and roasty characteristics. The coconut is very light, almost adds more mouthfeel, and has a slightly lactic and nutty-toasty character.
McMenamins Black Rabbit Porter
A nutty, carmelly and creamy porter, with hints of coffee and chocolate. Much more a brown porter, with slightly spicy-ester aspects. Smooth, creamy and rather balanced.
Top 10 Stouts and Imperials
my favorites new Stouts and Imperial Stouts from 2008. lots of great ones, and lots of barrel aged ones out there this year, which I've kept in here and may show up in the barrel aged categories. all time favorites include North Coast's Old Rasputin, Mirror Pond's Obsidian, Samuel Smith's Oatmeat Stout, Murphy's Irish Stout and Guiness.
Deschutes Abyss
Wow. I didn't know you could make a beer this intense and delicious. A jet black imperial stout with one third of it barrel aged in french oak and bourbon barrel oak. Chocolate, roast, coffee, licorice, molasses, this is a velvety warm beer to be sipped and cherished. There is no overt bourbon barrel presence, you find more of the trace elements (vanilla, tobacco, toffee, smoke) from it in the highlights. At 11% ABV, its is amazing how good this beer is young.
Green Flash Double Stout
Really well rounded Imperial Stout. Luscious chocolate flavor dominates, along with oat, caramel and toffee notes. There is a slight warming in the beer, but the finish isn't too bitter, and rather sweet, for this strong of a stout.
Firestone Walker Velvet Mirkin
This is an Oatmeal Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels. Deep licorice, dried fruit, smoke and chocolate flavors. This whole beer has a slight vinuous quality, but is well rounded and smooth around the edges.
Young's Oatmeal Stout
This is a thick, chewy oatmeal stout. A very roasty ale, with slight caramel, chocolate and toffee highlights. Very well rounded, lowly carbonated and hopped lightly, the oats really thicken this beer and add a hint of flavor to the palate.
Stone 12th Anniversary
A very warm ale, with incredibly powerful coffee, roast and chocolate notes. Burnt character, incredibly bitter, with slight toffee, oatmeal, vanilla, molasses and bark-earth. This is a much dryer and bitter beer than their usual imperial stout, and has a greater hop presence and bitterness in the finish.
Stone Russian Imperial Stout
A huge, thick, robust stout. Intense burnt, dark fruits, cacao, vanilla, toffee, chocolate and toffee. The flavors don't have anywhere to hide, this is a really warm ale that hits you in the face with flavor and doesn't let up.
Moylan's Irish Dry Stout
A very well balanced dry stout. Very roasty up front, chewy, coffee highlights with a slightly hoppy and bitter finish. Notes of chocolate, molasses, toast and coffee throughout, a delicious, sessionable stout. Great for a winter day at the local pub.
Magnolia Oyster Stout
There is a really rich flavor profile to this beer. It is well balanced between all the components, yet has a smokiness the permeates and cuts through the roasty flavors. It begins with chocolate, toffee and a slight yeastiness, and ends somewhat dry, smoky and slightly bitter. This goes really well with food, flavorful meats, and I would assume, oysters.
Lucky Labrador Black Lab Stout
A thick, roasty, robust and quite drinkable ale. Very flavorful, chocolate, dried fruits, caramel and a light nutty quality. It could be a bit thicker and less sweet, but it is still quite creamy due to the nitro tap.
Schells Stout
This is a British Style Sweet stout. A very rich ale, it has sweet chocolate, medium toffee and caramel and light espresso notes. A creamy, roasty and lightly bitter finish gives this stout a nice edge.
Deschutes Abyss
Wow. I didn't know you could make a beer this intense and delicious. A jet black imperial stout with one third of it barrel aged in french oak and bourbon barrel oak. Chocolate, roast, coffee, licorice, molasses, this is a velvety warm beer to be sipped and cherished. There is no overt bourbon barrel presence, you find more of the trace elements (vanilla, tobacco, toffee, smoke) from it in the highlights. At 11% ABV, its is amazing how good this beer is young.
Green Flash Double Stout
Really well rounded Imperial Stout. Luscious chocolate flavor dominates, along with oat, caramel and toffee notes. There is a slight warming in the beer, but the finish isn't too bitter, and rather sweet, for this strong of a stout.
Firestone Walker Velvet Mirkin
This is an Oatmeal Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels. Deep licorice, dried fruit, smoke and chocolate flavors. This whole beer has a slight vinuous quality, but is well rounded and smooth around the edges.
Young's Oatmeal Stout
This is a thick, chewy oatmeal stout. A very roasty ale, with slight caramel, chocolate and toffee highlights. Very well rounded, lowly carbonated and hopped lightly, the oats really thicken this beer and add a hint of flavor to the palate.
Stone 12th Anniversary
A very warm ale, with incredibly powerful coffee, roast and chocolate notes. Burnt character, incredibly bitter, with slight toffee, oatmeal, vanilla, molasses and bark-earth. This is a much dryer and bitter beer than their usual imperial stout, and has a greater hop presence and bitterness in the finish.
Stone Russian Imperial Stout
A huge, thick, robust stout. Intense burnt, dark fruits, cacao, vanilla, toffee, chocolate and toffee. The flavors don't have anywhere to hide, this is a really warm ale that hits you in the face with flavor and doesn't let up.
Moylan's Irish Dry Stout
A very well balanced dry stout. Very roasty up front, chewy, coffee highlights with a slightly hoppy and bitter finish. Notes of chocolate, molasses, toast and coffee throughout, a delicious, sessionable stout. Great for a winter day at the local pub.
Magnolia Oyster Stout
There is a really rich flavor profile to this beer. It is well balanced between all the components, yet has a smokiness the permeates and cuts through the roasty flavors. It begins with chocolate, toffee and a slight yeastiness, and ends somewhat dry, smoky and slightly bitter. This goes really well with food, flavorful meats, and I would assume, oysters.
Lucky Labrador Black Lab Stout
A thick, roasty, robust and quite drinkable ale. Very flavorful, chocolate, dried fruits, caramel and a light nutty quality. It could be a bit thicker and less sweet, but it is still quite creamy due to the nitro tap.
Schells Stout
This is a British Style Sweet stout. A very rich ale, it has sweet chocolate, medium toffee and caramel and light espresso notes. A creamy, roasty and lightly bitter finish gives this stout a nice edge.
Top 5 Pale Ales
my favorites new Pale Ales from 2008. I had 4 out of 5 of these at the breweries, which attests to the advantage of drinking this beer locally and fresh. my all time favorites include Bridgeport IPA, Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Anchor Liberty, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Full Sail Pale Ale,
Deschutes Green Lakes Pale Ale
Another organic beer that tops my lists this year. A nice, medium to light bodied fruity ale, with notes of toffee, caramel and biscuit throughout. The hop presence is light but clear, piney, and definitely more in the flavor than the aroma. Slightly dry and bitter finish.
Seabright Pelican Pale Ale
Light and crisp, with toasty highlights and hop depth, including piney and citrus overtones. Excellent session beer that has a distinct west coast profile without the "bigness" (aka, alcohol content), and very fresh and bright, a nice complement to my meal.
Great Divide Denver Pale Ale
This is a malt forward, more English style pale with an assertive hop presence. A very pine like resin flavor seems to dominate through the aroma, but biscuit, caramel and slight toffee flavors fight through upon tasting. Sight fruity, plum like esters finish complement throughout. Clean, creamy finish with light citrus hops, fresh and on site.
McMenamins Hammerhead
Tried at the Hawthorne, Portland.
Hoppy zestiness dominates this beer up front, a certain profile for Cascade. Citrus and caramel overtones are complemented throughout, with slight tangerine, grapefruit orange and even lemon in the nose , while biscuit and toffee serve as the backbone. A great fresh beer in a one of a kind setting.
Bridgeport Haymaker Extra Pale Ale
Considering I think of Bridgeport IPA as really more of a Pale Ale by today's aggressive standards, their pale ale was a pleasant surprise, almost a very hoppy small beer, or an American version of a bitter. This sample was tried on site, and was very biscuitty, toasty and slightly carmelly overall. A slightly grassy, lemony hop presence ran throughout. The overall impression is a crisp, dry grainy, and slightly hoppy beer. This is the lawnmower beer for hopheads.
Deschutes Green Lakes Pale Ale
Another organic beer that tops my lists this year. A nice, medium to light bodied fruity ale, with notes of toffee, caramel and biscuit throughout. The hop presence is light but clear, piney, and definitely more in the flavor than the aroma. Slightly dry and bitter finish.
Seabright Pelican Pale Ale
Light and crisp, with toasty highlights and hop depth, including piney and citrus overtones. Excellent session beer that has a distinct west coast profile without the "bigness" (aka, alcohol content), and very fresh and bright, a nice complement to my meal.
Great Divide Denver Pale Ale
This is a malt forward, more English style pale with an assertive hop presence. A very pine like resin flavor seems to dominate through the aroma, but biscuit, caramel and slight toffee flavors fight through upon tasting. Sight fruity, plum like esters finish complement throughout. Clean, creamy finish with light citrus hops, fresh and on site.
McMenamins Hammerhead
Tried at the Hawthorne, Portland.
Hoppy zestiness dominates this beer up front, a certain profile for Cascade. Citrus and caramel overtones are complemented throughout, with slight tangerine, grapefruit orange and even lemon in the nose , while biscuit and toffee serve as the backbone. A great fresh beer in a one of a kind setting.
Bridgeport Haymaker Extra Pale Ale
Considering I think of Bridgeport IPA as really more of a Pale Ale by today's aggressive standards, their pale ale was a pleasant surprise, almost a very hoppy small beer, or an American version of a bitter. This sample was tried on site, and was very biscuitty, toasty and slightly carmelly overall. A slightly grassy, lemony hop presence ran throughout. The overall impression is a crisp, dry grainy, and slightly hoppy beer. This is the lawnmower beer for hopheads.
Top 5 Witbiers
my favorites new Witbiers, also know as white beers, from 2008. non sours (or Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca would have topped this). all time favorites include Allgash White and Hoegaarden. I embarassingly have no Belgium one on here this year.
Trinity Witbier
Nice yeasty ale. Slightly lactic and sour, with spicy orange and coriander apparent. Fresh, slightly sweet, but a dry finish. Pleasant appearance (cloudly, off white) and aroma (spices, cardboard and tart). Just like I would expect while in Belgium, bravo.
Brugges White
One of the funkier-farmhouse wits of the year. A general lactic tang surrounds this beer throughout, with very lemony, grassy and wheaty flavors coming through. Slight citrus and floral, not refreshing, per se, but definitely interesting and authentic.
Unibroue Ephemere, Apple
This is a unique, refreshing ale that verges on and apple cider. Incredibly refreshing and drinkable, it has a nose of cider and the taste of green apples, but in all other aspects, it is a witbeer: hazy, large head, zesty and orange flavors, and a bready, wheaty backbone.
New Belgium Mothership Wit
I generally don't enjoy organic ales at all. I don't think the organics have caught up yet in terms of quality, or quality control, especially the malts. But a witbier as an organic? Why not. Most of the character from this ale come from the fermentation and spices. A refreshing, hazy and zesty ale, most of the flavor notes are played down, and the wheat flavor mostly comes through, surprisingly enough.
21st Amendment 8th Anniversary
This is a witbier made with an American wheat ale influence. A medium bodied, full flavored ale with wheat and toast-biscuit in the foreground, and coriander and orange peel in the finish.
Trinity Witbier
Nice yeasty ale. Slightly lactic and sour, with spicy orange and coriander apparent. Fresh, slightly sweet, but a dry finish. Pleasant appearance (cloudly, off white) and aroma (spices, cardboard and tart). Just like I would expect while in Belgium, bravo.
Brugges White
One of the funkier-farmhouse wits of the year. A general lactic tang surrounds this beer throughout, with very lemony, grassy and wheaty flavors coming through. Slight citrus and floral, not refreshing, per se, but definitely interesting and authentic.
Unibroue Ephemere, Apple
This is a unique, refreshing ale that verges on and apple cider. Incredibly refreshing and drinkable, it has a nose of cider and the taste of green apples, but in all other aspects, it is a witbeer: hazy, large head, zesty and orange flavors, and a bready, wheaty backbone.
New Belgium Mothership Wit
I generally don't enjoy organic ales at all. I don't think the organics have caught up yet in terms of quality, or quality control, especially the malts. But a witbier as an organic? Why not. Most of the character from this ale come from the fermentation and spices. A refreshing, hazy and zesty ale, most of the flavor notes are played down, and the wheat flavor mostly comes through, surprisingly enough.
21st Amendment 8th Anniversary
This is a witbier made with an American wheat ale influence. A medium bodied, full flavored ale with wheat and toast-biscuit in the foreground, and coriander and orange peel in the finish.
Top 5 Trippels-Goldens
my favorites new Trippels and Golden Strongs from 2008. all time favorites include Westmalle Trippel, Allagash Trippel, Trippel Karmeliet, Delerium Tremens, Duvel
Witches Brew
A well rounded ale, almost more like a golden strong than trippel in that it is less sweet than most. Grainy, biscutty backbone with the estery notes subdued, mostly being apples and pears. Great noble-spicy hop presence, and due to the carbonation quite dry and refreshing, with low to no warmth.
St. Bernardus Trippel
Hoppy, sweet and slightly fruity, a delicious Trappist Ale. All is in balance, it is rich, yet dry and lingering in the finish. The hops are prominent up front, yet it is not too bitter in the finish. This beer is a conundrum of sorts, has little complexity in any one aspect, but is an enjoyable ale.
Stone 888 Vertical Epic
A slightly thin but well balanced trippel, grainy background with notes of banana, pear, and bright citrus from the three varieties of American citrus-hops (Antheum, Amarillio and Summit I'm told). This is a quite quaffable beer, despite its high ABV at almost 9%. Spicy, hoppy and fruity, with a bitter finish.
Urthel Hibernus Quentum Trippel
An incredibly ester laden trippel. Strong pear and apple and slight clove flavors, with bready, biscuitty overtones and strong hop flavors at each end. Sweet and strong, very much how a trippel should be.
Fantome La Dalmatienne
Technically a saison, this beer seems to share more characteristics with a trippel to me, with its very sweet and fruity extremities. Thus I've placed it as one. Granted, an amber trippel at that. Very spicy sweet, with notes of orange, and a slightly lactic/barnyard and dusty character. Very mouth filling, with low hop character and bitterness.
Witches Brew
A well rounded ale, almost more like a golden strong than trippel in that it is less sweet than most. Grainy, biscutty backbone with the estery notes subdued, mostly being apples and pears. Great noble-spicy hop presence, and due to the carbonation quite dry and refreshing, with low to no warmth.
St. Bernardus Trippel
Hoppy, sweet and slightly fruity, a delicious Trappist Ale. All is in balance, it is rich, yet dry and lingering in the finish. The hops are prominent up front, yet it is not too bitter in the finish. This beer is a conundrum of sorts, has little complexity in any one aspect, but is an enjoyable ale.
Stone 888 Vertical Epic
A slightly thin but well balanced trippel, grainy background with notes of banana, pear, and bright citrus from the three varieties of American citrus-hops (Antheum, Amarillio and Summit I'm told). This is a quite quaffable beer, despite its high ABV at almost 9%. Spicy, hoppy and fruity, with a bitter finish.
Urthel Hibernus Quentum Trippel
An incredibly ester laden trippel. Strong pear and apple and slight clove flavors, with bready, biscuitty overtones and strong hop flavors at each end. Sweet and strong, very much how a trippel should be.
Fantome La Dalmatienne
Technically a saison, this beer seems to share more characteristics with a trippel to me, with its very sweet and fruity extremities. Thus I've placed it as one. Granted, an amber trippel at that. Very spicy sweet, with notes of orange, and a slightly lactic/barnyard and dusty character. Very mouth filling, with low hop character and bitterness.
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