Thursday, October 26, 2006
10/21/06 Winter Beers Round 3
I know there have been a lot of newsletters but it is that time of year. I figured you would rather have a few more normal sized newsletters than a few GIANT ones.
Cheers
Matt
*** Winter Beers ROUND 3 ***
North Coast “Brother Thelonious”
This brew is a fundraiser for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. This 9% beauty is very good Belgian Abbey style ale and is burgundy in color with a tint of brown. Its aroma is caramel with plum and raisin tone. The flavor is a bit sweet with bready, malty character up front. It then moves into a big dark fruit with a touch of spice. The 9% is hidden well and finished dry with a light bitter, vinous quality. I plan to put some of this down as I think it has some tremendous ageing potential.
Pyramid “Snow Cap”
This has always been one of those seasonal beers that I really look forward to. The balance between the roasty malt and the east Kent Golding hops is superb. Its 7% is respectable but not so high that you couldn’t have a few. All in all a great NW winter ale.
Great Divide “Hibernation Ale”
This “Old Ale” is brewed in July and aged until October. This gives it a deep malty smooth character with big roasty tones and a well-developed and complex hop presence due to the aging and subsequent dry hopping.
Baladin “Noel”
Noel is an ale with an incredible complexity of aromas: flowery of rose, hint of dried fruits, caramel tasting, banana, cherry, plum, toffee, cocoa, licorice and peppery notes. Excellent with black chocolate, a glass of Noel is perfect for a special night.
*** Back In Stock ***
Baladin “Super”
This Belgain Triple style ale pours dark amber colored beer with good clarity. Its aroma is of warm flowers, apricot, banana and bitter almonds. Similar flavors of apricot, almond cake, citrus fruits, and rich malt come through strongly with a dry, tangy finish.
Baladin “Nora”
This special brew has been concocted from an ancient Egyptian recipe. Unmalted kamut, ginger, myrrh, and orange peel are used to represent the balancing spices of ancient times. The myrrh provides the bittering that allows Teo to mostly forgo the use of hops. The aroma has notes of violets, roses, cyclamen and citrus fruits. Full-bodied with an intense taste in which citrus aroma contrasts pleasantly the balsamic (mentholated) overtone. It finishes with tones of bitter resins.
Baladin “Wayan”
Wayan is made of 17 different ingredients, barley, wheat, spelt, oats, rye, different types of hops & many different spices besides coriander. The balance & bitterness is by a high degree provided by those many spices some of which are very very unusual in brewing. This quite unusual combination of spices & herbs greatly impacts the finish, which again is very different from “regular saison-style ales”.
Cheers
Matt
*** Winter Beers ROUND 3 ***
North Coast “Brother Thelonious”
This brew is a fundraiser for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. This 9% beauty is very good Belgian Abbey style ale and is burgundy in color with a tint of brown. Its aroma is caramel with plum and raisin tone. The flavor is a bit sweet with bready, malty character up front. It then moves into a big dark fruit with a touch of spice. The 9% is hidden well and finished dry with a light bitter, vinous quality. I plan to put some of this down as I think it has some tremendous ageing potential.
Pyramid “Snow Cap”
This has always been one of those seasonal beers that I really look forward to. The balance between the roasty malt and the east Kent Golding hops is superb. Its 7% is respectable but not so high that you couldn’t have a few. All in all a great NW winter ale.
Great Divide “Hibernation Ale”
This “Old Ale” is brewed in July and aged until October. This gives it a deep malty smooth character with big roasty tones and a well-developed and complex hop presence due to the aging and subsequent dry hopping.
Baladin “Noel”
Noel is an ale with an incredible complexity of aromas: flowery of rose, hint of dried fruits, caramel tasting, banana, cherry, plum, toffee, cocoa, licorice and peppery notes. Excellent with black chocolate, a glass of Noel is perfect for a special night.
*** Back In Stock ***
Baladin “Super”
This Belgain Triple style ale pours dark amber colored beer with good clarity. Its aroma is of warm flowers, apricot, banana and bitter almonds. Similar flavors of apricot, almond cake, citrus fruits, and rich malt come through strongly with a dry, tangy finish.
Baladin “Nora”
This special brew has been concocted from an ancient Egyptian recipe. Unmalted kamut, ginger, myrrh, and orange peel are used to represent the balancing spices of ancient times. The myrrh provides the bittering that allows Teo to mostly forgo the use of hops. The aroma has notes of violets, roses, cyclamen and citrus fruits. Full-bodied with an intense taste in which citrus aroma contrasts pleasantly the balsamic (mentholated) overtone. It finishes with tones of bitter resins.
Baladin “Wayan”
Wayan is made of 17 different ingredients, barley, wheat, spelt, oats, rye, different types of hops & many different spices besides coriander. The balance & bitterness is by a high degree provided by those many spices some of which are very very unusual in brewing. This quite unusual combination of spices & herbs greatly impacts the finish, which again is very different from “regular saison-style ales”.
