Anchor Brewing Company Liberty Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Anchor Brewing Company Liberty Ale. 

From the Anchor Brewing Company website: “Hoppy. Well-balanced. Revolutionary. The champagne-like bubbles, distinctive hop bouquet, and balanced character of Liberty Ale® revives centuries-old ale brewing traditions that are now more relevant than ever. First introduced in 1975, Liberty Ale® is brewed strictly according to traditional brewing methods, and uses only natural ingredients — pale malted barley, fresh whole-cone Cascade hops and a special top-fermenting yeast, and water.

The yeast used during fermentation produces many of Liberty Ale's subtle flavors and characteristics. A natural process called "bunging" creates gentle carbonation, and the practice of dry hopping (adding fresh hops to the brew during aging), revived by Anchor, creates its unique aroma.

Liberty Ale® was first brewed to celebrate the bicentennial of Paul Revere’s historic ride. As the first modern American IPA brewed after prohibition and the first modern American single-hop ale and dry-hopped ale, Anchor’s Liberty Ale® is the original craft brewed ale and the beer that started a revolution.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a hazy orange with a huge white head and loads of sticky lacing.

Aroma: Citrus hops, sweet and biscuit malts and a certain earthiness that I can’t place.

Taste: Begins with citrus hops (Cascade galore) followed by bready and sweet malt. Nice balance.

Overall: Anchor Brewing Company’s Liberty Ale is easy drinking and enjoyable.  At 5.9% ABV this is one I can enjoy a few of. Another solid Anchor Brewing Company beer.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Calicraft Brewing Company Cali Cölsch Bright & Playful Kölsch Style Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Calicraft Brewing Company Cali Cölsch Bright & Playful Kölsch Style Ale.  Since Calicraft Brewing Company is going to have their first pint night at Hop Yard in San Ramon (October 2nd) I thought that I should pick up another one of their beers for review prior to their pint night.

From an interview with Jen Muehlbauer at Bay Area Craft Beer (dot com): “Cali Cölsch: We use California-grown base malt from the Klammoth basin by the base of Mt. Shasta. We blend it with some European Pilsner malts to form a base that is clean, smooth, subtly grainy and bright. We then use a blend of American and German hops to bring out noble spicy and fruity characteristics while giving the beer a hint of American hop flavor at the end. The Kölsch yeast we use adds complexity through notes of peach and pear. It finishes bright, playful and clean. Our goal is to not push this beer out of style, but push the beer to the edge of the style, keeping it drinkable and balance.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours clear golden with a nice white head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Pale malt, grains, fruit and wheat.  Faint hop aroma.

Taste: Pale malt, toasted grains, stone fruits with a slight bitter hop finish.  Great carbonation and balance.

Overall: Incredibly clean and refreshing, Calicraft Brewing Company’s Cali Cölsch Bright & Playful Kölsch Style Ale is wonderfully drinkable.  At 5.2% ABV this is a beer I could and would drink all night.  This will pair perfectly with spicy food, or, any food for that matter.  I don’t typically reach for Kölsch style ales, but this beer has changed my perspective and I plan to reach for this offering again and again.

Special thanks to Brian Stechschulte (Founder & Editor at www.BayAreaCraftBeer.com) for allowing me the use of the beer description in the interview that Jen Muehlbauer (a writer for Bay Area Craft Beer dot com) did with Blaine Landberg (founder and head brewer of Calicraft Brewing Company) here.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Jack Russell Brewing Company Brown Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Jack Russell Brewing Company Brown Ale.  As I said in a previous review my family takes an annual trip to Lake Tahoe and a few years ago I heard about Jack Russell Brewing Company in Camino, CA (which is on the way up to Lake Tahoe).  I enjoy swinging by the Jack Russell Farm Brewery and Winery and the Larsen Apple Barn to pick up some beer, apples and pears.

From the Jack Russell Brewing Company website: “The oldest of beer styles, our brown ale is a light bodied ale with a toasted malt profile, hints of coffee and a low hop character.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a deep brown with a thin tan head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Primarily roasted malts, caramel and chocolate just like brown ale should smell.

Taste: Smooth with caramel, chocolate, roasted and toasted malts and a nutty flavor.

Overall: Light in body and refreshing, Jack Russell Brewing Company’s Brown Ale weighs in at 4.25% ABV and is one that is session worthy. 

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Iron Springs Pub and Breweries Epiphany Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Iron Springs Pub and Breweries Epiphany Ale. 

From the Iron Springs Pub and Breweries website: “A Pacific Northwest hoppy amber ale with floral and citrus aromas.  Ready for an Epiphany?!  There is a great story to how this beer got its name.  If you are curious please ask Mike. Wheat free.” 

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a dark amber with a thin off-white head and a little lacing.

Aroma: Floral and citrus hops up front with noticeable Cascade hops and caramel malt sweetness.

Taste: Citrus Cascade hop blast up front with a tasty sweet caramel malt to balance this nicely.

Overall: A nice hoppy amber, Iron Springs Pub and Breweries’ Epiphany Ale is easy to drink and enjoyable.  The Cascade presence really makes me want more. At 6% ABV this one is easy drinkin’.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Hangar 24 Craft Brewery Orange Wheat

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Hangar 24 Craft Brewery Orange Wheat.  I had the opportunity to visit Hangar 24 Craft Brewery a few years ago while visiting Loma Linda University for a meeting. I sampled a bunch of their beers and really enjoyed them.  Then while visiting San Diego I picked up this six pack of Orange Wheat for my wife and figured I should review it.

From the Hangar 24 Craft Brewery website:” Crisp, Tangy, and Refreshing. The citrus aroma, light airy mouthfeel, and tangy finish are this unfiltered beer’s trademarks. This is accomplished by adding whole locally grown oranges throughout the brewing process, which perfectly coalesce with the wheat and barley base. Our oranges are purchased through the Old Grove Orange company (affiliate of the non-profit Inland Orange Conservancy) whose main objectives are to save the local orange trees from disappearing, spread the word about the local citrus growing heritage, and to feed the hungry with the unutilized oranges. Please visit them at www.inlandorange.org. All we need to do to save the orange trees is to eat or drink locally grown oranges!” 

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a medium orange color with a fluffy white head and spotty lacing.

Aroma: Huge orange aroma with hints of lemon peel, banana, cloves and wheat and pale malts.

Taste: Orange up front, but not too sweet with a nice wheat aftertaste.  Very nice balance.

Overall: Very refreshing, light and easy to drink, Hangar 24 Craft Brewery’s Orange Wheat is easy to enjoy.  Although I tend to drink heavier beers with higher ABV, at 4.6% ABV this is an easy session beer great for anytime drinking, but particularly in the summer (for me). 

If you find yourself in Redlands, CA check out the brewery and try this and some of their other offerings.  Good stuff!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Green Flash Brewing Company Rayon Vert Belgian Style Pale Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Green Flash Brewing Company Rayon Vert Belgian Style Pale Ale. 

From the Green Flash Brewing Company website: “If Green Flash were founded in historical Belgium, Rayon Vert would have been our flagship brew. A bold layering of hops finds balance from traditional malts. Bottle conditioning with fresh ale yeast and Brettanomyces finishes the beer, adding a delightful effervescence, dryness and continuously evolving character. Rayon Vert is Green Flash.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a beautiful golden honey orange with a large cream colored head and loads of sticky lacing.

Aroma: Belgian yeast, lemon peel, spices, grapefruit, pineapple…floral…perfect…

Taste: Hops up front, citrus, pepper, herbal spices, Belgian yeast and a nice sweet caramel backbone that balances this just right.

Overall: Delicious.  Green Flash Brewing Company’s Rayon Vert Belgian Style Pale Ale is just plain delicious.  At 7% ABV this well carbonated, refreshing and balanced offering is a must try. 

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Theobroma

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Theobroma Chile Beer. I’ve been a fan of Dogfish Head’s off-centered beers for some time and when I saw this one I figured why not try it.

From the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery website: “Theobroma is a celebration of chocolate, the food of the gods. This Ancient Ale is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras that revealed the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink used by early civilizations to toast special occasions. The discovery of this beverage pushed back the earliest use of cocoa for human consumption more than 500 years to 1,200 B.C. As per the analysis, Dogfish Head's Theobroma (translated into "food of the gods") is brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs (from our friends at Askinosie Chocolate), honey, chilies and annatto (fragrant tree seeds). It's light in color, not what you expect from your typical chocolate beer (not that you'd be surpised that we'd do something unexpected with this beer!). This beer is part of our Ancient Ales series -- along with Midas Touch, Chateau Jiahu, Sah'tea and Ta Henket -- so step back in time and enjoy some Theobroma.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a bright orange color with a tiny white head and very little lacing.

Aroma: Like nothing I’ve smelled before.  Cocoa, honey, chilies, spices and slight malt scent.  Smells similar to some of the meads I’ve inhaled.

Taste: Sweet and tasty starting with the honey, then the cocoa and finally a slight chili pepper spice. Each flavor enters and exits as the next one arrives.  Very interesting.

Overall: I don’t know if I would categorize this beer as a Chile beer, but there’s one thing I can tell you, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery’s Theobroma is pretty spectacular.  I wouldn’t call it an everyday drinking beer, but I find it truly special that Dogfish Head has created their Ancient Ales series in an effort allow us to step back in time to enjoy what the ancients enjoyed.  At 9% ABV this is an easy bottle to kill solo so if you’re interested in enjoying a history lesson by all means pick a bottle up.  I enjoyed it completely and hopefully you will as well.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Deschutes Brewing Company Mirror Pond Pale Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Deschutes Brewing Company Mirror Pond Pale Ale. 

From the Deschutes Brewing Company website: “This is base camp, where any craft brew exploration begins. A distinct hop nose and hop-forward flavor make Mirror Pond the quintessential Pale Ale. It is aromatically complex, multi-layered, and unmistakably “right”."

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a hazy orange with a thin off-white head and decent lacing.

Aroma: Pine, floral and citrus hops with sweet caramel malt filling in the space in between.

Taste: Taste much like the aroma with citrus hops taking center stage balanced well with caramel malt and toasted malt flavors.

Overall: I completely enjoyed Deschutes Brewing Company’s Mirror Pond Pale Ale.  At 5% ABV this is one I could have several of.  If you’re looking for a nice well hopped Pale Ale I would suggest adding this one to your shopping list. This one is solid.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Bear Republic Brewing Company Hop Rod Rye

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Bear Republic Brewing Company Hop Rod Rye Specialty Ale. 

From the Bear Republic Brewing Company website: “A high gravity IPA brewed with 18% rye malt. Hop Rod Rye has a floral hop aroma and subtle caramel notes with a slightly earthy and spicy rye character.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a dark reddish amber with a thick tan head and incredible lacing.

Aroma: Rye is the first in line followed closely by floral and citrus hops, pine and malt.

Taste: Hops hit the palate followed by spicy rye and sweet caramel malt.

Overall: Bear Republic Brewing Company’s Hop Rod Rye Specialty Ale is incredibly drinkable, tasty and truly a masterfully created beer.  At 8%ABV the alcohol is very well hidden. This is one that will be a fast favorite for those who enjoy the style.  I know I do!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey