Sierra Nevada's Juniper Black Ale from Beer Camp 16 was brewed using juniper berries and a complex malt bill complied by Master Brewer Scott Jennings... (and Ramon Gutierrez).
Review:
Aroma: There is a light vegetation note with dark malts, dark unsweetened chocolate, and roasted malts coming through for a complex nose. A hint of smokiness is also present.
Appearance: Juniper Black Ale (JBA) is a very dark beer with coloration from deep dark brown to black. Ruby brown highlights slip through the bottom of the glass. The head is tan colored and somewhat rocky.
Taste: First impressions are dominated by caramel and smoke. Heavy dark chocolate notes and chocolate covered espresso beans reveal themselves as your mouth calibrates. Deeper into my investigation I found touches of herbal, menthol, and pine needle tea flavors.
Mouthfeel: A very nice, and expected, full sensation that finishes fairly dry. This dryness is where the juniper becomes most evident and is very pleasant. For those who have tried Rogue's Juniper Pale ale, this sensation will not be too much of a surprise.
(Side Note: I think that in the original recipe, the Juniper berries were from somewhere in the N.E. United States. I am not sure where SN sourced the Juniper berries for this batch)
Overall:
This is a surprising beer. I have friends that have panned it because the Juniper wasn't present enough for their taste. That's a valid point. However, as a person who has brewed a juniper beer where the juniper was at the forefront, I can say with certainty that the complaints about the lack of juniper in this beer would pale in comparison with those received if this beer were truly juniper-centric. (Although I would like it.) That a brewer was able to put out this beer on his first try speaks to a great level of acumen, competence, and skill.
Grade: A
Barrel Man says,
"Via con dios, Ramon."
(Bottle Purchased at Tamura's)
No comments:
Post a Comment