Extremely dry copper-clouded Belgian-styled white ale dangles eucalyptus nose and obligatory ginger essence over tart lemon pith, coriander cusp, peppermint coquetry, and cracked wheat backbone. Generous gingerbread frequency and accentual orange-nectarine twang enliven animated sodium carbonation. For experimental tastes or as hangover cure (since ginger settles the stomach).
Monthly Archives: January 2009
(FREEMINER) TRAFALGAR INDIA PALE ALE
Glowing butterscotch-hazed dry-hopped bottle-conditioned ale retains piney orange-peeled bitterness, lively boysenberry-elderberry-juniper sharpness, perfume-hopped white-peppered eucalyptus-rosebud-dandelion twinge for soft-watered luxury. Prune and fig notes nearly lost amongst phenol flow; tiny brown-beige sediment coats glass bottom.
(FREEMINER) DEEP SHAFT STOUT
Pour slowly heavily carbonated bottle-conditioned jet-black stout or foamy tan head will be disturbed and wind up all over the bar. Rigid cocoa dryness penetrates deep roasted coffee influence and burnt cedar cove, dominating initial bitter hop burst. Not as thick and rich as rockier stouts, yet creamy mocha bluster informs fine lace-laden Brit discreetly.
FRANZISKANER HEFE-WEISSE DUNKEL
Succinct tawny-clouded meringue-headed dark wheat combines crystalline malts, sourdough yeast, and musty citric spicing in brisk manner. Clove nose gets minor floral yeast and restrained banana backup while leathery earthiness absorbs tart raisin-fig-date riptide by orange blossom finish. A bit soft for its exalted class, though.
FRANZISKANER HEFE-WEISSBIER
Classy amber-clouded half-wheat beer punctuates sweet floral-wafted banana-clove conflux with sourdough yeast vibrancy and creamy vanilla resonance. Peppery hop sharpness awakens tart lemon candied sourness at midst. Nutmeg adjunct provides light holiday ale vestige. An uncomplicated but well defined moderate body.
FRANZISKANER CLUB-WEISS KRISTALKLAR
Silken alpine-watered moderation brings white-peppered hop spicing and rewarding floral-clove embrace to lemon-soured banana tartness, storming past bubbly champagne-like carbonation. A promising light-bodied pale-yellowed German wheat beer for summer session.
FRANKENHEIM ALT
Obtuse German brown ale brings dry-hopped burnt toast entry to barley-roasted chestnut dirge, settling into metallic honey-malted astringency similar to non-alcoholic O’Doul’s Amber and closer to inferior copper ales. Wood-charred earthen grain bitterness reflects smoky character well.
(FRANCHES-MONTAGNES) LA MEULE GOLDEN ALE
Funky gold-hazed farmhouse ale with uninviting olfactory compost waft and dubious herbal sage influence saturating recessive glutinous corn-sugared malting to dehydrated apple-pear-apricot tedium. Damning rosemary-thyme-tarragon potpourri secludes declining green-minted spruce tip freshness.
(FRANCHES-MONTAGNES) LA DRAGONNE
Muddled herbal-spiced peculiarity is mild winter ale best served warm. Advertised orange-peeled star anise, clove, cardamom, coriander, and juniper potpourri lacks prominence, overshooting intended target by wide margin. Instead, cinnamon-spiced chocolate sweetness vaults port-brandy warmth of misguided prune-hued elixir. When chilled, honeyed restraint softens cloy root beer/ black licorice jot.
(FRANCHES-MONTAGNES) CUVEE DU 7’EME
Dryly vinous bottle-conditioned amber-hued ‘rousse de garde’ weaves sweet honeyed malts through floral-hopped rose-daisy-violet illusions and earthy hay-horsehide parch. Pulpy orange tang enhances complex finish daubed by deferred cinammon-clove-coriander wintry spicing.
(FRANCHES-MONTAGNES) ABBAYE DE SAINT BON-CHIEN
Deliriously savory burgundy-hued full body cost $21.49 for 1 pint 9 ounces of luxuriant 10% alcohol liquid. But that’s a bargain. Matured in Merlot, Cabernet, and Grappa vats, its expansive sharp citric hop plain and vegetal earthiness spread across beautiful Sangria medley suggesting banana, apple, red grape, pineapple, and apricot. Spicy cinnamon entwines apropos vinous acidity to port wine finish. On tap at Copper Mine, vinegary brettanomyces funk brings mouth-puckering sourness to oaken cherry, green grape, white wine, rosé and vermouth tones.
Highly recommended.
FOUNDERS RUBAEUS
Crucial Belgian-styled framboise set the stage for many American-bred Euro-based fruit ales to compete favorably. Ripe raspberry-juiced fermentation of ruby-hazed pink-blushed medium body stays sublime above syrupy cherry soda tartness and lightly creamed vanilla sweetness. Vinous lemon-soured red grape, cranberry, rosé and champagne pucker contrasts sugary candy apple glaze. Tertiary Victoria plum, strawberry, elderberry, apricot and tangerine illusions embellish slim floral bouquet. Prickly hop pep gives busy framboise its soda-like carbolic fizz. Compares favorably to redoubtable New Glarus Raspberry Tart.