As I have told Ken, I have been a bad swapper. Life was all slow and steady when we started this swap and then it just kicked up and I haven't been able to find the time to think!
That being said, I have had 3 of Wort H.O.G's beers, and they have been just awesome. I've been taking notes but have just not been able to find the time to type it all out.
1) German Pils (I've lost the recipe card sent with this, despite all the others being in a nice stack on the beer fridge - odd... Ken will have to fill this one in for me)
- 100% Weyermann Barke Malt
This one was incredibly interesting for me. I don't mean that in the "oh... it's interesting..." kind of half-ass complement. I mean that I am still curious about this beer, it's held my attention that long.
Aroma was initially grainy with cracker (when straight out of the beer cooler) and then presented as a red delicious apple with a low white-wine grape type aroma. The white wine-grape transformed into what I identify the Belgian-Pilsners "grape quality" but in turbo-mode. (You know how Belgian Pils malts can be more grapey than German Pils malts, which are usually more toasty? Yeah, that grapey aroma was bigger than the Belgian Pilsners I've used. Really cool.) Also had low floral aromas.
Appearance:

Damn that's a clear beer. Excellent carbonation, enjoyed watching the constant bubbles on a hot day after yard work.
Flavor followed the aroma, but with more cracker and grain and less grapey character. Mod low bitterness with a low floral flavor. Dry finish, crisp. Immensely drinkable (which will be a theme here).
Carb was mod-high. Body was med-low. No flaws here.
Overall, an excellent beer. May not do well in some comps (depending on if a judge picks up the grapey thing or not), but if/when Ken divulges the recipe, this one is worth a spot in your line up.
2) Oktoberfest. I shared this one with the KCBM Board (8 of us). Usually bombers languish around if they aren't unique or just damn-good. This one falls in the latter category.

- 1.054/1.010
- 5.5# Vienna
- 2.5# German Pils
- 2# Dark Munich, 15 SRM
- 1# Carahell
- 17IBU Magnum, Boil 50min. 2oz H. Mittelfruh, Boil 20min.
- WLP833
Aroma and flavor are very similar here. Mod toasty, light toffee, low caramel, and low bread crusts. Mod-low bitterness, mod-low floral/spicy aroma & flavor. Dry, crisp, refreshing. Endlessly drinkable. We pounded this one down in record time. Mod. carbonation, bubbles again dancing up through the brilliantly clear amber colored beer. Med-light body. No warmth or other unmentionables. Everyone remarked at how clean and drinkable it was, and I have to agree. Dang Ken, how can it get better than this? If I had to nit-pick, I would mention the very low papery character that I get doing retro-nasal... but if you can only find it doing that... well, no one's gonna notice it.

3) Dort. I'm real mad that I didn't get a picture of this one (phone has been actin' a fool lately), so you'll all just have to believe me that it was beautiful. True story - I am brewing this one soon. Maybe next.
- 1.052/1.010
- 8.25# German Pils
- 2# Munich
- 4oz Caramunich (56 SRM)
- 4oz Carahell
- 22 IBU Merkur, Boil 50min
- 1oz Hersbrucker, 10min; 0.5oz Mandarina Bavaria, 10min
- WLP833
Mod toasty, light caramel. Cracker. Low floral with an interesting citrus in the way back. Impressively clear gold beer. Pours with a 3/4" head that lasts for half of the time spent drinking. Flavor follows aroma, but with no citrus note in the flavor. Mod-low bitterness. Moderate floral notes. Dry, crisp. Endlessly quaffable. Mod carbonation. Mod-light body. No warmth or other issues. Great beer. My last notes on this one say, "Commercial Quality", which I then corrected to after another sip "Better Than Commercial Quality".
Ken, you've killed it with these beers. I'm really looking forward to the Alt and I'm really looking forward to brewing a Dort with my Pils yeast cake I have. Hopefully I can make one as good as yours!
