College Football…rah rah rah!

I don’t know what happened to me over this past year, but since I started going to The Grad for pints and UCLA games last season, I have been ridiculously excited for college football to start. It started this last weekend, and I used it as an excuse to go out and buy beer (thanks for putting up with me, K). I picked up two six-packs at this really nice wine shop out in Avon (suburban Cleveland-ish?). Below are the reviews, but first, a little excerpt from my interaction with the woman who checked me out.

Me: “Would you like to see my ID?”
Lady: “Well that goes without saying! Such a young, small girl like you buying beers like this!”
Me: [ignoring her awkward, semi-condescending comment] “I’m really excited to try these. You have a great selection!”
Lady: [looking down at my ID] “This is NOT a very good picture of you.”

So here’s to brutal honesty abruptly putting a stop to what might have been a friendly exchange. Cheers, honest lady at the wine shop. 

HARVEST ALE – Southern Tier Brewing Co.; Lakewood, NY
5.70%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint

A: A nice nearly clear golden color. The head is white and bubbly. ST’s website promised a deep ruby color, and it wasn’t even close. But there was a nice cap and ring of retention and good lacing, so I’m not disappointed!
S: Nice piney hops on the nose. Aromas are fresh AND refreshing. Some fruity esters really come out of the pour but mellow out. There’s a grainy barley sense to somewhat balance out the hops.
T/M: Nice hop bitterness here. Pine in the back and pretty earthy up front, though not at all dirty. Very clean and crisp. The floral hops linger forever in my mouth. The medium body has an almost syrupy consistency but it’s also tingly and drying and overall very smooth. 
D: It’s hard not to want to gulp this beer down. It is refreshing, hoppy, and quite delicious. I’m glad I bought a 6er, but it definitely won’t last long. I do want to note that I was a little worried about this beer being an ESB, since “harvest ale” makes me think of a hoppy IPA or APA, but I sure did put my foot in my mouth after the first sip.
Harvest Ale – A-
 

CASCAZILLA – Ithaca Brewing Co,; Ithaca, NY
7.00%ABV

A: Cloudy caramel and light brown. The frothy head is 3 fingers tall and beige in color. There’s a hearty finger of retention for most of the session and a ton of lacing. I love it.
S: Bready malt is both sweet and spicy. I can’t get hops to pull through too much here. The aromas are really basic and not all that impressive, but I’m looking forward to the flavor either way.
T: Hops definitely come out more in the flavor, though only mildly at first. Spiciness is full-fledged in the flavor, with pepper and cinnamon coming in and out. The bready/yeasty profile is there, and it’s too big for me. Hops are floral mostly and come out more with warmth, and the bitters really linger here. The hops hide and appear at different sips. Strange, but good.
M: Light to medium body with higher carbonation. There is so much residual bitterness lingering on my palate. It really balances out that sometimes overwhelming bready malt. 
D: This is a beer that I would love to have fresh on tap. Like…today.
Cascazilla – B+ 

Beer Birthday Bonanza!

The last three days have constituted the birthday celebration of my dreams. I’ll break it down day by day, as beer was included in each and every one:

Friday (the actual birthday): 
- I received a package in the mail from a good soul in Missouri. Sanford included a bottle of Schlafly’s Bière De Garde, a bomber of O’Fallon’s Whiskey Barrel-Aged Smoked Porter, and two 12oz each of Bully! Porter. He will, of course, get a nice box in return. I want to give a shout-out to his restaurant in Columbia, MO: http://www.sycamorerestaurant.com
- Out to dinner with some friends. I had a Cháu Tiên (an interesting APA; currently brewed by Anderson Valley, though the story behind it is a bit unclear to me). Also split some bottles of North Coast Old Stock Ale. A bit of a phenolic aroma, but the taste was huge with vanilla and liquor, though I don’t think we came to a consensus as to precisely what it was. Definitely a sipper.
- My birthday gift from Kara. A certificate to Brew It Up! in Sacramento, where I take a group of fabulous people with me to brew up to six cases of our very own beer. Commence excitement…now. Who wants to come?

Saturday:
A surprise trip to Chico. I literally didn’t know where we were going until we got there (nice surprise, K!). After hiking with the pup for a couple of hours, we drove our thirsty selves to Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. The building, its woodwork, the aromas and solar panel array, the food, the beer, the service–everything was perfect. Kara and I enjoyed a lentil burger and hand-cut fries smothered in SN Porter mustard, a Mediterranean Pizza with fresh, organic veggies, a brown saison for her, and a kellerweiss and bitter ale for moi. See reviews below. We also picked up 6ers of the Pale Bock, Porter, and Crystal Wheat. 

Sunday:
- Strawberry pie, beer and glassware from Elliott and Elise. A bottle of DFH 90 (te adoro, DFH), a bomber of Avery’s The Reverend (the first ever Quad in our fridge), an imperial nonic pint glass, a large snifter, and a weizen glass. Elliott (I know you’re reading this, because who doesn’t read my blog?), you are way too generous for feeding my beer (and strawberry pie) obsession. Thank you!! 
- Also cracked open some brews yesterday to celebrate the last day of my birthday weekend, two of which I’ll soon have new reviews for.

In the meantime, here are some pictures of our SN journey, as well as notes on the beers I had:

 

 

I'd like to back my truck up into this loading dock.

brand new solar array. thank you, sierra nevada, for caring about the earth. (chico fest to celebrate our environment on april 26th--anyone?)

yeah. that's right.

reviewing my kellerweis <3

kara's brown saison. it's all about the head on this one!

i hope to see this taproom and restaurant again very soon.

 

KELLERWEIS HEFEWEIZEN
approx. 5%ABV
Serving: on-tap 
A: Cloudy light golden and yellow with a small white head that retains pretty well. Great lacing on the glass.
S: Spices and wheat on the nose with a hint of citrus.
T: Wheat, fruit, and tons of refreshing spices. Very balanced, though the wheat definitely stands out.
M: Crisp, light, and smooth mouthfeel. 
D: This beer claims to be the perfect California beer. There is no doubt in my mind about this claim. I look forward to the addition of this beer into the regular 6er lineup come June!
Kellerweis - A 

BEST BITTER ALE
Approx. 5%ABV
Serving: on-tap
A: Clear golden and amber with a small white head that retains as a ring.
S: Nothing really overwhelming on the nose. It smelled like the rest of the brewery (a little yeasty and grainy). It had a mild cooked aroma, but it wasn’t unpleasant.
T/M: Crisp and light, dry finish of bitter hops. Some honey sweetness somewhat discernible amongst the drab malts and hops. I really wish there were something more to this beer, though maybe it’s meant to be very neutral!
D: This was okay. I wouldn’t necessarily choose this again because there are so many other solid SN brews to choose from.
Best Bitter - C+

i'm distracted by the immense lacing on kara's saison glass in the background

Alright, that’s enough of the birthday post. I’m exhausted.