Our Tastes-- Ghost River Golden Ale

As Junk brings'em, I taste'em. Ghost River Golden Ale pours a slightly cloudy golden straw with light white head. Golden ales for me have the same nose of slight bready yeast, almost lager-esque, this one is no different. The taste has a forward taste of the "German" variety hop, generally speaking these tend to be readily identifiable in beers with light malt profiles. Malts for this one are Munich and two-row. This is a really good golden. Reminds me a bit of SA Noble Pils on the hop profile, must be some Saaz or Tettnanger hiding in it. Ghost River has an interesting soft (low mineral content) water source in the Memphis Sands Aquifer. I'd knock a 6er of these out while cutting grass and smoking stogies.

Brew Batch #50 REINKE'S REVENGE 2012

And on the same night Reinke's 2012 kegs it up. FG 1.016+0.00@ 66F lays down a 9.7%abv dry-hopped behemoth! When this one gets cold I'm hoping more malt comes forward because the Target hops are there almost overwhelming the EtOH. Hay Man, stay tuned.

Brew Batch #51 ESB (a.k.a Evie's English)

Evie's English into the keg. FG 1.002+ 0.00@ 66F knocked out a 5.7%abv bitter. The uncarbonated flat tester has a good more yeast up front than I would like but the Glacier hops give it a nice even slightly minty bitter across the palate. I'm sure as it gets colder and the yeast drops our this one will be a good'en.

Ah Yes, THAT day is Nearly Upon Us Again.

There aren't many days that consistently raise my spirits, but Christmas and this one run together just ahead of opening day for hunting season. If you'd like to learn about the lingo, start here.

Against the Grain- Shartpants

Bonus beer is Shartpants. Apparently ATG Brewery has the story of Old Slohdzhak that they model some of their beers after depending on the type. Shartpants is an oaked Belgian  IPA at9.1%abv and 78.5 IBUs. The head in the sampler glass even has a nice thick froth to it, in part I'm sure to the uber combination of the hop profile of Columbus, Centennial and Cascade and Belgian Abbey ale yeast used in this grapefruit, piney, yeasty bready libation. I loved it so much that currently I have a voluminous growler my beer fridge that my mom-in-law felt like I needed in life. Yeah, she's a keeper. This was an awesome beer to shut the flight down on.

Against the Grain- Wakatube IPA

Wakatube New Zealand IPA, their hop beer of course. This 7.6%abv IPA is hoppy with more floral than citrus nose and palate tones. Not as hop explosive as I would have thought with a mouthfeel not as full as I'd think but bitterness is definitely there with 68 ibus. Not sure of the exact NZ hops used, I was too busy gulping..

Against the Grain- Pepperation H

And the flight just got wilder ad wilder. Pepperation H was the smoke beer and boy was the smoke up front. An amber ale at 7.2%abv made with peppers and cherry wood smoked malts aged over hickory wood. Poured a very clear medium brown with a very deceiving nose. The caramel and Vienna malts lended a sweetness balanced out by the Magnum hops. Then the puree of Guajillo, Morita, Pasilla and Chipolte peppers adds flavor and the post fermentation addition of Habanero slides in some heat. I could swill down a full pint but for the time being 4oz or so was just right.

Against the Grain- Saladbarity

Saladbarity was next up. A Baltic porter listed as their dark. It had a great roasted malt and an 8.1%abv as smooth as I've ever had. A beautiful dark brown beer made of maris otter, pilsner, caramel and chocolate malts. Throw in some Magnum and Saaz hops and you've got a keepsie.

Against the Grain- Munichaulay Dunkulkin

As the flight continues I went with their malt brew, Munichaulay Dunkulkin, a Munich dunkel at 5.5%abv. It's progressively darker brown than the predecessors. Dark wheat
is present in the malt bill for sure! I don't drink a lot of dark wheats because I tend to shoot right at the opacities of winter but this was another awesome beer. Melanoidin and chocolate malts bring a little roasty toasty. Hopped with German Tettanager to give it that noble feel.

Against the Grain- Bierepoix

Bierepoix was my next brew classified as their whim beer. A biere de garde that was slightly more brown than the previous ESB. A 6.8%abv "Christmas dinner" in a glass. The nose on this one was bland but the ingredient list included celery, carrots and onions?! By far the most interesting beer all night. Apparently they do a Chef Collaboration series and this beer is 3rd in such line. Chef Andy Myers of the Anchorage Café helped to concoct the traditional French mirepoix (again looking this one up) flavors they put in this one and for giggles threw in some thyme, coriander, orange peel, and local sorghum. Oddly enough in the 6oz taster each veggie hint was present. I may only be able to knock back a pint of this one but it was definitely a good one to try.

Against the Grain- Ludicrously Terse

A couple of weeks ago I was treated to a new brewery in Louisville, KY by my sister and brother-in-law called Against the Grain. Without being able to decide on just one brew I tried a flight plus the bonus beer and this may be the best flight of beers I've ever had! The beers as you can see on their website are broken down into main types of beers, the name of the beer and the specs on it. This is also easily viewed on the huge chalkboard menu that hangs in the dining area. First up, Ludicrously Terse their session beer (at the time) an ESB of 4.6%abv. Color of tea with very nice mild bitterness and an excellent example of the style. Apparently my mom-in-law liked it above all others but has not given up her stance on wheats/wits at this point. Odd grain bill with the use of Maris Otter barley malt, melanoidin (I had to look this one up), honey and victory malts. Bittered with New Zealand Pacific Gem and and late addition of Czech Saaz. Fermented with a London ale yeast for balanced mineral and fruity notes.