Rocky’s Revenge

Barrel-aged beers are all the rage these days.  The kids just can’t seem to get enough of them.  Not surprisingly, some fall short of good and some are extremely good.  Rocky’s Revenge from Tyranena Brewing Co., Lake Mills, WI is definitely on the upper end of the scale.  Pepsi-brown with a good amount of carbonation and a single-layer head, Rocky’s Revenge is an American Brown Ale that stands out among browns, which admittedly is not so hard to do.  Rocky’s Revenge starts with the standard nutty, yeasty bouquet typical of the style, but quickly goes beyond with a mild-yet-noticeable bourbon vibe.  It’s even more pronounced in the flavor, with a touch of alcohol/booze tang in the nose.  The finish has a touch of dryness and lots of sweetness that thickens the saliva.  Rocky’s Revenge is not exactly a thirst-quencher, not is it a true sipper.  Get some crusty bread and a smoked cheese of some sort and enjoy a Rocky’s Revenge.

80/100 American Brown Ale

Wing Walker Belgian White

R.J. King, a.k.a. Genesee Brewing Company, has made a decent, deep yellow, highly carbonated frothy Belgian White that’s worth your while.  Wing Walker Belgian White has a slight haze and a pronounced citrus aroma with accompanying wheat malt and sweet spice notes.  It’s tart, a bit rusty, tangy and lively on the tongue, with a pleasant, sweet finish.  At 5.5% ABV, it might sneak up on you after a couple so be aware.  A very enjoyable, yet somewhat subdued, version of a Belgian White.  A good summer beer.

75/100 Belgian White

Herrmanndorfer Schweinsbrau Gold

With a label like this it has to be good.

This medium gold Bavarian lager (Munich helles) sports a decent 1/4″ fine-bead head after the pour, having a light haze and some fine particulate matter that floats lazily throughout.  The bouquet is clean with a hint of rust and a decent malt backbone.  The generous lacing slowly slides down the glass and dissolves back into the beer.  Schweinsbrau Gold has a mild sweetness and a mild bitterness in the finish and the 4.8% ABV makes it pretty drinkable.  It’s not at all unique, reminiscent of a lot of anonymous German lagers I have know but won’t bother to enumerate.  My cousin saw the label and thought of me.  Thanks Ana.

66/100 Lager

Craft Beer Magazine

It’s a great convenience to be able to receive information and entertainment electronically.  As a beer enthusiast and Mac user, I’ve found some useful apps (brew vault, beer citizen, beer buddy, etc.) to keep me informed about what’s going on in the world of beer and to keep current with trends and fads that are relevant to me, the beer drinker.  An iPad app for a digital magazine about craft beer?  What a great idea!  Craft Beer Magazine (why try to come up with a clever name for your periodical when you can say it all in the most obvious and appropriate manner?) is a subscription-based electronic magazine that features well researched and nicely written articles on a variety of subjects of interest to the beer lover.  It’s $2.99 for a single issue and $1.99 per issue if you subscribe on a monthly basis, at least that’s what I am hoping, because it is not completely clear to me the way it is worded at the iTunes app store.  Craft Beer Magazine is nicely laid out, clear and concise, and not overly concerned with impressing designers and typographers with flashy, confusing graphics and overly elaborate typestyles.  It’s from beer drinkers to beer drinkers, and certainly worth a look.  And no, I am not on the Craft Beer Magazine payroll.  Yet….

Double Take Belgian White

It seems to me you can hardly walk down the aisles of your favorite bootle store without seeing a new Belgian White of some sort.  That’s just fine, as it is an enjoyable style, and if it’s an introduction to styles other than the light macro-lagers that so many people drink I’m all for it.  The only problem for me is that too few aspire to be great, and only seem to hit mediocre.  I guess Double Take Belgian White is an exception, as it is surely better than mediocre, but well short of great.  Brewed by Double Take and marketed by Brewmaster’s Choice of Rochester, NY (in other words, contract brewed by Genesee for the Midwest market), Double Take Belgian White is light colored and yeasty with a big, foamy head and a general hazy appearance.  There’s a decent amount of carbonation to add a lively appearance to Double Take.  Oddly, I smell a cream aley bouquet reminiscent of Genny Cream Ale, but spicier and rustier.  The lace is super sticky and gives off an orange/citrus aroma and a good slice of wheat malt.  Grainy, a bit sharp and with a lingering bitterness, Double Take Belgian White is a likable beer, reasonably priced and something to consider purchasing if you see it at Trader Joe’s.  It’s not an over-the-top version of the style like Shock Top or Blue Moon, but it certainly holds its own in the world of domestic Belgian Whites.

70/100 Belgian Style White

Mirror Pond Pale Ale

Image courtesy of Deschutes Brewery

Medium honey colored and well-carbonated, Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon sports a sticky beige head and a decent dose of floral hops.  There is a distinct sweetness that belies the thinnish texture, but that sweetness quickly wanes to a mild bitterness.  There’s not a lot to Mirror Pond Pale Ale, but it is certainly drinkable and a great addition to summertime meals and food grilled outdoors.  The name and label are certainly evocative of good memories of vacations out west and early 20th century painters like Fernand Hodler, both of which make me happy.  5% ABV, 40 IBUs.

75/100 Pale Ale

Kirkland Signature India Pale Ale

Costco presents…Kirkland Signature Beers.  And they’re not bad.  $22 a case, 4 varieties, 6 of each.  India Pale Ale is the subject of today’s post.  It’s an amber colored beer, with a great head and great lacing.  Pine and floral hops in the nose.  On the lighter side of medium-bodied, not too over-the-top by today’s IPA standards, so it will please a wider audience.  Very drinkable.  Made by F. X. Matt Brewing Company in Utica, NY, brewers of the Saranac line of beers which you may or may not have seen in the Midwest.  It’s worth a try.

65/100 IPA