April 2009

Lots of great beer events in April, including Belgian Beer month at the Toronado and Moylans and Deschutes at the Jug Shop . Pliny the Elder ... an old favorite, now in bottles and receiving pretty nice distribution.  Napsmith coming out with some great stuff, light delicate ales, that harken back to a simpler time (you can catch them at the Jug Shop May 8th).  Lots of Knockshock too, the simulated barrel beers are finished: Bourbon Barrel Smoked Porter, Barrel Aged Saison and Barrel Aged Blond.

Pliny the Elder

russian river brewery, IPA

Nose of fresh hops and resin, and bitterness. Hops have some pine but mostly grapefruit, orange and slight apple. Huge off white head. Light orange color with auburn highlights. Has some light legs.  Mouthfeel is light.  Fresh, strong pine and grapefruit flavors, pleasant background sweetness.  Quite bitter but not lingeringly.  Great fresh hop aspect for a bottled IPA.  4.6

Pikes IPA

pike place brewing

Nose of light esters, apple, more malt and toast balanced, with light toffee.  Light orange zest in the background. Light to medium orange in color, with amber highlights. Light bodied. Delicious, balanced well between the hops and malt.  Apple esters merge with orange, grapefruit hops well. Has a light lingering biterness in the finish. Nice version of a more British IPA, malt sweet esters balance well with the hops. 4.1

Alaskan IPA

alaskan brewery

Grassy nose, grapefruit, orange and definite lemon, with light resin quality.  Full off-white head, light lace, medium to deep gold in color with orange highlights. Light bodied. Flavor more subdued, less grassiness, more orange and light malt-caramel sweetness, toffee residue.  Medium to sweet finish, light bitterness.  3.7

Napasmith Pale Ale

napasmith brewery

Nose of light toast, biscuit, and esters, mostly apple and pear, with light pine-earthy hop in the background.  Low off white head.  Light gold in color with auburn highlights. Light body, rather dry. Lightly nutty flavor, with toast, caramel, biscuit and light hops, followed by apple and pear esters. Light finish, crisp but lightly creamy, with a light bitterness. Almost like a nice english bitter. Harkens to another era.  3.9

Herren Pils

braueri keesman

Nose of strong pilsner malt: biscuit and toast.  Deep yellow color with golden highlights, bubbly off white head that disappears quickly.  Light to medium body with a slight creaminess.  Rather sweet beer up front, light malt, toast, bread, but is quickly followed by a harsh bitterness, hops in finish are really earthy.  Lightly crisp, but bitter, finish. 3.3

Keyte Double Trippel

belgian dark strong ale, brouwerij strubbe

Soft malty nose: caramel, raisin, cherries, figs, with light banana and toffee. Deep tan, long lasting head; a little lace, but no legs. Slight haze, deep ruby color with chocolate highlights. A little slick on the palate, medium bodied. Sweet up front, with raisins, plums, soft malt and caramel, leading into a tart cherry finish.  Nice complexity to this beer, a "musty" one with still really strong character. 4.3