Sierra Nevada Red Ale

Pour:

This red ale quickly generated a huge head, poured out of a day old Growler.  Be a bit gentle, but you still want to have a good head.

Appearance:

Good frothy head that sticks around for a long time.  With the good head retention, comes good lacing on the glass.  This beer is very clear, cherry wood color, more ruby color when held to the light.

Aroma:

The aroma is a bit on the mild side, as to be expected with this style of beer.  What aroma is present is slightly malty, sweet, and buttery.  There is also a very mild plum aroma present.

Taste:

The beer starts off with a malty caramel sweetness, which fades into dry nothingness.  But the finish redeems the beer with fairly lengthy mild hop bitterness.

Drinkability:

With out knowing the ABV on this beer, I would guess this is between 5% and 5.25%, either way it tastes like a good session beer.  I could easily drink these all night.  Thought the beginning and ending tastes were well balance.  Would have liked to have more in the middle of the mouth.

Food Pairing:

With the mild flavors in this beer, I would have pork chops with this beer, or other light meat.

Dietary Info:

Don’t know able, but style ranges from 4-7%, putting this beer between 140- 220 calories.

Glassware: Pint or Mug, I used a Tulip

Tasting Method: 1/2 gal Growler from Cloverleaf Tavern

Simply Beer Rating: 89

Beer Review: Sierra Nevada Red Ale is a post from: Simply Beer

Hercules Double IPA

Pour:

Give it a good pour, make sure you get a good inch of head on the beer.  This will help open up the aroma of the hops.

Appearance:

A really pretty, clear, copper/crimson color.  A good creamy thick head that lasted the entire glass.  Since there is such good head retention with this beer, there was also lots of lacing.

Aroma:

It’s a DIPA, it has to have great aroma.  For me, it is a good part of why I love DIPA’s and IIPA’s.  I love to stick my nose in the glass and just inhale the aroma.  I do the same thing when I’m boiling the hops as I brew.  The Hercules DIPA has a very hoppy flowery aroma common for this style, with hints of pine and orange-y citrus.  I would recommend taking a nice big breath through your nose as you are taking a sip, it really adds to the whole drinking experience.

Taste:

A very well balanced beer, not overly malty.  Tons of hops balanced nicely with a caramel sweetness and a hint of citrus.

Drinkability:

Delicious.  Drinking my second bomber as I write this review.  The high alcohol content is not really noticeable on the palette, but it does creep up on you.  But the alcohol is not the dominate aspect the 85 IBU’s really shine through, the hops are both aromatic and flavorful.  A definite must try for any other hop head!

Tasting Method: 22oz Bottle

My Rating : 94

Great Divide Hercules Double IPA is a post from: Simply Beer