New Beer Friday 1/22/16

It was a busy week with all the new brewery talk. Now it's time to decompress with pant loads of new beers. You can't go wrong this week!

Uinta Farmhouse Saison - The nose has orange peel, pepper, clove, and Chardonay grapes with a Brett like funk. The taste tends to follow. Upfront you taste Belgian yeast with good notes of black peppers, clove, and a funky taste that is akin to Brett. Chardonay grapes shine throughout giving it a nice tart vinious taste. Also some notes of pear, apple and orange zest. Hops are very subtle. If your a saison fan, you'll love this. 5.6% ABV @ Uinta Brewing 

Uinta Cutthroat+ - This version of Cutthroat pale ale (called Cutthroat "plus") is made with cocoa nibs, orange peel and cayenne pepper. Sadly I've not tried it yet. Please share your thoughts! Only available in Utah. 4.0% ABV. @Uinta Brewing

Bohemian Bremish White - Not tried this yet. Described as incredibly smooth and drinkable. Orange and lemon citrus in the nose . Smooth malt and a wee bit of lacto. (thanks Zach Bells) 4.0% ABV @ Bohemian

Heretic Brewing Shallow Grave - This porter is described as a big, dark ale with a complex and rich chocolate and caramel malt character followed by a touch of warmth and light malt sweetness, leaving you ready for more. 7.0% ABV

Heretic Brewing Evil Twin - This blood-red ale is described as a malty and hoppy craft beer. Evil Twin has a rich malt character, without being overly sweet. It has a huge hop character, without being overly bitter. It is a great example of a bold, rich, balanced craft beer, without being heavy and hard to drink in quantity. 6.8% ABV   

Heretic Brewing Evil Cousin - Heretic's take on a West coast imperial IPA is described as a bold, in-your-face hop monster. It has a light, easy drinking malt character that allows the hops to stand out. The hop character in this beer is intentionally on the dank side; big, sticky, and aggressive. This beer is for those of you who can't get enough hops. 8.0% ABV

Heretic Brewing Chocolate Hazelnut Porter (CHP) - Is described as dessert in a glass. It is a rich, robust porter bursting with luscious chocolate and hazelnut. Notes of coffee and caramel round out this delicious treat. 7.0% ABV

Heretic Brewing Torment - This 10% Belgian-style dark ale is described as a rich beer with lots of caramel, malt, dark fruit, and Belgian candi sugar notes. The luscious fruity character is full of caramel apples, candied pears, and chocolate covered oranges. Torment is the dark counterpart to Heretic's Worry Belgian Golden Ale.

New Belgium Blackberry Barleywine -  Pours a ruby color with golden highlights. The nose has a mild combo of caramel, malt and berries. Sugary malt up front with a lot of berry syrup. Some boozy clove and oak flavors round it out towards the end. Finishes cloyingly sweet. This beer lacks balance. English barleywines are sweet as it is - the berry fruitiness just turns this beer into "diabetes in a glass". Too sweet for my wussy palate. 10.0% ABV

Augustiner Bräu Maximator - Ruby/brown in color with a nose of caramelized sugar, pumpernickel and allspice.. The taste starts with caramel, dark cake and toasted malt. Next comes a bit of vine fruitiness. More toast and oak in the end - slightly warming. Complex and sweet not at all like the Blackberry Barleywine. 7.5% ABV

Laughing Dog De Acheste Hond - Pours a golden amber color. with a peachy nose with a hint of tart strawberry. The taste is mildly tart with some peach and more strawberry. The tartness has a yogurt like sour profile. The end has some tangy citrus flavors. There's an odd flavor in here that I'm having trouble identifying. It's not offensive, but it takes me away from the enjoyment of the beer. 7.0% ABV @Bayou

Samuel Adams Winter Snap - Described as an unfiltered White Ale with smooth wheat with the bright snap of spring spices. From the subtle sweetness of orange peel and plum to the peppery bite of fresh ground coriander, the blend of spices creates just the right refreshing kick to signal that spring is on its way. 5.3% ABV @DABC

Pelican Saison Du Pelican -  The nose is strong with musty yeasty pear and apple. The taste is somewhat herbal and phenolic with some peppery notes. A bit of lemony tartness comes through in the end. The finish is herbal and dry. Alcohol is noticeable. 6.0% ABV @Bayou

Cheers!

Heretic Beers Are Here

I believe it was October of 2014 when we broke the news that Heretic Brewing Co. out of Fairfield, California were bound for Utah. I knew it would take a while but fifteen months later they are finally here. As with all new product entries into our market the better beer bars in town get them first. This is to gauge what labels the patrons are most interested in. It will be a few weeks before you'll start seeing them in liquor stores. They are apparently already in some DABC stores! thanks, Edmanster!

If you can't wait that long, The Beer Bar and BeerHive have them right now. The following beers may not be available at both locations. I suggest looking to their social media accounts for their selections. Are there any labels I missed?

Heretic Shallow Grave - An American Porter
Heretic Evil Twin American Red Ale
Heretic Evil Cousin - West Coast Style IPA
Heretic Chocolate Hazelnut Porter - Duh
Heretic Tomrment - Dark Belgian Style

Drink 'em up and enjoy them fresh. If you want them to stick around? That's up to you.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday: Halloween Edition

Welcome to this special Halloween Edition of New Beer Friday! Today we have a new brews from local and out of state Booeries. See what I did there? I said, "booeries instead of "breweries".... because it's Halloween! ..... never mind, here are your beers.

Sadly, I've not had one of these beers. All descriptions are from the makers. The new beers from the Beer Bar are scheduled to arrive today and may not be available until after 5pm, so call first if your making a special trip.

Hoppers - Pumpkin Ale (Unspiced): Secret Agent and Hoppers Brewmaster Donovan Steele has a pumpkin ale - who doesn't, right? The difference is his has the pumpkin but no traditional pumpkin pie spices. The only spice like flavor is from the variety of hops used. The ale is made with fresh roasted pumpkin and pumpkin puree. Brown malt, caramel, honey malt, oats, and roasted barley to enhance the pumpkin flavors and texture. 4.0% ABV @ Hoppers

Oakshire Brewing - Watershed IPA: Brand new to the Utah market. Described as having a floral nose with lemon and hints of caramel. The taste has toasted grains followed by grapefruit, pine and some floral notes. 6.7% ABV @ Beer Bar

Base Camp - S'more Stout: Aromas of chocolate, coffee, fig, and smoke invite you in to a gigantic maltiness that is distinct in its smooth and refined character, with flavors of chocolate and hints of smoke mingling with rich caramel, fruit, and warming alcohol.  Top with a roasted marshmallow and you have the ultimate S’more experience! 7.7% ABV @ Beer Bar

Base Camp - Northwest Fest: Base Camp's take on the malt-forward fest biers of Bavaria. Extensive malt aroma and taste trials over the last two years led us in crafting this recipe, a subtly-hopped amber lager that walks the line between dry and full-bodied, not too sweet but definitely not lacking in malty goodness.  Lagered on our in-house toasted oak to round out this brew’s flavor profile. 5.6% ABV @ Beer Bar

Hopworks - Fuggle IPX: Fuggle hops are typically floral and grassy so look for that along with a bit of light caramel malt. 6.0% ABV @ Beer Bar

Hopworks - Abominable Winter Ale: This is described as a Winter IPA. Look for toasty Munich and light caramel malts with a medley of citrus fruit notes from the hops. @ Beer Bar

Woodchuck - Granny Smith Cider: Brilliantly clear golden hue. The nose is simply apple. The taste is tart green apple. Not jaw locking tart but enough to feel in your cheeks. The are some tannin notes in the end. Very drinkable. 5.0% ABV draft @ Beer Bar (This one is on right now)

By the way, Heretic Brewing did confirm that they are bringing their beers to SLC in early 2015.

Cheers!

Rumor of the Day: Heretic Brewing

2015 is likely going to be a big year for new craft brands coming into the state. Breweries from all over the west are discovering a huge Utah shaped hole in their distribution maps and are finding it's full previously undocumented money wielding beer nerds.

One brewery I'm hearing rumblings about is Heretic Brewing out of Pittsburg, CA. Heretic makes six year round offering and about a dozen seasonal beers. Their known for a DIPA named Evil Cousin and a Strong Ale called Evil Twin.

My sources are say early 2015. Take it for what it's worth, these rumors usually come to fruition, just not in the time frame normal humans are used to. Any thoughts on these beers?

Cheers!