Experimental Beers: The Trip Series

So, every now and then (I assume yearly), Elysian and New Belgium Brewing make a collaborative beer called the 'Trip Series,' this is their eleventh and it is a Rosemary and Sage farmhouse ale.  Though I really don't care for most New Belgium beers, I usually try some of their limited runs.

After some quick google searches (post drinking, I had this a few days ago), I come upon the wikipedia page for Saison (French for season, roughly pronounced "Say - Zahn")


From beer advocate's description:

Saisons are sturdy farmhouse ale that was traditionally brewed in the winter, to be consumed throughout the summer months.

Wikipedia's Saison page

Anyways, it's classified generally as a Belgian, however the Belgian style really seems to only refer to the yeast that is typically used and the fact that it came from Belgium.  When something is called a Belgian it really doesn't say a whole lot about it other than it tells you what it is not.

Okay, so if you've had a few Belgians you'll know what to expect, not highly hopped generally, lots of spice notes added to the beer.  As for this particular brew, it hits off with a strong flavor (not surprising at 8.5%) that mellows out once you can taste the rosemary and sage, which are quite expertly blended to complement each other and also not take over the beer.  Following the spice you get a sweet, mellow flavor backed by the yeast.

It was a great beer, well made.  At a high ABV I didn't want more than one and I really have no strong feelings as to whether I get another one or not.  The thing with experimental beers is that they are really fun to try and taste, but for just regular drinking they are either too funky to have or they are too demanding.  The unique flavors require your attention in a way that an equally good beer might not necessarily have.  In other words, it can be difficult to have a conversation that is not about the beer in front of you if you drink one of these.  Which, depending on what you're doing is either good or bad.

They can be quite fun though, I recommend not looking up tasting notes before you try them because it ruins the fun (or the trip in this case).  The other benefit to experimental beers is how much they can expand your tastes.

Cheers,

Nathan

Winter Beers: Final

Wow, the holiday season sure has a way of making you very busy.  I have a backlog of stuff I wanted to talk about, but I've just not really been on top of writing about it.  Sort of feel like I have seen most of what I want to know about beer.

On the plus side I have more to talk about about things other than drinking beer and rating it.  Like making it!  So after a little thought I have decided that I should push to write things specifically about Northwestern beers if I am rating a beer.  There are after all several rating sites and lots of blogs all over the place that cover this in depth.  I think talking about breweries and beers of specifically the Northwest will be more productive (occasionally will talk about special releases from California and maybe Colorado or something similar).

Thought that I would at least finish up the Winter Beers:

in no particular order, I'd say the top 5 winter beers we've had this year are:


Deschutes Jubelale


This beer has a very warming feel to it; has a lot of the malty and carmel flavors similar to what you'd find in a Scotch Ale.  I had it in bottle, on cask, and on tap.  Cask was great, but they were all good.  Nice dark ruby color and a little thicker feeling than I thought it would be.

This beer is so very perfect for what I want in a winter beer
Jubleale

Boundary Bay Cabin Fever


This has a very similar taste and profile to Jubelale, but it is much stronger feeling.  Definitely a little bit of alcohol taste in there, this WILL warm you up.  I prefer the Jubelale, but Sam prefers this one.
Boundary Bay's site

Alaskan Brewing Co. Winter 


I had already discussed this one in an earlier post, but the reason I like this is the Spruce tips and the overall mellow factor this beer has.

Winter Ale

Hopworks Abominable 


Another one I already mentioned; the label on this one is very cool though.  Not to be confused with Fremont Brewery's Abominable, which I actually don't think I have tried.  More on the aggressive side.
Hopworks

Three Skulls Poison 


Just thought I'd throw this is there, it was totally a random event that led us to ordering this.  I think they were out of Arrogant Bastard.  Had it on tap at the Pillagers' Pub in Seattle (Greenwood) on New Years.  It was pretty awesome, very strong in ABV, yet had a nice, not overpowering flavor.
Three Skulls

Ninkasi Sleigh'r


Yeah, okay this is actually number 6, it's an honorable mention I suppose...  but I really liked this one.  Definitely check it out, because it is very different.


List of all the other winter ales we tried:

Laughing Dog Coldnose - like I said, would not recommend
Red Hook Winter Hook - inot bad, but I liked the others more
New Belgium 2 Below - similar to Winter Hook
Elysian Bifröst - while I found it quite good, it's actually more like a winter IPA; so if you want a really hoppy winter beer then for sure grab this
Rogue Mogul Madness - this one is good, but I don't see why they charge so much for it.  Not worth the extra cash in my opinion.

New Belgium Brewing Fat Tire

Hey, Nathan here.  I just got hired at Manito Tap House on the South Hill in Spokane.

Hopefully I'll be able to get some unique insight on the backside of the house.

The last beer I had was a New Belgium Fat Tire and a Rogue Dead Guy Ale.  I've mentioned the New Belgium before and I really have nothing to say about it.  The fact is that I think it is a very neutral beer; I've heard people say "tastes  like beer" when they try something I give them (ensue my eye rolls), but I think it actually applies here.  It has a bit of hops upfront due to the Belgian influence (word is the brewmaster made the amber ale while on a trip in Belgium), however past that the malt flavors are there but they seem to fall flat into a lackluster aftertaste.  I've tried this beer many times and each time I get this feeling no matter how hard I try.

Fat Tire is definitely more in the session territory, but is a little heavier than say a Hef.  Then again, by American standards anything below 6% is often considered session.

So here it is, not a terribly interesting beer.  Not the strongest or lightest on the tongue, but if you're not sure what to get or recommend go for this.  Perfect by the pitcher, but I really do think there are better ambers or pale ales or witbiers (all comparable styles).

P.S. Dead Guy is perfect with Dubliner cheese, yum!

Here's an older picture I have of the New Belgium:

Pumpkin Season

Hey, so I've been busy with moving and not having internet at home...  that tends to make posting hard.

Anyways, it's pumpkin season.  Fall is pretty awesome, winter beers come up soon after fall seasonals and rein in an era of amazing dark beer that lasts until spring.  My favorite fall seasonal has to be Red Ales, it is just so much fuller than an amber or something Hoptober (New Belgium; that is a pretty tasty ale though).  Not to mention that beautiful dark ruby that it pours.  One of the best reds that I've had is Elysian's Men's Room (which seems to be available year round), on the cheaper side of things is Pyramid's Juggernaut (only in the fall).

Anyways, I've been really wanting to try some pumpkin ale, but it's pretty scarce in Spokane for some reason.  I've seen a couple that I can pick up so it should be ok.

To subsitute I had a pretty sweet beer.  New Belgium's 1554, a "enlightened" black ale.  Interestingly enough this uses a lager yeast, proof that good beer doesn't have to be an ale only.  It weighs in at a nice 5.6% ABV with a silky, but not thick consistency.  Not much aroma to it, but the taste is full of a nice malty, but not an in-your-face roasted flavor you'll get in porters or stouts; follow this up tons of chocolate flavor and you have 1554.  Oh, did I mention that I had it with a slice of pumpkin pie?  The spicier the pie, the better.

I guess that wasn't really a short post.   Here's the site for more info on 1554