Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Redhook Long Hammer IPA


With the "Great Hop Shortage of 2008" in full swing, I decided I should take advantage of the availability of hoppy beers while I still could, so today's selection is Redhook Long Hammer IPA. This is the American version of the IPA, which is decidedly more strongly hopped than the English IPA's. Redhook's IPA poured a nice deep golden color with a modest head that didn't last very long. Maybe I've been spoiled by over-the-top IPA's, but this one seemed somewhat subdued. I was expecting more hops! This seemed more like a pale ale than an IPA. Still enjoyable, but not quite what I was anticipating. Cool label at least.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Samuel Adams Black Lager




Samuel Adams Black Lager from the Boston Beer Company, is part of their Brewmaster's Collection. It pours a deep, nearly black color, with a small light-colored head. As you can see in the photo, the head disappeared pretty quickly. It's roughly in the style of a Schwartzbier and is smooth and easy to drink. The flavor is more roasty than a typical lager, and the hop character is much less pronounced than their standard Boston Lager. I really enjoyed this one, and would welcome a six-pack from time to time. This was purchased in their "Brewmaster's Collection", which also included their Brown Ale and Honey Porter.

Welcome to True Brews!

True brews is a new place to find beer reviews, beer recipes, and homebrew recipes for both beer and mead. I enjoy tasting a wide variety of beers, from Hefeweizens to Imperial Stouts, and I'll be posting my thoughts on beers that I try. I'll also be posting my more successful homebrew recipes. I keep a fermenter going most of the time - creating small batches of beer and mead, so I've always got something new to try. Check here daily, as I'll be posting frequently!