Beer In Review - Marching On

While I've always been a fan of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, I really haven't had a chance to sample their other wares. It's been an availability issue. But that's changed. I finally got to try their Porter and it lives up to the brand.

A glass treats you to an ample quantity of rich, brown, long lasting head that floats on top of a dark brown body. Very little light gets through the pint glass, what little does reveals a faint ruby hue. There's a slight, roasted malt bouquet. Chocolate and roasted malt dance with your tongue. Caramel tones tap your taste buds, hoping to cut in. A tingle of hops arrives just before the savory finish. 5.6 ABV

The website informs us that they used Goldings hops for bittering with Williamette used for flavoring. I find this surprising. Normally the reverse is how I've seen it done. Not that you can't. I mean, I've done it with my homebrews. It's just that you don't normally see it done that way. Kent Golding is typically mellow on the alpha acids while Williamette is stronger.

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Next up is the Storm King Stout from Victory Brewing. This is an Imperial Stout, clocking in at a hefty 9.1% ABV. They brew it in Downintown, Pennsylvania, which is a couple dozen miles west of Philly.

This dark brown elixir is nearly black as it flies out of the bottle. The color even seeps into the head, forewarning the imbiber that a potent concoction is on the way. No light gets through the pint glass at all. And if you're brave enough to drink it, it sticks with you the whole way down. Pacific Northwest hops provide the initial tingle on your tongue which yields to a rich, complex malt character that warms your spirit like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day.

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We'll take a break from all of the scary dark beers for something lighter: Berry Weiss from Leinenkugel Brewery. Over the summer, I went to an Iron Maiden concert down in New Jersey. The amphitheater served Leinenkugel, which I'd never heard of. I had their Sunset Wheat which was really nice to have on a summer day. Back home, I spotted the Berry Weiss and picked some up.

There's ample white head on the pour. As this is a wheat beer, there's a bit of haze to the amber (you could call it peach) body. There's no denying that this is a fruity beer. The website says that there's a mix of blackberries, elderberries and loganberries (I've never heard of the latter and elderberries always reminds me of Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail). It's a very sweet berry beer but it didn't overwhelm me. I can't say that everyone that tries it will feel the same. The beer had a very lambic mouthfeel to it so if you're into lambics this would be a good beer for you. 4.7% ABV.

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And now, back to the dark stuff. North Coast Brewing provides us with the Old #38 Stout. Named after a retired steam engine, this beer has all the charm of an old locomotive. A light brown head rides atop a dark brown body. It's opaque, like the finish, but instead of burning coal (fortunately) we get a faint, roasted malt aroma. It's smooth with alternating bits of chocolate and cappuccino notes. There's a hint of hops and a nice smooth finish, like your riding the rails. 5.5% ABV.

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Finally, we have the Steelhead Scotch Porter from Mad River Brewing. "Steelhead" is the name given to ocean bound rainbow trout. Just as this species of trout goes by two different names, this beer has two different styles blended together. They took elements of scotch ales and blended them with a traditional porter. The result is an intriguing mix of both styles.

This beer has an ample brown head and a dark brown body. It's quite dark. No light gets through the pint glass. There's a faint roasted malt aroma. When you drink it, bits of chocolate and roasted malts dominate but give way to the Scotch ale character. Since it shares your tastebuds with the porter elements, it doesn't get a chance to be too sweet. The addition of German Rauch malts lends a bit of smoky character to it as well. Hops are mild as the malt profile of both styles is what identifies this beer. 6.7% ABV.

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