Our Tastes-- Burton Baton

Closing in on the last DFH beer that I have stashed away, this one was given to me by Junk. Burton Baton is a wonderful medium amber pouring IPA blend. Head was flattening tan or so with slight drops of yeast brown that were the last to hit the foaminess. The aroma is an amazing soft hoppiness of floral and slight pine. According to the label it is a blend of young and white oak-aged IPA. Taste is a well distributed hop all the way across the palate. There is definite closing of the nasal passages due to "hop nose" for me. For those of you that don't know or have never experienced this ask a "hop head" friend or drink more IPAs, it'll happen to you too. Apparently certain types (or heavy amounts) of hoppy beers start to close me up, this one is doing it in 1/4 of a pint! Not much vanilla to this one for me from the wood. This is just a great citrusy, piney 10%abv IPA. Made from pilsner and amber malt, hopped with Northwestern hops this is a blend of an English Strong Ale and DFH's 90 minute IPA.

Brew Batch #36 REINKE'S REVENGE 2009

Racked over today onto 2 ounces of white oak chips. I'm a little concerned because it was at 1.026 which is was last year's batch was bottled at and I think that may be what caused the over carbonation in bottles. So, I'm hoping it drops a few more point at least.

Our Tastes-- Avery Samael's Ale

So for The Enabler's 32nd we are trying Avery Samael's Ale (Brewed 2006 Batch#2). We tried this one in a large cordial glass. The color is a medium-dark particulate brown with a nose of profound sweetness. The flavor is as complex as the previously tasted Samuel Adams Utopias 05'. There is a heavy maple with plum and raisin with a definite taste of fresh white oak. Mouthfeel is medium with a clean finish and alcohol warmth that comes forward. An oak-aged English Strong Ale brewed with Two-row barley, caramel 150L, Columbus and Fuggles hops. Now סמאל from what I have read may have gotten a bad rep. Even though this is part of Avery's "demon series" Samael is a fallen angel. He may have been the one who tempted Eve yet stayed Abraham's hand from killing his own son. At 14.5%abv you can control Samael by pouring it in a small glass.

Our Tastes-- Reaper Ale Redemption Red Ale

KOKO! (Keep On Keepin' On). Redemption Red Ale is one of the last Reaper beers we have to try and it makes the grade as well. Pouring a reddish medium brown with slight particulate. The nose is a bready malt with little hop aroma. Columbus boil, Amarillo finish with an Amarillo dry-hop. 6.6%abv with 20.35 fatty-making CHOs per 12er. Well worth the bills it was bought with.

Our Tastes-- Reaper Ale Deathly Pale Ale

As we grind it out trying to deplete current stores of great brew we try Deathly Pale Ale tonight. Pouring a nice creamy off white head and cloudy dark wildflower honey. Sweet, floral aroma from it's malt and high alpha acid hops. Made with Chinook for the boil and finished with Cascade then dry-hopped with both. 6.2%abv and 16.25gms CHO per 12oz serving. Good mouthfeel and bitter aftertaste makes a keeper.

Brew Batch #37 Québécois Quadruple Wheat Wine

I picked up this recipe several months ago with the yeast culture showing a January date! To my surprise it cultured and activated in less than 24hrs, I mean it was churning. I read an article that wheat wines are taking over barleywines in popularity, possible because wheat is a bit cheaper than barley right now and there aren't many hops added? Nonetheless OG 1.078+0.001 @68F. Hopefully it has a long way to drop.

The Bees' Knees Mead©

Ah yes, I bet you had forgotten about this sleeping beastie. Bottled everything up today. I got 28&1/2 short brown 12oz with plain golden crowned of the cyser and 10 “Anchor" and 13 "Grolsch" style bottles of the vanilla cyser. FG ended up at 1.006+0.001 @69F. This yields about 16.9%abv for both. One thing I noticed is that on the rack prior to bottling, the vanilla seemed to be slightly lighter in color. Did the vanilla beans have anything to do with it? Either way I have already gotten everything ready for my next mead batch and have started pricing jumbo blackberries and Michigan cherries for the next batches.