I pretty much failed at 2013’s goal of tasting and grading 50 beers. I did pretty good at the front part of that goal, mind you, but it’s the second half of the process that proved difficult. I did a reasonably good job of exploring the world of Trappist abbey ales and found an IPA that I can tolerate [1]. I tried an oaked beer (bleh), a sour beer (double bleh), and a chili beer (could have been better). I found an awesome session beer in Stone’s Levitation [2]. I never found a roggenbier to try—it’s all Rye-P-A here in the states. I brewed a few beers and tasted the heck out of those too.
Again…just lacking documentation.
Looking forward, perhaps the commitment to try and document fifty beers was a little much for one year. This year I’m pledging to follow through on 25 beers. They don’t need to be new ones. They don’t need to be commercial beers. I just need to drink and document them. I’m going to do this using BeerAdvocate [3] and you can track me there.
To take up the slack I’m also pledging to read 25 books in 2014. You can track my progress on Goodreads [4] which seems to be a place where people I know who read books hang out. It just isn’t any fun unless someone is tracking all the data I’m generating. ;)
Notes:
As a novice brewer, I enjoy the beer posts. So, what were the favorites out of the 25 you did taste and grade? (I too, am not into the IPA thing) What are the draft choices (sorry…baseball on the brain)?
There’s another brewer in the CFCL?! Awesome! Perhaps a bottle swap is in order at the draft? How long have you been at this?
Of my own brews in the last year the only one I really got excited about was a witbier that I’ve just put on tap. It’s my first real entirely-built-from-scratch recipe and features zest from a Buddha’s hand. I fermented at the bottom of the yeast’s range so really emphasized the peppery clove flavors. I’d probably describe it as a Hoegaarden shandy if I was trying to be clever.
I think my favorite from the last year was the Rochefort 8: . The 10 is pretty good too, but perhaps a bit too boozy. Chimay’s blue label was also pretty great. Definitely my two favorite dubbels.
Stone’s Levitation was another good find. At 4.4% I can drink the heck out of it and not get too sloppy. It packs a lot of malt flavor despite the low ABV and the hopping is noticeable but not unbalanced.
There’s a local-ish brewery that brews what I guess I’d call a wheat stout that I really like called Cornstalker . Originally found it at a hockey game of all places and when I finally tracked down a local source I celebrated.
The IPA I found I can tolerate–to the extent that I’ve even tried a clone recipe–is Langunita’s IPA . I find the IPAs I like are less bitter but highly resinous. This one is a bit like sucking on a grapefruit.
What style[s] most interest you?
So, what you are really saying is, you didn’t drink enough beer in 2013?
I think that’s exactly what I’m saying :)
I should have also mentioned the Mango IPA that I had when you took me to Dale Brothers was another highpoint of my 2013 Beerventure, Dan.
He still talks about that beer Brother…
Nick…novice is the key word here. I’ve got a simple red ale brewing now…first batch I’ve made in many moons! I tend to like darker beers though recently stumbled upon Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale…which I really enjoy. I’ve also recently enjoyed the 2013 Vintage Ale (Trader Joe’s). Buddah’s Hand? I had to google that…sounds interesting.