April/May 2011
Tasting Notes


Our latest Beer Beacon missive, to send us UK style beers, didn't elicit much response. No surprise there; American microbrewers have surpassed the gentler, more subtle-flavored, British style ales. So instead
of our usual tasting, here we provide tasting notes for the beers that arrived over the past two months.
There are several worth seeking out.

The Beers:

Sam Adams East-West Kolsch, Boston Beer Co. One Design Center, Suite 850, Boston, MA 617-368-5000
	Floral nose with jasmine, lavender and cinnamon, and honey sweetness in the nose; a pastry-like palate; clear, refreshing kölsch; some tasters thought it was a too big and complex for the style, others said that was where the East met the West.

Honey Bock, New Glarus Brewing Co. One 2400 State Hwy 69, New Glarus, WI 608-527-5850
	Clear amber color; hints of toastiness; light on the palate; hint of malt; well- balanced, with hops and malt as delicate flavors; toasty flavor without heaviness; very drinkable session beer.

Snowshoe, New Glarus Brewing Co. One 2400 State Hwy 69, New Glarus, WI 608-527-5850
	Big, smoky nose and even bigger smoke flavor; solid malt backbone balances the up front smoke; nice hop bitterness; chewy sweetbread flavor on finish.

Smoked Rye Ale, New Glarus Brewing Co. One 2400 State Hwy 69, New Glarus, WI 608-527-5850
	Big, smoky nose and even bigger smoke flavor; solid malt backbone balances the up front smoke; nice hop bitterness; chewy sweetbread flavor on finish.

Double Choclate Cherry Stout, Black Oak Brewing Co. 75 Horner Ave Unit #1, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada 416-252-2739
	Subtle chocolate and cherry evident; cherry overwhelmed by roast flavor; light bodied but flavorful.

Mean Joe Bean (Dank Tank Series), SweetWater Brewing Co. 195 Ottley Drive Northeast, Atlanta, GA 404-691-2537
	Nice malty aroma indicating a bigger beer; a little sweet; coffee subtle; acrid burnt flavor hidden by the sweetness; like coffee with two sugars; viscous.

Sam Adams New Worl Tripel, Boston Beer Co. One Design Center, Suite 850, Boston, MA 617-368-5000
	Lots of floral and citrus notes; fruity Belgian nose and flavor; well-balanced; phenol and sweet counteract nicely; leans toward a Belgian style Golden Strong ale; no wood flavor for a beer aged in oak barrels.

 

--- by The Beer Diva, Beer Beacon columnist

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