Night Shift Ever Weisse

A few weeks ago, a good friend of ours was in from Boston and brought us a few bombers from one of her favorite Boston breweries, Night Shift Brewing, located in Everett, MA.  While she was with us, we had the pleasure to enjoy two of their brews - JoJo and Viva Habanera.  Both beers were delicious, the JoJo was a gorgeous looking brew and the Viva Habanera definitely satisfied my constant cravings for a hot and spicy beer.  Needless to say I was quite impressed and decided we needed to review the others we received.  I'm a sucker for sours, so we're starting off with the Ever Weisse, a Berliner Weisse style sour with strawberries, kiwis, and hibiscus flowers.  Our particular bottle is hand marked as having been bottled 6-25-14 - I find it quite awesome that they're hand marking their bottling dates!  Night Shift also lists food pairings from Boston-area restaurants on their bottles, fantastic!

Brewery: Night Shift Brewing

Style: Berliner Weisse
ABV: 5.9%

Glass: Mason Jar 

Appearance: Pours a golden with touches of pink and orange, slightly cloudy.  Head is bright white and effervescent with very little retention, disappearing quickly and leaving a small bubbly white ring around the edges of the glass.

Aroma: Carries a definite  yeast sour aroma blended with floral notes and perhaps a hint of hop.

Body & Texture: Light boddied and thickly carbonated, with a mild prickle across the tongue and roof of the mouth.

Taste:  Flavor is very tart with a good pucker on the first taste that fades as you move down the glass.  Strawberry and kiwi flavor are present throughout, with notes of hibiscus more detectable at the very start and later in the finish.  Wheat carries the background and is more detectable with a longer hold.  

Overall: This bold sour is sure to delight both the sour connoisseur and the fruit beer lover.  The powerful tartness and complimentary fruit and floral flavors come together for quite the forward sour beer.  The background wheat flavors were a fantastic base to bring the bigger flavors to the forefront and it allows the drinker to have the opportunity to separate each various added taste within the brew.  Personally, this particular beer gets an A+ and a 5/5 in my book.  If you are a sucker for that powerful pucker fish face then you can't pass up the opportunity to try this pretty beer.  I look forward to my next trip to the Boston area so that I might have the chance to check out this awesome brewery and pick up more of their fantastic beers!

Check out Ever Weiss and the rest of Night Shift's beers at their website - http://www.nightshiftbrewing.com/

Thomas Creek Stillwater Vanilla Cream Ale

While in Asheville last month, we picked up a handful of Thomas Creek Brewing's beers after finding them at several local craft beer sellers.  It's been a toasty Indian summer type fall day here in Ohio, so I went to the fridge seeking something light and refreshing and came back with this brew, Stillwater Vanilla Cream Ale.  I'm back and forth on this, as I'm not always big on the cream ale scene, something I attribute to a scarring experience with Genny Cream Ale back in college.  Shudder.  But we'll give this a go and see if it pairs well with '60's documentaries on the History Channel and takeout Chinese food.  Oh yes, the Cav is a class act today folks!

Brewery: Thomas Creek Brewery

Style: Cream Ale
ABV: 4.5%

Glass: Tulip

Appearance: Clear and brilliant straw color with a loose but well-retaining bright white head that is very bubbly and doesn't leave much in the way of lacing on the glass.  Slight chill haze.

Aroma:  Carries a definite sweetness with a hint of vanilla that becomes stronger as I get into the belly of the tulip.

Body & Texture: Very light bodied with a sharp and very prickly carbonation that leaves a lasting tickle in the mouth.

Taste:  Flavors are quite light, notes of corn and light malt.  Some sulfur is detectable, along with the unique yeasty sweetness of a cream ale.  Not much if any discernible vanilla flavor. 

Overall: This fits the style bill of a cream ale quite well, and it is definitely your classic everyday American beer.  One could sit with this and watch the football game, grill some burgers, mow the lawn, or float in the pool.  I am, however, a little disappointed in the lack of vanilla tones in the flavor.  There is a sweet vanilla detectable in the aroma, but the flavor is purely cream ale - very upfront with corn and some sweet light malts, thin and refreshing.  I was hoping for perhaps a sweet tang of vanilla to come through with the cream sweetness, or even a more bitter note that you might see from vanilla beans in the secondary.  

The Dobie and I have debated several times whether or not more commercialized American styles have any place in the craft beer world, but at is takes a certain finesse to pull off any craft beer I believe that they do.  This beer certainly pulls off the style of the cream ale well without harboring the general, well, grossness of various commercial American cream ales that shall remain nameless.  Hats off to Thomas Creek for achieving this, but you guys still haven't fully changed my mind on the cream ale scheme.  

Stay tuned for more Thomas Creek beers soon!

If you'd like to read more about Thomas Creek and their beers, check out their website at - http://www.thomascreekbeer.com/

Green Man IPA

IPAs are a hot commodity right now, probably because who doesn't love a good IPA, but with all the popularity unfortunately the market is being flooded with half-assed beers and terrible knockoffs that leave you sort of sad and hop-free inside.  The Dobie and I enjoyed several of Green Man's brews while cruising through the beercation beer trail on our Asheville, NC trip, so we brought a few home to share with the readers.  

Brewery: Green Man

Style: English IPA
ABV: 6.0%

Glass: Snifter

Appearance: A really lovely dark copper that brings to mind gorgeous earth tones.  Small white head leaves some really nice lacing down the sides of the glass and nice clouds settling on top.

Aroma: This beer carries a very earthy nose with subtle green notes that indicate the presence of hops.

Body & Texture: Body is light with a medium prickly carbonation with just enough hop bite going down.

Taste:  Earthy hop flavor follows the aroma, like tasting nature in a glass.  Noteable hop flavors range from earthy to pine to a bit of citrus and ending with a moderate bitterness that pushes the hops forward but isn't overpowering.

Overall:  This IPA embodies nature and growth, with earthy tones and delicious flavors that just scream green.  I actually ended up walking out on my porch to enjoy the evening air and take in the sights and sounds of the forest while drinking this lovely little brew!  IPAs are all the rage right now, so we're seeing more and more of them produced.  A lot are moving off-style or just falling short, perhaps not enough hops or too much other added flavor, but not so with this IPA.  The rich earth tones inspired by the deep hop flavors are just right for sitting down and contemplating the effects of nature on good beer.

Check out Green Man Brewery and the rest of their beers at their website - http://greenmanbrewery.com/

Duck-Rabbit Amber Ale

That's right folks, we so thoroughly enjoyed the Duck-Rabbit brews we encountered in Asheville that we brought back not one but two for review!  If our next trip to North Carolina takes us farther in to the eastern side of the state, we're definitely going to try and make a trip over to Farmville (yes, that is the actual name, I know) to check out their tasting room and enjoy their dark beers brewery-fresh!

Brewery: Duck-Rabbit

Style: Red Ale
ABV: 5.5%

Glass: Snifter

Appearance: Golden dark amber color with a small, off-white head.  Head has a good retention with some thready top-lacing.

Aroma: Aroma is pretty unremarkable, not much to take in but a slight undertone of wet caramel.

Body & Texture: On the heavier side of a light body with a lot of prickly carbonation.

Taste:  My initial reaction to the flavor was that I taste rye, though this could be a flavor mimicked with various hops.  A solid but not unpleasant bitterness from the hops blends nicely with caramel and toffee tones and a little toasted malt to finish it off.

Overall: I can't say I'm ever massively enthused by most red and amber ales, but that's not to say I don't still love them.  Actually some of my first beers were ambers thanks to the somewhat better than your average beer drinker palate my dad has.  Like many good ambers, this would make a great small sessioner.  It's a little heavy to go in on a whole six pack of in one go, but you could sit and watch the game and have at least three of these and be perfectly happy!  In fact, I'd recommend picking up a pack or two of Duck-Rabbit's Amber Ale and having the guys over to watch the game and learn a thing or two about what good beer tastes like!  This beer is mild enough that it will pair well with a variety of tasty football accompaniers, from cheese dip to veggies to hot wings.  If you're not into football, serve this chilled at your summer BBQ or just sit down with one after work and enjoy!

Check out Duck-Rabbit's other beers and read more about them at their website - http://www.duckrabbitbrewery.com/

Duck-Rabbit Duck-Rabbator Doppelbock

Here we are again, moving on through our North Carolina beer adventure!  While in Asheville, the Dobie and I encountered Duck-Rabbit's Milk Stout, a really big, sweet, and absolutely fantastic sweet stout that we adored and immediately wanted more of.  After learning that this brewery with the funny little logo that might be a duck and might be a rabbit specialized in dark beers, we were definitely sold and had to bring a few home for further tasting purposes.

Brewery: Duck-Rabbit

Style: Doppelbock
ABV: 8.5%

Glass: Snifter

Appearance: Pours with little to no head to speak of, maybe a light ring of tan bubbling around the edges.  Deep muddy amber-brown in color.

Aroma: Sweet malt aroma, very heavy with notes of brown sugar, molasses, and a bit of breadyness.

Body & Texture: Medium bodied, thicker when it warms to the air a bit, and pretty heavy on the carbonation for a doppelbock, but smooth with a slight alcohol burn at the finish.

Taste:  Brace yourself, this is a big boy!  One sip of this gets you a mouthful of rich sweet malt and some definitely detectable esters.  It finishes with a bang, the malt profile switching from rich and sweet to toasted and savory.  Notes of chocolate, raisins, and molasses are prominent in flavor, bringing in the normal sweetness of your average doppelbock then raising the bar with an extra big malt boom to finish it off.

Overall: This is not a beer for the faint of heart!  As with any doppelbock, don't eyeball the word "lager" and automatically assume you're in for a quiet, light, little bar beer.  Duck-Rabbator is a big beer that comes out swinging with a sweet, delicious, malty aroma and finishes strong with a strong malty punch.  This definitely isn't your classic doppelbock, but who doesn't like to explore a little into style experimentation?  As a homebrewer currently experimenting with just that, I would venture to say that hardly anyone is ever really mad about it!  Duck-Rabbator is definitely a tasty doppelbock, but it may not be for everyone - if big flavor and hefty malt is up your alley then give this strange animal a taste!

The Dobie says - Sweet, well balanced, with a nice roasted and ester flavor at the end.  This might be the new top on my list of favorite doppelbocks!

Check out Duck-Rabbit and the rest of their beers at their website - http://www.duckrabbitbrewery.com/

Catawba Brewing White Zombie

We really enjoyed Catawba's beers while on vacation in Asheville, NC.  I initially tasted White Zombie on tap there and enjoyed the mild flavor profile so much that I brought a can home!  I'm sure the canned beer will be somewhat different than fresh off the tap but I'm certainly excited to give it a try!

Brewery: Catawba 

Style: Witbier
ABV: 4.7%

Glass: Tulip

Appearance: Straw colored with hints of green, this beer pours with a 1-2 inch fluffy white head that drops within a few minutes and leaves little to no lacing on the glass.  Definite flocculants visible with a full pour.

Aroma: Aroma is bready with notes of orange-like citrus.  

Body & Texture: Light medium body with a decent carbonation and a lightly effervescent mouth feel.

Taste:  Flavor comes across mild at first but builds with the glass, incorporating notes of wheat, orange peel, and a light spice and finishing with the hint of a mild bitter hop in the finish to complete a fantastic array of taste.  Farther down the glass the flavor becomes stronger, and 

Overall: While I will say that this was definitely better fresh as the flavor profiles were a little more powerful and easily detected, this is still a really tasty wit!  I enjoyed this particular can with a reuben sandwich and, not to toot my own horn, but that was an excellent decision.  The flocculants might be offputting to more inexperienced drinkers who might be intimidated if they happen to notice the presence of "stuff" in their beer - but don't worry it's perfectly acceptable for it to be there!  This beer has a great flavor that is mild and versatile enough to pair with a variety of foods or drink alone.  I love that it started as a Halloween beer and evolved into a year-round favorite.  Serve this at your Halloween party, a winter mixer, or your summer BBQ, this flexible little brew will go just about anywhere for you just like it seems to have done for its brewers!

Check out more of Catawba's beers at their website - http://catawbabrewing.com/#

Catawba Brewing King Don's Pumpkin Ale

My first experience with Catawba Brewing Company came in Asheville, NC at Barley's Taproom when I knew at first glance that I absolutely had to try their King Coconut Porter.  It was as billed, a candy bar in a glass.  I was sold from sip one.  I tried a few of their other brews while in Asheville and was so impressed I brought a few home!  This is pumpkin beer season, so I figured I'd start with this tasty looking can here!  Yes, I know it's still August, go away.  Football has started, so fall has started, and fall means pumpkin beer!  It's logic, accept it.

Brewery: Catawba 

Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 5.0%

Glass: Snifter

Appearance: Gorgeous amber-red color that captures the light and absolutely shines!  Head pours about half an inch, a light to medium tan that is just slightly on the red side. 

Aroma: Very spicy!  Definitely contains notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, maybe some cardamom.  

Body & Texture: Lightly carbonated and medium bodied, however it is difficult to pick up on the lighter carbonation because the spice adds a tingle that mimics the effect of a much more carbonated beer - quite an interesting texture to be sure!

Taste:  Everything a pumpkin beer should be!  Deep, rich pumpkin notes give rise to heavy spices that follow the aroma.  The spices are definitely the king of the King Don's, cinnamon and nutmeg being especially prevalent.  Quite spicy actually, but this is not unpleasant!  

Overall: This is only my, hmm, fourth pumpkin beer of the season, but it is definitely my favorite so far!  I'm a huge fan of spicier beers, because when executed properly, they become an amazingly complex and savory yet refreshing beverage that always leaves you craving more.  This particular pumpkin ale is just all around good!  Not only is it beautiful to look at (please use an appropriate glass to enjoy this work of art), it also goes down easy and provides an amazing array of complex flavors that range from almost sweet pumpkin to savory, tingly spices that tickle the tongue and trick you into believeing that there's more carbonation in your glass than there really is.  This one gets an A+ in my book!

Read about Catawba and the rest of their delicious brews at their website - http://www.catawbavalleybrewingcompany.com/#