Our Tastes-- Mosaic dry-hopped Fort Point

Another Trillium pale ale that only a pic can truly convey. Not a juicy NEIPA, but a über brew on it's own. Mosaic in other beers hasn't had this kind of impact on me, but I get a great honeysuckle, tangerine peel grass from the nose. As you can see the beer would be otherwise clear has the hop particulate not been poured over, but I wanted the full experience. Enjoyed from a 16oz can and poured a fabulous white froth with a green beaded trail down the middle from the unfiltered hops. So far both of the PAs I've had from them like Columbus "son of Nugget" in their recipes (part of the CTZ grouping), coincidence?

Siebel Studies

Going into week 9 we'll start Beer Sensory. I'm looking for to that to be able to identify flaws better in my brew. I've also looked at an AHA offered sensory tutorial that only $20 just to reinforce. If I can identify a certain flaw accurately at least I'll know where in the process I need to start looking for a remedy. Yeast management was informative, high grav brewing is something done more by the big boys and I actually got a lot out of the kegging module. Seems like a good task to give someone who has OCD:) I wish recipe formulation had been more in depth, but perhaps I can use the last few weeks to delve deeper into this with the instructors as my plan is to finish early and use the remaining time to re-read and probe them on other aspects.

Our Tastes-- Beer for Breakfast

A fine pre-sellout brew! Beer for Breakfast is a great DFH 7.4% heavily lactose laden stout. Color is good and dark with a slight powdered sugar nose. Full mouthfeel and the smoked coffee taste that comes through is by far the best part to this brew for me! The layers of ingredients in this beer are truly phenomenal. "2-row Applewood Smoked Barley, Kiln Coffee, Flaked Oats, Roasted Barley, Caramel Malt ... Molasses, Milk Sugars (lactose), Brown Sugar, Roasted Chicory" are all listed as active players in the brewing bill. Then there's scrapple, I could have gone the rest of my life without having this knowledge. It's as though my palate walked through a scene from Seven with curtains around it, only to have them snatched down at the last sip as I endeavored to understand this "scrapple" term. My mind drifts to a pint of high abv stout with pancakes and bacon dipped within it only to irreversibly remember how hot dogs are made. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. 

Our Tastes-- Static Chipmunk

A very fine "Junker" that label alone would have caused me to purchase. Static Chipmunk is a Double IPA offering from Evil Czech Brewery out of Mishawaka, IN. Clocking in at 8% and 70 IBUs this marmalade orange beauty brightened a gloomy weather day for me. Topped with a robustly thick white head in which a nose laced with tropical tones heavy on pineapple erupted from to start my Pavlovian response. This brew is an amazingly quaffable DIPA that showcases Amarillo, Simcoe and Mosaic hops like a masterful artist! I Untappd this beer at 4.5 and wanted to know where I could get the t-shirt. Problem solved. Now, where can I get another sample without driving to Indiana?

Our Tastes-- 3 Sheets Barley Wine Ale

I have become a huge fan of Ballast Point Brewing Co since their arrival to my area. Sculpin (and it's kinfolk minus Habañero) led me into a great new line of beers. So when Three Sheets Barley Wine Ale came available at my local Hop City, I committed to a growler and it did not disappoint! (actually bought in March and just now tapping in to) A big ole brown colored ale with an initially frothy whitish head that quickly dissipated let me know this was to be a beauty.

Our Tastes-- BOMB!

Prairie Artisan Ales (and Junk) made this BOMB! taster possible. With a 100 on ratebeer and 99 on beeradvocate, I was more than happy to bend my light streak with this "Junker". Obviously if you've heard of BOMB! you know it's an imperial stout at 13%abv with an ability to bend light it's so dark. What I wasn't aware of was the creamy tan head and complex aroma that would pour into my tulip. I got an initial taste of chocolatey peanut butter followed by coffee, but not a bitter overly roasted bean but a smooth light roast that was intertwined in a full body of heavily laden alcohol. The cacao nibs were there as was a touch of vanilla, but whatever heat the ancho peppers were trying to contribute was drown out by the EtOH. I love beers like this that cause a memory to imprint while drinking them. Bravo Tulsa, OK.

Our Tastes-- Moody Tongue Peeled Grapefruit Pilsner

PGP is my first venture into Moody Tongue. Check that, Caramelized Chocolate Churro Baltic Porter was truly a wonder on a taster I recently had. But no mention of this brew on their direct site. (I do however like their "French-esque" themed t-shirts that say "Let your tongue decide"). PGP pours a clear light straw with flattening head. Aroma has a touch of fruity sourness to it but only as an afterthought. Oddly, the sour tartness that rides across the palate is refreshing and makes the desire for another 4.5% cleansing only more profound. I will say this, as a soon-to-be Siebel grad, I like the company I'm in with regards to the brewmaster. Then again, I've brewed with Red.