September 21st, 2010 beckel
Now we have an even more exciting brew from Dogfish Head their Red & White. A Witbier brewed with coriander, orange peel and Pinot Noir juice with 11% aged in Pinot Noir barrels and the rest aged on oak barrel staves. At 10% ABV this one is sure to be a sipper.
Pours an attractive amber hue that is quite translucent with little specks of sediment floating about. About three fingers of crisp white head are produced and fades within a few minutes leaving a very small amount of lacing and about a millimeter of residual bubbles. Smells assertively of Pinot Noir grapes, cherry, oak, enjoyable sweetness, modest bitterness, a variety of other fruit & citrus esters, particularly orange, light alcohol and something that reminds me somewhat of bubblegum. Flavor is very interesting and complex. A great variety of fruit esters, particularly dark pitted fruits, fermented grapes and oranges, molasses, gentle alcohol and herbal esters. Body is surprisingly light and the mouthfeel is quite carbonated and slightly slick. As it is allowed to warm the coriander is easily identified on the nose and more clear in the flavor even though I barely noticed it when colder. Additionally more furit esters also come out including plum, pomegranate and even blueberry. Considering it’s massive flavor profile it is no real surprise that the alcohol is not overtly obvious but is none the less impressive. Over all a quite delicious and impressive brew that most will enjoy and would also work as an in between beer for wine connoisseurs. Absolutely worth sampling if you have the chance and a good example of what joys experimentation can leave us with. Give it a shot and ride your bike.
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August 23rd, 2010 beckel
While in Wisconsin for The Great Taste of the Midwest I couldn’t help but bring back a variety of brews that are unavailable in my fine state of Minnesota. So I figure I’ll start out with something simple, but fantastic. I stumbled upon this ale while at Three Floyds Brewing in Munster, Indiana for Dark Lord Day earlier this year and was ever so glad to have made it my first beer of the afternoon. Gumball Head is a wonderfully hopped American Wheat Ale that is brewed with red wheat and Amarillo hops.
Pours a pale apricot hue with just over a finger of white head that fades with in a minute or two. Fantastic notes of grapefruit, bright lemon, and other citrus play with gentle earthiness and smooth bitterness in the aroma. Clean flavors of wheat are complimented by zesty orange, grapefruit, lemon and a nice soft bitterness creating one fantastic brew. If you enjoy the use of wheat and a nice dose of hops you are sure to enjoy this refreshing ale. While very different from classical European wheat beers and even quite different from most American Wheat beers this ale is a welcome change in my opinion and in fact exactly what I have been looking for for some time. Assertively hoppy enough to make a hop head smile, but balanced enough to make some not realize exactly what they are experiencing. Body is on the light side and the mouthfeel is quite smooth making this a perfect summer drinker. At 5.5% you can easily enjoy a 6-pack throughout the day with no regrets. Unquestionably the most brilliantly hopped wheat beer I have ever consumed. If you are lucky enough to have this beer in your local liquor store you really have no excuse not to consume it regularly, and ship me some while your at it. Give it a shot and ride you bike.
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January 11th, 2009 beckel
Thus far I have enjoyed everything I have had the opportunity to try from Breckenridge Brewery. So upon seeing a bottle of their summer ale in a bargain bin at hennipen lake I couldn’t help but pick it up. Though completely out of season I’m sure this will be a tasty and refreshing wheat beer and a much more proper drink for this time of day compared to the rest of the beer in my fridge with a 4.5% ABV. This ale pours a golden straw color with some light copper hues and is completely translucent. Head is about two fingers but fades very rapidly and is white in color. Aroma is of crisp light malts and a nice tiny bit of wheat. Tastes of pale malts with a nice bit of lemon like citrus. Body is light and mouthfeel is smooth but a bit more full that most light beers. Though this ale has some wheat flavors it doesn’t really strike me as a wheat ale, closer to a pilsner but a bit more hearty than most. Definitely a summer ale that would be refreshing and easy to drink on a hot day. If you are a fan of pale malts and citrus this is a good choice for you. Give it a shot and ride your bike.
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