Day 220 - White Hawk

Tonight, I am a hoppy camper... Ok, this is at least the 3rd from this brewer, and the 2nd was just 2 nights ago, but I first grabbed a vanilla-coffee porter, and just didn't feel up to that tonight.

The pour looking like a golden sunset, and the aroma whispering to my nose of a dry, citrus goodness. Darn tasty this one is, though just shy of bouncing my favorite palie from it's position, as it does tug on the tonsils on the way down a bit.

Specs:

Full Name: White Hawk Select IPA
Brewed By: Mendocino Brewing Co
From: Sarasota Springs NY
ABV: 7%

Interestingly, at least to me, that this one must be brewed under contract in NY, since the main brewery is in CA (as previously reported...). Regardless, it is a worthy beer, and hum, Sarasota NY is a lot closer than CA, so maybe, I can make it up there sometime to really get to the bottom of this.Alas, I have already reached that stage with this bottle. So until tomorrow...

Day 219 - Bells Pale Ale

Another long weekend, come and gone, but it ends on a nice hoppy note...

This one poured particularly light yellow for a pale ale, so was cranking down the expectations when I took that first sip. Hum, I like it when I am wrong. Not quite the full on action, but a nice hops flavor with decent finish.

Specs:

Full Name: Bell's Pale Ale
Brewed By: Bell's Brewery Inc
From: Comstock MI
ABV: 5.2%


Well, all caught up on the blogs again, after drinking the beer but running out of steam to write the last 2 nights as we left early and got back late both nights.

Day 218 - Blue Heron

Back on track tonight, after stopping to refill the pipeline on the way home from dinner. I picked up another dozen, but it is getting harder, and will probably need to print out a list.

A decent light orange hue and the Pavlov dog in me was salivating, but the strong malt undertone keeps this one only in the above average category. A full flavored beer, so definitely beats masspros, and goes down easily enough, so drink up if you see one.

Specs:

Full Name: Blue Heron Pale Ale
Brewed By: Mendicino Brewing Co
From: Ukiah CA
ABV: 6.1%

Another good beer from this brewer, but doesn't quite pull strong enough for a pilgrimage yet. My son drives out to Tucson AZ and back in a week, but do you think he stops along the way to pick up some pipeline for his dad. no.....

Day 217 - Stegmaier Porter

So last time I had a Stegmaier was summer of 1983, when Tom Wulf found it at the local Safeway for $1/6-pack and I was stupid (and poor...) enough to buy a case. I think I still have a few left around here somewhere...

Well over at the Proc's and what to do have that's new, yep, a Stegmaier Porter. Amazingly, I drank the whole thing, and survived.


Specs:

Full name: Stegmaier Porter
Brewed By: Stegmaier Brewing Co
From: Wilkes Barre PA
ABV: 5.4%

So, not sure if the original brewery is still in operation, and I actually think this particular beer was rahter old, as it doesn't look anything like the label on a bottle on the internet.

Gotta like good friends...

Day 216 - Oktober fest

You know, it is hard to get into the spirit of Fall, when it is 90+ degrees outside, and maybe I'm pushing it a bit by having this beer a wee early, but then, given it was my only option.......

It has the right golden color, and a taste that does remind me of those days of jumping into leaf piles so carefully raked up. Thus, dry with just a hint of malt for body. All in all, an easy to drink beer, and if at a bar, I would probably order a second.

Specs:

full name: Oktober fest
Brewed By: Brooklyn Brewery
From: ithica NY
ABV: 5.5%


This is at least the 3rd from this brewer, and another decent beer. Not sure if enough to want to move there, but definitely might go out of my way to stop there if in the neighborhood.

The start of a long weekend, what wil I drink tomorrow night... ;>)

Day 215 - Elephant

Ok - green bottle, European export, "premium" on the label, what sort of expectations should we have here.....

Sadly, this one easily meets those... the classic bitter, no flavor beer that us Americans buy thinking we are cool.

Specs:

Full Name: Elephant Premium Beer
Brewed By: Carlsberg
From: Denmark
ABV: 7.2%

So, brewed under the Authority of the Royal Danish Court would be grounds for an revolt in my humble o. The only really redeeming value here is the decent ABV and the fact the bottle is narrow, so easy to hold onto, though also then begs for the pinky to lift slightly..... Seriously, next to fruited beers, this has to be my least favorite genre, but I will keep searching.

Day 214 - BBC American Pale Ale

Hops, glorious, bitter hops, and a new brewer/state. So tasty after walking the dog on a hot night...

Hopes went up when I saw the hint of orange hue, though it was a tad more towards brown. A definite strong hops hit, though with a heavy underline of maltiness. The taste of this one lingers in the mouth, perhaps longer than I really prefer. To me a really good beer finishes clean, so the taste buds are clamoring for more right away. This is not a chugging beer...

Specs:

Full Name: BBC American Pale Ale

Brewed By: Bluegrass Brewing Co

From: Louisville KY

ABV: ? (not on bottle or website)

Always good to find a decent new beer. This one is a little rough at the end to threaten my favorites, but is a welcome relief after the previous few. If you want full flavor, this one is up there. I may look for a few others from this brewer, to compare at some point.