Our Tastes-- Samuel Adams James Madison Dark Wheat Ale

Now he's getting the hang of it. Next in the Brewer Patriot Collection is the James Madison Wheat Ale, batch #3. This mahogany beer has a great slightly sweet aroma, foamy head and foam legs like a beer on a catwalk! I love the label with the single horse pulling 7 barrels for the beer man. They used malted rye to balance out the hand-smoked roasted malted barley (red and white oak from Orange Co, VA from land once owned by Madison) in this one and it is really nice. Madison apparently thought about a proposal for a national brewery. I would have too if I made beer this good. No abv given on the website but it has to be around 5.2% and pairs with anything grilled. OK Jim 1-2, buddy. Whether you agree with his politics at the time the 4th POTUS could brew with the best of them.

Our Tastes-- Samuel Adams Geroge Washington Porter

Finally getting around to trying George Washington Porter. Apparently GW had a favorite beer and this style was it. Washington felt so strongly that there should be an American porter that he adopted and encouraged a policy of buying only American-brewed beer, rather than imported British beer. The notes of licorice and molasses are full and forward. In the colonial days these were standard flavors in porters and may have been exactly what Georgie enjoyed about the style, as opposed to the sweet and or hopped porters we enjoy now. The pound of East Kent Goldings hops per barrel is easily offset by the toasted malt bill and sweetness. Pouring a deep walnut and wafting with a head of toffee/coffee, matched with 5.7%abv and 171cal per long neck this ones the most profound keeper of the bunch.

By the Prick of my Thumb...

...something wicked this way comes. After finishing the last of the Summer Hummer I heard a gnarling and gnashing of teeth. Like an awakening of smoke and brimstone from Middle Earth that only Frankdalf the Gray can tame ...the stout mouth monster appeared. Unless it's a taster I fear this beast is here ot stay until St. Patty's Day;)

Our Tastes-- SweetWater 420 Summer Hummer

Tonight I am finishing off the last of the SweetWater 420 Summer Hummer. This is a great "Americanized" witbier. The aroma is bland with a hint of citrus. Taste is standard witbier with clove, banana and wheat. No legs at all and a 1 inch head when pouring. Don't forget to swirl the goods in the bottom to get the full effect, the sediment does add a difference in flavor profile, I've tried it both ways. It started out as a seasonal and quickly replaced Exodus Porter as a year-round beer renamed "Hummer". When you go out to the site and click on the Summer Hummer bottle it still links to the Exodus Porter profile, funny, you can't keep a good dark be totally down. No abv listed but with the clean fresh taste, a 6 pack would be no problem.