Our Tastes-- Brooklyn Pennant Ale '55

For some reason I have absolutely got the taste of nothing but Pale Ales and IPAs in my mouth especially after this past week's vacation to Seaside, FL. So I took some of this brew and am just now after getting back actually trying it. This pale ale that's a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Brooklyn Dodgers winning the World Series is a complex grain ale. Made with Maris Otter, Belgian Aromatic and British Crystal malts it had a sweetly biscuit taste. The head is light-flat and hoppiness balanced with Hallertau Perle, Willamette, American Fuggle and Cascade. 5.0%abv and able to be paired with just about anything.

Our Tastes-- Tommyknocker Butthead Doppelbock Lager

Last but not least is the Butthead Doppelbock Lager. The head is flat with aroma slightly orange sweet. Color lighter brown than its NB brethren. The taste, bocknacious! I just made that up, don't look for it in Webster's. I would but a 12 pack of this alone. Made with Munich, carapils, caramel and chocolate malts and fermented with Bavarian lager yeast to give an 8.2%abv! Bittered by no less than German Hallertau. 2003 GABF gold, Frank's platinum.

Our Tastes- Tommyknocker Maple Nut Brown Ale

Next to last brew is the Maple Nut Brown Ale, (hope it's better than my NBA recipe). It pours a dark clear brown and 1/2" of tight foamy head. The taste is FRD (to quote my buddy Junk), a great slightly roasted sweetness! This comes from the maple syrup that is added to each barrel during fermentation. Munich caramel and roasted malts in this one and "a relatively low alcohol content". Get some.

Our Tastes-- Tommyknocker PickAxe Pale Ale

Continuing with the Mother Lode taster, I'm trying PickAxe Pale Ale. This is a great English Pale Ale. Pouring a slight froth and medium orange color this brew is made with British Columbia Bramling, Czech Saaz, and British East Kent Goldings and dry-hopped. The aroma is very nice, possibly better than the overall taste. Sampler getting better.

Our Tastes-- Tommyknocker Ornery Amber

This is a nice colored amber, but so over carbonated that the head foams for minutes and I am forced to drink from the bottle after waiting for the pint to settle. I am reading 3 new books on brewing (1 at a time) but I have read that over carbonation causes taste changes that may leave a sourness on the sides of the tongue, which is what I am experiencing now. Crazy medals I have never heard were awarded to this one but overall it's still a nice drink. Not sure at this point that I would buy this sampler again.

Our Tastes-- Tommyknocker Jack Whacker Wheat Ale

On the back of the donkey is a bag of wheat and lemon grass. A "true" wheat pouring beer with a cloudy hue and slight citrus frothy head. A few medals were won by this 2-row barley and 30% malted wheat brew about 8 years ago. Other than that it's good brew. So far a pleasant sampler

Our Tastes-- Tommyknocker Alpine Glacier Lager

Still working on The Enabler's 102? legs from last year, but reaching the end we continue with the Tommyknocker line of brews. Made in Idaho Springs, CO and starting just 10 years ago this apparently has become a rather nice line of microbeers. This particular bevvy comes from the Mother Lode Sampler. Glacier Lager pours exactly as expected, it's a lager, cloudy but a lager nonetheless. The site hosts a contact for homebrewing which is nice since I am now a part of C.A.B.S (Central Alabama Brewers). Nothing fancy-shmancy about this brew, but great to try. No info on the recipe and abv listed, sorry.