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As Seen In |
Decibels of Beers BY Bruce L Brode (Published in the Febrewary 1997 Brews and News)
The annual Holiday Beer Tasting at the Stuffed Sandwich on December 14 was an uproarious success. In fact, my hearing is still recovering from the din of happy Falcons registering their opinions on the plethora of interesting brews presented. Proof no doubt that beer is among the finest lubricants for the larynx, and that this is always a fun event where one can easily get filled with the holiday spirit. Sam and Marlene Samaniego, the proprietors of this fine establishment, are always well prepared, and particularly so this year as they chose all the beers and handed out a note-taking sheet on them. Thus, my tasting notes will include more than the usual casual and anonymous comments, culled from those I managed to salvage after the event, and edited for space limitatons and "entertainment value." Consensus was noticeably absent on occasion. Pyramid Snowcap Ale: Hoppy nose, oxidation, malt. Fruity, raisin-like aroma. Dark red-amber color. Dry, chocolatey malt flavor and body, pasty-dusty character. Rich, a bit unbalanced. "Bad aftertaste!" "So-so." "Finish very good." "Not quite chuggable." "Very hoppy." Saxer's Jack Frost Winter Doppelbock: Malty aroma, a bit German-like. Deep honey-amber color. Tangy, malty flavor, some fusel oils. Decent balance. Admirable effort, well received. "Outstanding." "MMM." "All-around good beer, a big surprise from Saxer." "Reminds me of a barleywine, but this is a lager, well balanced." "Good, but a little too bitter for my taste." "Similar to the Rhino Chaser, more hop." Wild Boar Black Forest Cherry Wheat: Strong black cherry aroma. Deep red "cherry" color. Flavor starts cherry, winds up astringent grain and malt. "Like thin cough syrup." Some phenolic and oxidized character. "Yes." "Might I suggest a Luden's cough drop." "Sweet, not too cherry flavor, good malt/wheat coming through." "Shasta black cherry with alcohol." "I like it!" "Not good." Anderson Valley's Winter Solstice Ale 1996: Dry spice aroma: powdery, hops, spruce? Orange color with lots of chill haze. Spicy break to the flavor: Coriander? Allspice? Would be even more interesting mulled. 1993 version also tasted: has sherried nose, same murkiness, spices hit later on the palate, seems maltier. "Let this age, the 93 kicks the sh*t out of the 96." "Throw it in an apple pie, a pumpkin pie would be a better idea with the '93." "Better balance of spices/orange in the '93." "Very good again, spices are there, malty too." "A little too cinnamony." "Too much cinnamon." Thames Festive Ale 1993: Fruity, estery, sherry aroma. Caramelmalt. Hazy dark orange color. Rich, salty, tangy malt flavor punctuated by hop bitterness. Complex and irrepressible! Unfocused, intense. "I think my Uncle Dick once fought in a war against these blokes." "Incredible mineral break. Brian doesn't like it, it must be good." "I get a spritzy feel on the tongue." "Didn't we kick the Brits' a**es in a war?" "Too much of an aftertaste." North Coast Wintertime Ale: Complex fruity, spicy, malty, roasty, yeasty, strange aroma. Deep brown-red color. Malty, soapy, strange flavor. Rich but pretty weird. "No comment." "Soapy backwash kills it for me." "Nothing special." "I don't drink trees!" "Slight bitterness." Left Hand XXXmas Ale: Chocolate, faint spices, spruce? Interesting aroma. Red-brown color, clear. Spicy rich break with lots of malt behind. Peppery? Rich and enigmatic. "Wow that was bad! Very bad!!!" "Tastes like mildew." "Very spicy, finishes nicely, well balanced." "Very good, spiced, not too overpowering." "No distinctive flavor." Sam's Surprise #1: Very aged nose, smokiness? Alcohol? Deep brown color. Malty but dry flavor, tangy, licorice-like. Reminds me of Old Peculiar, nice Old Ale. Identity: Young's Winter Ale 1988. "Pretty good for the age." "Very good!" Anchor "Our Special Ale" 1995, draught: Big spice aroma, rich and complex. Very dark brown opaque color. Licorice-like break of spices, malt, hop bitter, well-fused yet complex. Very rich. Spruce? Dry finish. "Eminently drinkable." "Spices are mellowing, still not my favorite beer." "Good." Sam's Surprise #2: Fruity, yeasty, hoppy aroma. Hazy gold-orange color. Big hop palate flavor, fruitiness, but finishes fairly clean. Pretty bitter. IPA, my guess is Blue Heron Pale Ale. Identity: Lagunitas IPA from Petaluma, CA. "Extremely rough Mt. Hood hops." "Good, real hoppy." "Boo!" Stille Nacht: Prickly vinegar-like aroma. Banana ester. Gold color with hints of orange. Big lasting head. Sweet flavor, gassy, more of that "prickly vinegar" character. A true weird Belgian. Roughly in the Triple style. Grapefruit? "Put de lime in de coconut and give an enema with it." "Weird Belgians!" "Good stuff." "Pineapple flavor?" Sam's Stash, Anchor 1992 "Our Special Ale" poured from a champagne magnum bottle: Lotsa spice in aroma, some sherry. Deep orange-red color. Tangy, licorice-like complex character to the flavor, pretty dry finish. A classic rich spiced ale. "Very good malt."
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