I was trying to put my finger on it - if it was a blind taste test I wouldn’t have pegged it for beer, maybe some kind of dry seltzer. I found the taste off, not refreshing.
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Aha! I remembered the book title that explained the rise of light beer: “Beer Blast” by Philip Van Munching.
Replicating an interesting boilermaker I had a while back at a local bar (Harlan Records in SF) - Stiegl Grapefruit Radler with Skrewball peanut butter flavored whiskey.
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Terraform by Wayward Lane Brewing (Schoharie, NY) - IPA
Nice example of an WCIPA with a dominant note of grapefruit and some lighter tastes of berries at the beginning which is taken over by piney resin flavors and some light dank notes. Dry, medium bitter finish.
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Yes it was described as a rauchbier. The beer itself was kind of light with a definite smokiness. I’m glad I tried it but probably wouldn’t rush back to order it again.
I tried this a while back too and agree that it doesn’t really taste like beer. Kind of like a beer flavored LaCroix.
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I think it’s the “definite” part that is problematic–less would be more.
That’s it - it didn’t have the sweetness of seltzer, more club soda like.
Thought I might pick up a copy. Sounds like a good read. $177!, I dunno.
It’s good, but not that good!
Vivid Light by Phase Three Brewing (Lake Zurich, IL) - IPA
Interesting WCIPA with a heavy emphasis on piney dank throughout. Some citrus notes help to add some variation but otherwise dankness with a dry, quite bitter finish rules this beer. It’s different than many other IPAs but gets a but monotonous after awhile.
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Cellarmaker Coffee and Cigarettes
7.7 abv
Tastes like the name, Smokey and coffee flavored smoked porter
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Drake’s new pilsner Czech Ya Later, on tap at the San Leandro taproom. They just brought it out as part of their 34th Anniversary celebration happening this weekend. As a huge “Dazed and Confused” fan, I would have gotten this for the name and can art alone.
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Black Daruma by Japas Cervejaria (Sao Paolo, Brazil) - Russian Imperial Stout
Classical Imperial stout, heavy on the roasted malts with notes of coffee, chocolate and, once it warms up a bit, licorice. The persimmon adds some astringency and a hint of sweetness in the finish. Surprisingly thin mouthfeel - overall good but not great.
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Magic Rain by Mighty Squirrel Brewing Company (Waltham, MA) - Hazy IPA
Smells quite tropical but the flavor is very grapefruit forward with some hints of malts and pines in the background. Dry, medium bitter finish. A bit one dimensional for a really good hazy IPA.
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Above the Sky by Wandering Soul Beer (Beverly, MA) - Red IPA
Interesting mix of a red ale with an IPA even though it is much closer to a red ale. The roasted malt taste with bready notes is quite dominant and the main difference to a classical red ale is a bit more hoppy, fruity notes in the background. A bit more balance towards the hoppy influences would have made this beer quite more interesting.
3 Likes
Bombay by Boat by Moonlight Brewing Company (Santa Rosa, CA) - IPA
Minimal citrus notes upfront before tons of piney, resinous flavors with herbal tastes take over this IPA. Hints of a little bit of malt sweetness are sometimes barely recognizable. Dry and quite bitter finish. Overall a typical, old-fashioned WCIPA.
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Kimchi Sour by Dokkaebeer (Oakland, CA) - Sour
It has some components of kimchi but it is mainly a ginger forward sour with some light funk. The ginger complements the tartness of the sour actually quite nicely and the funk helps to make it not too one-dimensional. Refreshing sour but not really reminiscent of kimchi.
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The Bruery’s So Radler: Blood Orange. Just a hint of orange, and very refreshing. I found it as an “orphan” can at Trader Joe’s.
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