Day #48 – Shiner 102 Double Wheat

Shiner, TX.  This is the place that all “foreigners” (non-Texans) think of when they think of Texas beer.  This is for a very good reason too.  Spoetzl Brewery (Gambrinus Company) has been around since 1909, and is the oldest brewery in Texas.  It was founded by Kosmos Spoetzl, a German immigrant to our country and he brought along with him the Bavarian brewing traditions.  The brewery stayed alive during prohibition by selling ice and making “near beer” (a very low alcohol beverage).   Today their Shiner Bock is the most widely distributed and recognized Texas beer in the US.  I will get around to that particular beer eventually, but today I am focusing on one of their limited releases.

In 2005, Shiner began a commemorative series leading up to their 100th anniversary.  They would release 1 new beer a year under the label of that year’s numerical number.  (ie 2005 was Shiner 96 and so on.)  In 2009 they released their Shiner 100 which was a doppelbock beer, and was quite tasty by the way.  I doubt I will ever see that beer again so don’t get your hopes up on seeing it on this blog.  They did however, continue the series after that with a 101 and now…a 102.

Shiner 102 Double Wheat

The 102 anniversary beer is classified as a Wheat Ale and was brewed with light Bavarian hops.

This beer pours a clear golden color with a fizzy white head that dissipates fairly quickly.

The aroma has a nice wheaty aroma to it and also has a light touch of hops and a gentle citrus sweetness.

The flavor is also a wheaty sweetness that has another touch of citrus. Actually this is quite enjoyable and finishes with only a touch of bitterness.

You are guaranteed to see the entire Shiner line-up on here at some point.  In fact I may do a week completely devoted to Shiner coming soon.  I like that idea.  Let’s make it happen.

Cheers!

EDIT: I picked up this cool Shiner 102 glass literally a few weeks after my review.  It’s a shame I didn’t get it in time for the beer itself.

Day #47 – Dundee Festive Ale

Day 47.  Still going strong.  Today I am reviewing a beer that was given to me by a friend.  Thanks Mike and Brian!

Dundee Festive Ale

Dundee Festive Ale is brewed by the Dundee Brewing Company.  Well, I say that but I should clarify.  It is released through the Dundee Brewing Company but it is actually brewed at the Genesee Brewery.  This is what is known as a contract brew.  A lot of times brewing companies will contract another brewer to craft their beer for them in exchange for payment.  This often happens when a brewing company does not have a brewing site of it’s own.  In this case the Dundee brand was actually purchased by Genesee but still maintains it’s original label.  They are based out of Rochester, NY and have a fairly wide distribution area.

The festive ale is a spice/herb/vegetable beer, that says it was brewed with nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and orange peel.  It rings in at 6.3%.

On we go….

This beer pours a very crisp and clear bright orange color with a tall, fizzy cream-white head.  The head stands tall for a while before finally retreating to the glass.

The aroma is subdued but pleasant.  It starts off sweet like a sweet bread or grainy characteristic but then the spices are immediately felt as well.  The orange citrus and allspice are what can really be pulled from the aroma; not so much on the cinnamon and nutmeg which is a little surprising.   Usually nutmeg is enough to overpower any beer it is put into.  Perhaps this is a sign of decent balance?

The flavor is spicy-sweet with a big grainy feel and finish with the spices coming into play near the end.  A cinnamon/nutmeg burn can be felt on the swallow, and these flavors are only tasted after the drink is finished.  Fairly easy drinking and not overpowering with just a bit of spicy tingle.

I was expecting much worse but this actually turned out fairly nice.

Cheers!

Day #46 – SKA Pinstripe Red Ale

I’ve got a beer from Colorado today, this time from SKA Brewing.  They are a brewery based out of Durango, CO that is really known for it’s unique label design and skater-esque pictures.

SKA Pinstripe Red Ale

This beer is classified as an Amber Ale, and has been hopped with Liberty hops.  Here we go…

The first thing I notice is that this beer has a sweet-ass label!  Check it out, it’s a skull & crossbones with the skull wearing a bowler hat with a “rose” clutched in it’s jaws, that upon closer inspection is revealed that the rose is actually two hop cones with long stems.  Oh yeah, and the crossbones are actually bowling pins.  How cool is this?

Guess I should actually pour the beer and talk about that too.  The beer pours  a clear amber orange color with a tall, foamy white head.  The head begins to dissipate fairly quickly and leaves some sticky white residue near the edges of the glass.

The aroma is mainly sweet caramel malts, with some sticky earthy grains and a light sense of hops.  Liberty hops aren’t too aggressive so that makes sense that it wouldn’t show up much in the smell.

The flavor is upfront a bit dry and bitter that turns into a grainy, bready sweetness.  There is a slight tingle over the palate.  It also has a bit of a tea-leaf type flavor and smell as it warms up.  The finish however is fairly bitter and not very refreshing.  Cool freaken label though.

Cheers!

Day #45 – Sam Adams Light

Yes I know, another freaken Sam Adams beer.  I tell you, I’ve got a ton of these available to me, and I had a few of them come into my possession without me seeking it out, so I figure as long as I’ve got it and it’s available here, why not review it?  Holy crap I’ve got 320 beers left so I’ll get to some other stuff…..eventually.  For today, another beer from Boston Beer Company.  At least I am adding a new style to my Categories list!

Sam Adams Light

This beer is classified as a Premium Lager, which is basically a pale lager on steroids.  Premium Lagers are typically light and clear with a bit more taste than a pale lager.  They are usually brewed with a bit more actual ingredients and often times do not use adjuncts.  Either way, it’s like dressing a hobo in a tux.  Let’s see how ole’ Boston Beer puts their spin on it.

Right off the bat I can tell you this beer does not appear like any other Premium Lager I’ve seen before.  It is much darker and much more appealing.  The color is a clear copper orange with a foamy white head.  There is lots of carbonation emanating from the base of the glass.

The aroma is light and grainy with a slight bit of sweetness and metal.  I’m not really detecting many, if any hops in this.

The flavor is slightly dry, with big sweet grains over the tongue.  There is a slight tingle, but only a small one.  It finishes with a small bitterness that comes from the dry grains.  Perhaps the light use of hops can create this feeling as well.

Well I can admit this was much better than I was expecting.  If you are a Bud drinker only and are looking for something to slowly get you into something of higher quality, I’d look to this beer.

Cheers!

Day #44 – Real Ale Full Moon Pale Rye Ale

Texas beer today, this time from Real Ale Brewing Company. Real Ale is based out of Blanco, TX and delivers beer all over Texas in bottles and in draught form.  This is one of their more popular ones, an American Pale Ale with a rye base.

Real Ale Full Moon Pale Rye Ale

This beer pours a rustic orange color with a copper like appearance.  There is a foamy white head that lays low after awhile.

The aroma is fairly nice.  It is a mixture of fresh, citrus hops with a heavy base of rye chips.  Seems fairly well balanced.

Flavor is fruity with orange peel and spicy hops.  There is also a bready flavor that fills the palate.  The rye plays a big part in the body and the finish.

An all around decent beer with a nice bit of spiciness from the hops.

Cheers!

Day #43 – Avery White Rascal

Well the vacation is over and I’m back home.  It was a great trip, and I got to try TONS of new beer that I could only get while in San Antonio.  (Obviously I only reviewed a few of them but there was a bit of drinking going on.)  It’s always nice to take a trip to a new region and try the local beers that are available there.  A way to sample the flavor of the area if you will.  So now that I’m back home, it’s back to the old format.  By the way, I ran into a lot of friends this weekend that had nothing but good things to say about this blog.  Thanks for reading and for the compliments!  It’s nice words and encouragement that keep this thing going.

On to the beer…

Avery White Rascal

I believe this is the first beer I’ve reviewed from Avery.  Avery Brewing Company is based out of Boulder, Colorado.  Colorado (especially Denver and Boulder) are very heavy with craft beer and large supporters of the movement.  The Brewers Association which heads up and advocates for the craft beer movement is based in Boulder as well.   They have several things distributed to our area, so expect to see their name pop up more in the future.

White Rascal is classified as a Belgian Witbier and rings in at 5.6% ABV.  It is being poured delectably into my Avery flute glass.

This beer pours a hazy/misty golden color.  There are light wisps of cloudiness in the glass.  I’m assuming this is unfiltered and there are slight remnants of yeast remaining.  It also has a nice foamy head that disappears fairly quickly.

The beer has a fairly pleasant aroma of Belgian yeast, fruity esters of orange peel and banana with some gentle spice of coriander as well.    Come to find out that it is indeed brewed with zest of orange and coriander, so how about that?

The flavor is a bit spicy with the fruitiness sneaking in after with a dry grainy characteristic.  The finish is lightly bitter of bread and citrus acid.  Slightly drying on the finish.

A nice light-bodied beer that has enough zest and flavor to make it interesting.  Seek it out!

Cheers!

Day #42 – Blue Star Smoke Dark Ale

Well it’s my last evening in San Antonio, so I hit up another brewpub this evening for dinner. This place is called Blue Star Brewing Company and is a fairly trendy place. Lots of tattoos and crazy stuff on the walls. Exciting.

Well tonight I am reviewing their smoked beer, which is a new style for my blog. A smoked beer is typically made by taking the Malta and specialty grains and placing them in a smoker for awhile. This almost always imparts a smoky, beefy aroma and flavor. It’s not the greatest style to gulp down at the end of a long day, but it sure pairs well with Texas BBQ!

Blue Star Smoke Dark Ale

This beer pours a dark amber/copper color with a white film of head spread evenly across the top.

Aroma makes itself known right away. I pick up a lot of spicy beef smoke with some peppery elements and a tad bit of dishwater. Not sure what that last aroma is about.

Flavor is immediately a smoked, spicy beef jerky with a dry tingly backbone. It finishes with a fair bit of dryness. Not bad but I would have liked the smokiness to be more thick and tangible. Right now it’s slightly light-bodied, and I want more!!

Cheers!

Day #41 – Ranger Creek La Bestia Aimable

Still in San Antonio and I discovered a new brewery here that has only been open for a few months. Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling began production last year and they currently only have 4 beers available. They do not distribute to north Texas, so I feel very lucky to have ran across this.

Ranger Creek La Bestia Aimable

I had this on tap at the Freetail Brewpub.

Pours a murky dark brown color with orange highlights near the edge. There is a light ring of beige head around the glass.

Aroma is slight bits of chocolate and Belgian yeast and fruit. I expected to pick up the fruity notes but the roasted malt and sweetness was a surprise to me. A good surprise.

Flavor is big Belgian fruit, banana, clove and toasted wood. Slight yeast flavor. Good finish with a large tingle on the tongue.

For this brewery only having been open for a mere few months, they are on the right track to becoming great! Now to find their remaining 3 beers….

Cheers!

Day #40 – Freetail Ate’

This is the first sour ale I’ve reviewed and it is from Freetail Brewing Company out of San Antonio, TX. This is the first time I’ve seen it and as of now it is only available at the pub.

Freetail Ate’

This beer is classified as a sour ale. Sour ales are fermented with a wild strain of yeast, usually giving it a mouth puckering flavor. This is one of those.

Tap at the pub. Pours a fairly clear golden color with very little head.  Aroma is sour fruit with a slight touch of vinegar. Lots of sour notes here.

Flavor is quite tart an puckering sour. Some fruity flavor with a tingle left on the palate. After the initial shock of sour it starts to ease up a bit.

Different from several other sours I’ve had.

Day #39 – Uncle Billys Back 40 Blonde Ale

I’m on a road trip for the next few days to Austin and San Antonio, and I thought that it would be neat to review a few beers that can only be sought out at these locations.  Today I’m at Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que in Austin, TX.

Uncle Billys Back 40 Blonde Ale

Uncle Billy’s is a brewpub, which means they brew their beer right on site.  Some brewpubs can distribute their beer to different cities, but Texas still cannot.  That is until the HB 660 passes in the State Legislature.  To find out more about this bill, check out this blog here.

This beer is classified as a Cream Ale, which means it is usually a light bodied ale, and has some sort of sweet cream used in the brewing process.

The appearance has a slightly cloudy, light yellow appearance with a small white head.  Fairly standard appearance.

The aroma is quite nice, of bananas and citrus fruit. Lots of sweetness on the nose, with some wheat tones and grain.  Very sweet.

Flavor is fruity and dry grains. Finishes with big dry bitterness. Not bad minus the finish.

This is very approachable for a light beer.

Cheers!