Anchor Brewing Co. -- Liberty Ale

 

Anchor Brewing Co.'s Liberty Ale, "was first introduced on April 18th, 1975 to commemorate the bicentennial of the famous ride by Paul Revere."

5.9% ABV

Review:
Appearance: Liberty pours a beautiful golden orange, with a lasting, fluffy white head.

Aroma: Smells just like a lemon tart. Yum!

Taste: Hmmm... this beer is a bit confusing. It is citrusy, but has no real bite. It feels flat on the tongue, but has exciting flavors. It is sour, but still complex.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a high hop presence.

Finish: This is a hoppy beer, but the hops are earthy.

(Side Note: I think that the hops used in this beer are the same as those that were available in the 1970's. There is nothing wrong with that, but you have to remember that Cascade hops were created in 1972, and didn't get popular until the 80's when Sierra Nevada started using them in copious amounts. Most of the citrusy hops that we associate with American IPA's were developed even later.)

Overall:
This is an old school IPA. When this was created, it was probably edgy -- it borrows a lot from the English style, but has a certain Americanness to it. Today, it seems much closer to an English style than what the American Style has become. Despite the claims of Anchor's website stating that Liberty is unique because it is, "Bunged" (a now common method usually called "bottle fermented"), and uses a "rarely used" process called dry hopping (which is VERY common), I would say that the uniqueness of this beer comes from how uniquely dated the flavor profile is. This is like drinking a snapshot of where the leaders of the American brewing industry were in the mid 70's. Put on some Led Zeppelin, crack open a Liberty, and enjoy how good something British can be once America has influenced it!

Grade: B-

Barrel Man says,
"at least I don't have
to talk about Fritz 
anymore."

(This Bottle Purchased at Whole Foods, Kahala Mall)

Coronado Brewing Co. -- Islander IPA

 

Coronado Brewing Co's Islander IPA, "sweeps the senses with its intense hop bitterness, complex flavors and aromas." 

7% ABV and a healthy dose of IBU's

Review: 

Appearance: Hazy copper color with a 3/4 inch head that quickly disappears. The haze may indicate a high level of dry hopping. 

Aroma: Citrus hop! Slight DMS smell.

Taste: Nice BIG hop attack. Sweet, lemon/grapefruit, and orange flavor hops are all present and accounted for. The hops are a little sour late in the taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation. Medium body.

Finish: Hoppy.

(Side note: Coronado also makes an 8.5% IPA that is called Idiot IPA.)

Overall:
In true San Diego style, this beer immediately hits you with big hop flavors... and then keeps coming with more and more hops. The hops were so intense that I could barely perceive any malt flavor at all -- it was as if they were just there for color and body. This is a hop lover's beer!

Grade: A

Barrel Man says: 
"Three cheers for
San Diego!"

(This bottle purchased at Liquor Collection)

Maui Brewing Co -- Flyin' HI. P. Hay

 

Maui Brewing Company's, Flyin' HI. P. Hay, is an IPA that was brewed in the memory of Glen Hay Falconer, a beer brewer who was close to the guys at Maui. Proceeds will be donated to the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation to provide scholarships to Homebrewers and Brewers who wish to further their knowledge and experience.

6.8% ABV and 68 IBU's

I am happy to report on this new beer from Maui Brewing. It seems that in Hawai'i, brewers put out less seasonal or special brews than on the mainland, so I've been eagerly awaiting this beer since I first heard it mentioned. 

Review:

Appearance- Take a look at the above picture. That is what I would label as a classic IPA color. (They are probably using some Crystal 40L in there.) The head pours to one half inch and the beer is crystal clear.

Aroma: Interestingly, this beer seems to have a very similar nose to the Maui Bikini Blonde. I think that they put Munich Malts in both, which might be what I am picking up on. There is a surprising lack of hop aroma here. Unlike Big Swell, that was dry hopped extensively, this beer may not have had any dry hop at all.

Taste: There are the hops! Thank goodness! West coast hops abound and grapefruit and grass dominate. Without a doubt, the malts take a back seat in this one. This is a very nice IPA. The mouthfeel influences the way the flavor is perceived... see below.

Mouthfeel: Full and creamy. Almost like a dry stout in a lot of ways. I am surprised at how this balances the American hops. Most beers are balanced between hops and malts. This beer is balanced between hops and the creaminess of the carbonation. As there is no widget, I suspect that this beer may have been brewed with an English or Irish yeast, which could explain this phenomena. The only other explanation is that Maui went BIG on the Dextrin malts.

(Side Note: This IPA is brewed with a hop mix  called Falconers Flight, which includes both common IPA hops and some experimental hops. )

Overall:

I am a sucker for new beers. I always feel that I HAVE to try them. Sometimes this leads to buyers remorse. Not this time. This beer is a wonderful and playful example of an American IPA. I've read reviews that said this is English style, but that's  bunk. Despite its lack of dry hopped aroma, this is as American as Chinook Hops... Or maybe this is the newest style of IPA -- The Hawaiian style IPA.

Grade: A

 Barrel Man says,

"Here's to you, Hay."

(This Beer Purchased at Liquor Collection)

Buffalo Bill's Brewing Co. -- Alimony Ale (IPA)

Buffalo Bill's Brewing Co.'s Alimony Ale used to be called, "the bitterest brew in America." It now carries the tag line: "irreconcilably different!" 

 It is 6.8% ABV and has 70 IBU's.

Review:
This beer pours a proud copper color, has low carbonation, little head, and has very little aroma.  There is not much flavor except the bittering... this bittering seems to come from a high alpha acid hop-- maybe Columbus or possibly Cluster. The body of this beer is very light-- almost watery thin.

(Side Note: This might be a good beer to convert ESB drinkers into IPA drinkers.  )

Overall Impression:
Whenever rating hoppy beers shipped from the mainland, I always wonder how different they would taste if they were fresh... this beer might be the exception to that rule. According to the brewery's website, this recipe has been around since 1987... a time where hoppy beers were a rarity. It stands to reason that these forerunners of our modern day hop-monsters would have been lighter in flavor and bitterness. Combining that reasoning with the fact that the latest release of this beer was February 2nd, I believe I tasted a fresh and fairly true to form bottle. So, while I am grateful that Buffalo Bill's helped start the Brewpub movement, and that they marketed this IPA at a time where few brewers were making boldly hopped beer, I am sad to say that this beer has passed its time.

Grade: C-
  
Barrel Man says,

"Give it a break...
It's very sessionable."

(This bottle was purchased at Whole Foods)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. -- Torpedo Extra IPA

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s Torpedo Extra IPA, is a "big American IPA; bold, assertive, and full of flavor highlighting the complex citrus, pine, and herbal character of whole-cone American hops.."

 7.2% ABV and 65 IBU's

Review:

The aroma of citrusy (cascade-ish and magnum-ish) hops burst out of the bottle neck the instant the crown is pried. After pouring into a pint glass and letting the beer breathe, the malty backbone becomes discernible. Aromas of crystal and pilsner/two-row barley dominate. The color is reddish copper and crystal clear. The rocky and light cream colored head stands about a half inch tall and is slow to dissipate. Concerning mouthfeel, this beer is medium to full bodied and the carbonation level is appropriate. Flavors of citrus, grass, earth, and malt are all present, giving the sensation of a well balanced beer despite the obvious hop-centric branding. 

(Side Note: I am thankful to all of my fellow beer drinkers for rejecting the really lame English style IPA that Sierra Nevada put out a few years ago. Because of our discerning tastes, we now have this delicious year round release to enjoy! Cheers to all of us!)

Overall Impression: 

This is a great IPA. As a reference point, in comparison with Big Swell IPA from Maui Brewing, this beer is more full bodied, earthier, maltier, and has more aroma. That is not to detract from Big Swell-- I love both beers. From now on, it's Big Swell at the beach, and Torpedo at night on the couch. 

Grade: A

Barrel Man Says,

"an oaked version would

be amazing."

(bottle purchased at Liquor Collection)

Mad River Brewing Co. -- Jamaica Brand Sunset IPA

 

Mad River Brewing Co.'s Jamaica Brand Sunset IPA is, "a rich light copper India Pale Ale that features the finest spicy floral dry hopped character with a clean crisp finish."

 7.0% ABV

Review:

Sometimes a label can keep me from purchasing beers that I would otherwise probably try. This label is one example. I finally did pull the trigger and this is what I found:

This ale pours a light copper/orange color and is quite clear. The head is light and fleeting, while the carbonation level is similar to soda. The aroma is a mixture of hoppy citrus and lightly kilned malts. The body is light and the flavor is slightly sweet with notes of orange. Finally, Sunset IPA finishes peppery, citrusy, and dry.

(Side Note: Because this ale has hop bitterness and aroma, but not much hop flavor, I believe that the hop additions were focused in the beginning of the boil and the dry hopping--and probably included Amarillo hops.)

Overall Impression: 

I'm glad that I got over my hangup about the label on this beer. I found it to be very drinkable, but still quite flavorful. Where other IPAs on the market may seem too thick and heavy for a hot day in Hawai'i, this beer, with its light body and crisp finish will be one that I reach for when I need refreshment.

Grade: A

Barrel Man Says,

"Unlike any other IPA."

(bottle purchased at Liquor Collection)

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

Are you ready to rumble? This ale sure is! Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s "Hoptimum" is a monster beer made with only whole cone hops-- some of which are experimental, and as yet, unnamed.

 Definitely a Heavyweight contender with a 10.4% ABV 

Ready to smack you in the mouth with an uppercut of 100 IBUs

It is released in limited quantities and is just hitting the market.

Review:
Are you a Hophead? If you said no, or you don't know what that is, than this is not the beer for you. Just move on. Seriously. Go find something else to do.

For the rest of you, well, you will probably like this beer. The aroma is of grapefruit/citrus peels with a slight earthy nose. The earthiness probably is a result of the chinook hops used in the Torpedo and the citrus is certainly from the Citra and Simcoe, but there is another wild card hop in there for dry hopping. The golden orange color has a slight rustiness, but remains  crystal clear and truly beautiful. The head is minimal (not uncommon for a beer of this strength) but long lasting and leaves a nice lace. Taste wise, it is certainly dominated by the hop character. It is citrusy at all levels but I can still taste the Chinook (think SN celebration) which I really enjoy. There is certainly a warming feel as you sip the beer, but for something of this strength, it is very smooth... (and dare I use the "b" word? aaaahh!)...balanced. No, not balanced to where the malt flavors equal the hop flavors-- just balanced enough to say "That's a nice beer!" instead of, "that's a pretty astringent hop tea!"


(Side Note: For the home brewers out there-- check out the malt bill. That is how it is done! American 2-row Pale malts for the base alcohol, Scottish Golden Promise for alcohol and a slight sweetness, Munich for the malty character--balancing the citrus hops-- and wheat to add a touch of mouthfeel/smoothness and adding to the head retention and lacing.)

Overall Impression:
If you read this far, you are a hophead...
You will like this beer.

Grade: A

(bottle purchased at Whole Foods.)

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Mahalo to my Ohana for the new gear!

 Love you guys!

Samuel Adams, Lattitude 48 IPA

Samuel Adams' "Lattitude 48 IPA" is a unique IPA brewed with a select blend of hops from top German, English, and American growing regions all located close to the 48th latitude within the "hop belt" of the Northern Hemisphere."

 6.0% ABV and IBU's...unknown

Review:
Well, as per their usual, Sam Adams has made yet another beer designed to be "balanced." To be fair to them, balanced beers do go down smooth (see "drinkability") and do not take away from the foods you might be eating at the same time. The problem I have is with beers that are too balanced. These beers pair with food specifically because they have no strong flavors! As such, trying to remember the flavor profile after finishing the beer is next to impossible. All you remember is that you were holding a beer and that now it is gone. But I digress.
Referring to my tasting notes I remember that this bottle opened without the inspiring "psst" sound. Not surprisingly, there was a very low carbonation level. This low carbonation level may have contributed to how I tasted the hop character. In any case, the taste started fairly sweet, with caramel, cherry, and honey notes, but finished with a mild, earthy-sour hop character that I wrote, "sits languidly on the tongue." There were some "citrusy", and "gritty" hop aspects also, but not overwhelmingly so.

(Side Note: The original  Samuel Adams brewery was not the profitable giant (largest American-owned brewery) of today. Another interesting note is that the "Boston Lager" produced today is actually based on a recipe developed in St. Louis, Missouri.)

Overall Impression:
An interesting beer that defies the normal BJCP guidelines. Hoppy for an English IPA, drab for an American IPA, this beer falls smack in the middle.  Because of this, there is no fair way to judge the beer's flavor except by personal preference. Although it was a very professionally brewed beer, without any major flaws, I thought the honey malt and caramel malt levels to be too high for my taste. In other words, too sweet for an IPA.

Grade: B-

(bottle purchased at The Liquor Collection)

Mikkeller, Simcoe Single Hop IPA

Mikkeller's "Simcoe Single Hop IPA" is, "the first in a new series of single hop IPA's from Mikkeller." 

This beer rumbles up at 6.9%ABV and (a solid #!) IBU's.

Review:
This is not the first "simcoe single hop IPA" I've tasted. I believe that Bison Brewing Co. made one a year or two ago.  A home brewer I know also made a delicious example. Based on these two previous experiences, I was very excited to try this new beer.
The head was light, but acceptable and the aroma was very nice. In my experience, the Simcoe hop can lend a couple of characteristics to a beer depending on how it is used. The aroma can be "Piney or Woodsey" but can also smell like passion fruit. This beer definitely had more woodsey/citrusy notes in the nose. The flavor is a bit bready, but the balance leans toward bitterness with a stout amount of hopping. If  Mikkel or Kristian are visiting Hawaii and reading this blog, guys, tune down the caracrystal malts!

Overall Impression: A nice example of an American IPA. It is fun to taste the full expression of a hop and see what it has to offer. (If cloudiness bothers you, well, see the photo above.) However, I still think that it is a nice beer to sit, sip, and think about.

Grade:B+

(Bottle purchased at The Liquor Collection)

Maui Brewing Co., Big Swell IPA

 

Maui Brewing Co.'s "Big Swell IPA"  is a "Handcrafted India Pale Ale brewed with four different kinds of Northwestern hops and malted barley... dry-hopped to perfection." 

This baby sports a 6.2%ABV and 65 IBU's.

Review:
The can cracks open... immediately I smell quite a bouquet of citrusy hops.  Niiiiiccce! This is very obviously an American IPA. Holding the glass up to the light, it is a pale golden color. The picture above makes it look darker than it is in reality. The first flavors you taste after the first sip are sweet and malty, but these are paired with a nice grain texture that makes it obvious to you that this was made from an unrefined ingredient, and not some B.S. corn sugar adjunct. The body is nice, at a level that reminds you you're drinking something thicker than water, but not too thick. The flavor progression goes from sweet to sour to earthy/husky, to hoppy... then the hops just linger.

(Side note: Similar to Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale, the hops in this beer include "Chinook" hops, which are noted for their rustic taste and sharp bittering quality. I love this hop, but it isn't for everyone.)

Overall Impression:
This is a great example of an American IPA. The care taken to ensure balance, texture, body, flavor, and aroma is obvious. This beer is so tasty, and has so many enjoyable "beery" flavors, that unless you simply don't like IPA's, you have to say this is pretty good.  When a company goes the extra mile and puts this much hops into  dry hopping just to get the proper aroma, you know that they aren't being stingy with their beer.

Grade:  A

This beer purchased at The Liquor Collection