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Author Topic: Spring 2015 Beer Swap  (Read 36978 times)

Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #285 on: May 18, 2015, 06:45:07 pm »
Keith AKA majorvices

Belgian Wheat

Appeared cloudy in the bottle so I gave it a roll, what they heck. Pours hazy light yellow, bright white tiny bubble head that faded fairly fast to a lasting ring of white. Light lacing that almost makes legs. The nose is light Belgian spicy esters, light graininess, and a lemon-lime zest that strengthens as it warms. Flavor is a combo, one might say "happy marriage" of Belgian esters and lemon-lime zest and fresh juices. A light malty graininess supports. I didnt pick out any specific hop flavor but the bitterness is at a perfect level to support that citrus flavor without pushing it. Finishes dry and clean with a faint lingering lemon-lime. The finish reminds me of the finish of a citrus selzer. Medium light body, fluffy, well carbonated. No astringency or stickiness or slickness. Invites multiple sips. Super enjoyable, light, inviting, refreshing beer. I would buy this by the 12 pack all summer long! The little lady got a 6 ounce pour of this. Her first words were "Oh oh, Belgian" not her favorite style. She got lime and fresh ginger. Couldn't find that nasty spice they usually have. She finished it in 3 sips and wants me to find more.

After tasting and making notes, I read the brewer's notes. 4.8 %, no coriander, lime leaves, ginger, and chamomile instead. Great beer Keith! You really ought to open a brewery and sell this stuff ;-)

My obligatory rate-beer rating on this one is 4.5 and I have no idea how it would do at a BJCP comp, or where you would enter it. But stand alone, just a beer as it is on its lonesome... mighty fine. It deserves a 45 somewhere.
« Last Edit: May 18, 2015, 06:49:53 pm by klickitat jim »

Offline dmtaylor

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #286 on: May 18, 2015, 08:33:03 pm »
Howdy all,

I did finally taste one of Sean Terrill's (a10t2) four delicious looking selections this past weekend.  All bottles arrived intact with a little yeast moving around that's been settling out in the fridge (bottle conditioned).  As such I purposely popped the witbier first since haze is most appropriate there.

Witbier --

Overall very tasty, like liquid Wonder Bread(!), but also having those certain special "Belgiany" esters and peppery spice.  Hazy gold, NOT opaque, low white head but with beautiful lacing.  A bit yeasty in flavor and aroma, perhaps due to its journey and freshness, but in a very pleasant way that added to the Wonder Breadiness.  A little tart, good for style.  Low/medium peppery phenol, yum.  Balance is slightly on the sweeter side as opposed to hop bitterness.  No hop flavor.  No pithy bitterness.  No DMS or diacetyl or anything like that.  Seeking the coriander and orange peel typical for the style, I didn't find any... but I was perfectly alright with that, as I've noticed that even Hoegaarden is low on these, in favor of the peppery spice.  I find this example to be sort of like a cream ale, but obviously fermented with Belgian yeast, making it oh so tasty.  Very well made for sure.  Commercial level of quality, no doubt better than many commercial examples I have tasted -- yes, that's right, if you sold this, I would buy it.  Deserving of mid-30s in competition, with small dings in part to the yeast that some folks might not care for (I don't mind it at all) and very low / non-existent coriander (which I'm also fine with).  Sean, if you like it like this, don't change it, it's great!  Otherwise maybe just double your coriander, and you're good to go, honestly.

After this one, I'm certainly looking forward to the others!  Maybe tomorrow or next day.

Thanks and cheers!
Dave

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Offline dmtaylor

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #287 on: May 18, 2015, 08:35:52 pm »
Keith AKA majorvices

Belgian Wheat

Appeared cloudy in the bottle so I gave it a roll, what they heck. Pours hazy light yellow, bright white tiny bubble head that faded fairly fast to a lasting ring of white. Light lacing that almost makes legs. The nose is light Belgian spicy esters, light graininess, and a lemon-lime zest that strengthens as it warms. Flavor is a combo, one might say "happy marriage" of Belgian esters and lemon-lime zest and fresh juices. A light malty graininess supports. I didnt pick out any specific hop flavor but the bitterness is at a perfect level to support that citrus flavor without pushing it. Finishes dry and clean with a faint lingering lemon-lime. The finish reminds me of the finish of a citrus selzer. Medium light body, fluffy, well carbonated. No astringency or stickiness or slickness. Invites multiple sips. Super enjoyable, light, inviting, refreshing beer. I would buy this by the 12 pack all summer long! The little lady got a 6 ounce pour of this. Her first words were "Oh oh, Belgian" not her favorite style. She got lime and fresh ginger. Couldn't find that nasty spice they usually have. She finished it in 3 sips and wants me to find more.

After tasting and making notes, I read the brewer's notes. 4.8 %, no coriander, lime leaves, ginger, and chamomile instead. Great beer Keith! You really ought to open a brewery and sell this stuff ;-)

My obligatory rate-beer rating on this one is 4.5 and I have no idea how it would do at a BJCP comp, or where you would enter it. But stand alone, just a beer as it is on its lonesome... mighty fine. It deserves a 45 somewhere.

Oh, hey, that must be the so-called "Catalyst".  I brewed that one up myself a few years ago.  Very tasty and a hit with my brewing buddies.  Yeah, it's a 40-something recipe for sure.
Dave

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Offline majorvices

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #288 on: May 19, 2015, 04:24:43 am »
Thanks for the review, Jim! That is our biggest selling beer by far. I brew it almost weekly. We are bottling it today as a matter of fact.

Dave, I'm impressed by your memory. Catalyst was what this recipe was based on but it evolved from a Belgian pale ale with spices to a Belgian Wheat. It truly was the beer "Catalyst" for Yellowhammer!

Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #289 on: May 19, 2015, 06:37:16 am »
Well its pretty genius. Just different enough to be really interesting. Very tasty too.

Offline toby

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #290 on: May 19, 2015, 04:35:43 pm »
Brewer: Jerry Hodge (ynotbrusum)
Beer: American Pale Ale

Not going to score this one from a BJCP perspective since it wouldn't fare well with the current guidelines and I don't think it's really fair to the beer.

Aroma is really subtle citrus with hints of caramel and toasted bread.  Nothing off.  Jerry said this one wasn't dry hopped, so wasn't really surprised and not sure of its age.

Appearance is deep gold and approaching amber. Relatively low white head, but relatively good retention and slightly creamy in appearance.

Flavor has a bit of citrus and caramel and toast.  Nice bitterness which keeps the balance to the hoppy side with very light piney notes.  No off flavors.

Mouthfeel is medium-light bodied with moderate carbonation.  No diacetyl slickness.  Slightly dry at the finish which lingers only a second.

Overall impression is a very refreshing beer.  Hop aroma is really low for where the style has gone, but that seems to be the trend (thinking of 90 Minute as an American IPA or SNPA as an APA).  Not sure of the age on it either, but still very crushable.  From a purely hedonistic, Untappd sort of perspective, I'd give it 3.75/5 caps.  I expect that would go up on draft and/or fresher.


Offline a10t2

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #291 on: May 19, 2015, 05:24:14 pm »
Deserving of mid-30s in competition, with small dings in part to the yeast that some folks might not care for (I don't mind it at all) and very low / non-existent coriander (which I'm also fine with).  Sean, if you like it like this, don't change it, it's great!  Otherwise maybe just double your coriander, and you're good to go, honestly.

Story time! This was supposed to be a batch of what I call a "Belgian blond" but I was low on wheat (usually 30%, this was 12%) and decided to try pitching a smack pack without a starter since it's only a 10.2°P beer. So it is essentially a cream ale fermented with a Belgian strain, and under-pitched at that. I do feel like the phenols ran away with this one. No coriander.

I probably shouldn't call it a wit but it doesn't really fit anywhere in the BJCP guidelines and that seemed closest. If I actually wanted to enter it I'd put it in Belgian Specialty and call it a "single" or something like that but as small a beer as it is I doubt it would do well.
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Offline toby

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #292 on: May 19, 2015, 05:41:55 pm »
I probably shouldn't call it a wit but it doesn't really fit anywhere in the BJCP guidelines and that seemed closest. If I actually wanted to enter it I'd put it in Belgian Specialty and call it a "single" or something like that but as small a beer as it is I doubt it would do well.
Have you looked at the Trappist Single category in the 2015 Guidelines? Category 26A.

Offline a10t2

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #293 on: May 19, 2015, 06:20:01 pm »
Have you looked at the Trappist Single category in the 2015 Guidelines? Category 26A.

Nice! I haven't had a chance to look at the new guidelines yet.
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Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #294 on: May 20, 2015, 11:33:58 am »
Well, tapatalk was down last night so this is all from memory. It was my Friday and Terri's Sunday, so we indulged.

Started with Keith's (majorvices') Quad. It actually made me wish it was still winter. I could sit by the fire and sip that all night. It had all the quad check box parts but no rough edges at all. Belgian style fermentation profile, deep dark figgy pudding and dark plum and dark candy sugar flavors with a perfect bitterness supporting. Finished nice n dry. Noticeable alc but not at all hot or solventy. Over 10% but seemed like 7, untill it snuck up and pasted a perma grin on my face. Overall it was a perfect antidote to a long week of dealing with people.

Next was the Schwartzbeir. Coffee and chocolate roastiness with a clean lager fermentation and enough hops flavor and bitterness to know they are there but not intrude. Another spectacular beer. I'm noticing a theme. Keith's beers are all superbly crafter with no faults at all and each has a subtle but very interesting points that seperate him from the crowd. Dandy stuff!


After that I through caution to the wind and enjoyed three American Wild barrel aged beers generously gifted to me by mchrispen. I'll just say that I loved each of them for various reasons, learned a lot, and came to the conclusion that I would dig doing a sour collaboration brew with him.

This swap has been a ball for me. The next best thing to actually sitting on the deck with each of you and sharing and talking about our beer. There probably are still a few stragglers out there and I look forward to reading those.

Brew more beer guys. I might fire up a late fall swap, so get ready if you're interested.

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #295 on: May 20, 2015, 11:47:17 am »
I've enjoyed it, too, Jim.  I'm definitely up for doing it again. Hopefully I can make NHC next year and share a few in person with some of the forum folks -  that'd be a blast.
Jon H.

Offline erockrph

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #296 on: May 20, 2015, 11:54:21 am »
I will definitely be keeping a potential fall swap in mind as I'm starting to get some brewing done this spring. It's been great following along with you guys.
Eric B.

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Offline pete b

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #297 on: May 20, 2015, 12:20:55 pm »
Thanks for setting it up Jim, it was fun.
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Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #298 on: May 20, 2015, 03:47:00 pm »
You are all very welcome but its success is really all about you guys! Thanks to everyone.

Brew away and save a few for... Swaptoberfest?

Offline ynotbrusum

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Re: Spring 2015 Beer Swap
« Reply #299 on: May 20, 2015, 04:07:14 pm »
Brewer: Jerry Hodge (ynotbrusum)
Beer: American Pale Ale

Not going to score this one from a BJCP perspective since it wouldn't fare well with the current guidelines and I don't think it's really fair to the beer.

Aroma is really subtle citrus with hints of caramel and toasted bread.  Nothing off.  Jerry said this one wasn't dry hopped, so wasn't really surprised and not sure of its age.

Appearance is deep gold and approaching amber. Relatively low white head, but relatively good retention and slightly creamy in appearance.

Flavor has a bit of citrus and caramel and toast.  Nice bitterness which keeps the balance to the hoppy side with very light piney notes.  No off flavors.

Mouthfeel is medium-light bodied with moderate carbonation.  No diacetyl slickness.  Slightly dry at the finish which lingers only a second.

Overall impression is a very refreshing beer.  Hop aroma is really low for where the style has gone, but that seems to be the trend (thinking of 90 Minute as an American IPA or SNPA as an APA).  Not sure of the age on it either, but still very crushable.  From a purely hedonistic, Untappd sort of perspective, I'd give it 3.75/5 caps.  I expect that would go up on draft and/or fresher.



Thanks for the input, Toby - I would agree that this one is a more of an English Pale style in terms of hop level, but brewed with American ingredients and yeast.  Frankly, I forgot that I sent it to you and yes, it is a bit long in the tooth at this point.  It was half of a ten gallon batch that a neighbor brewed with me for a wedding he attended.  His half was dry hopped and we also did a ten gallon Two Hearted Ale clone for the hopheads at the same wedding.  The wedding guests were eminently pleased to partake, as I am told.

I agree with the comments of the participants here - great idea, Jim and Swaptoberfest sounds like another great idea in terms of timing these things.  (Swapril and Swaptoberfest could become a regular thing....)
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