Beer – Page 3 – The Sporting Brews

Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale Review

Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company was founded by Pearse Lyons, founder of Alltech, an animal nutrition company, in 1999. The company makes a variety of beers, one of which we reviewed here, as well as bourbon. Naturally, they use bourbon barrels in their beer creations. Up for review today is their Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale. The company states that age their take on a cream ale, which is brewed with hints of flaked corn and bourbon vanilla beans, and age it in decanted bourbon barrels for at least two months.

The beer pours a light amber with a thick, foamy, white head that stood about one-and-a-half fingers tall at its height. Some carbonation can be seen reinforcing the head. The aroma hints of sweet vanilla but is not overpowering. It does perk up the taste buds but isn’t overly sweet. There is some oak present as well but it is very subdued and you almost have to bury your nose in the glass to get the oak aroma.

The first sip follows the nose. The notes of vanilla are followed by malt which plays heavier than expected. There are notes of oak and the earthy-sweet flavor of corn. The beer is medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. It is smooth in the mouth and finishes on the dry side. With vanilla in the title of the beer you almost brace yourself for an overly sweet beer but this isn’t the case at all. The notes of vanilla are just right, enough to perk the taste buds, but not enough to overwhelm the other flavors presented.

Overall, this is a pretty good brew. It might not be a session beer, though at 5.5% you could get away with making it one. The flavor is a nice change of pace and a little sophisticated but not enough to come off as snobbish. This is a nice change of pace that can be for bourbon lovers looking for a beer or for beer lovers looking for something slightly more complex on the palate.

Cape May Brewing Devil’s Reach Review

Cape May Brewing Company is a relatively new face in the brewing industry. They were founded in 2011 in Cape May, New Jersey and are still a very local beer, only being found in the New Jersey and Philadelphia area. They currently offer over 10 beers and seem to be branching out and growing every year. Up for review today is Devil’s Reach, a Belgian-Style Ale.

The can informs the drinker that this is “easy drinking with fruity esters.” The beer pours a cloudy, hazy pale gold with a thin but creamy white head. The fruity esters definitely can be found on the nose but the aroma of wheat, bread, malt, and cracker also come through. The nose is definitely what you would expect out of a Belgian-style ale with notes of fruit. There also isn’t much carbonation seen but if you get closer you can see the tiny bubbles racing to the top.

The first sip is very good. There are notes of apple, pear, and orange but none dominates. The slightly spicy or peppery note of the phenols compliments very well. There are pleasant notes of malt and bread, as you would expect with a Belgian-style ale. It is medium-bodied and finishes dry but is very smooth with just the right amount of carbonation.

Overall, this beer is exactly as advertised on the can. It definitely is a Belgian-style ale. There are definitely fruity esters noted. It is also easy drinking. However, the name, Devil’s Reach, is also appropriate. It clocks in at a healthy 8.6% ABV and packs a significant punch. It is also really easy to drink, especially if you are a fan of Belgian-style ales. This could sneak up on you when you least expect it so caution is needed. This is a very good beer and worth giving a try, especially if you enjoy Belgian-style ale.

Flying Fish Hopfish IPA Review

We have featured Flying Fish Brewing Company a few times here on The Sporting Brews. You can check out previous reviews on their other offerings by clicking here. Up for review today is their Hopfish IPA.

Hopfish pours a slightly hazy amber with a thick, foamy, slightly off-white head that rose to just over one finger at its peak. There was some carbonation visible but not a lot. The aroma was subtle but clean and slightly malty. I expected more hops on the nose honestly but malt, some sweet caramel, and biscuit predominated.

The first sip followed the nose. Notes of malt, some slight sweet caramel, and bread/biscuit dominated. There was some slight hop bitterness on the backend. The beer felt light in the mouth, though close to medium-bodied. The finish was slightly dry but very smooth with just a perfect touch of hop bitterness.

As the session progressed there was some nice lacing on the glass, enough to make any bride jealous. The flavor profile held true throughout as well. In fact, I might even say it got better. The malt forward flavor and hop finish definitely had me going back for more sips.

Overall, this is an interesting beer. You read IPA and Hopfish and you almost expect to be overwhelmed by hops. That is not the case. This leans more toward the Brown Ale side with its malt and biscuit/bread flavors forward. The hop finish is subtle but welcomed. At 6.2% ABV this beer with some meat to it but not overwhelming by any means. This is a good solid beer that fans of Brown Ales might love and fans of IPAs might find a little on the weak side. Still worth a try.

Rusty Rail Brewing Fog Monster Review

Rusty Rail Brewing Company out of Mifflinburg, Penn. has been around for a few years now, opening their doors in 2013. Currently, they are only a regional beer but have been growing with six year-round offerings, four seasonal brews, and soon to be four limited releases. Up for review today is Fog Monster, a New England IPA.

Fog Monster pours a hazy, foggy, pale orange-yellow. There was a foamy, white head that rose to the height of about one finger at its peak. There was little carbonation seen rising to the top due to the foggy nature of the brew. The aroma was surprisingly subtle. There were some tropical hoppy notes but it wasn’t very strong as some other IPAs or NEIPAs.

The first sip features a light citrus flavor from the hops quickly followed by notes of malt and cracker. The mouthfeel is on the light side for this style of beer and the finish is on the dry side. There is a hop bitterness that lingers a bit at the back end as well. You would be surprised to find out this beer clocks in at a healthy 6.8% ABV as there is a light feeling to this brew. The carbonation is on the medium to high side, perhaps lower end of the high scale. The glass laced beautifully throughout the session.

Overall, this is a decent beer. It would be great on a warm summer day as it is light and refreshing with a slight tropical hoppy flavor. As far as IPAs go, this is a light IPA as far as flavor goes. If you love the hops this won’t be for you. If you like a little hops this might be up your alley. There is a heavier malt presence at times. I would really classify this as a Light IPA more than anything else. It is refreshing and is easy to drink. I just don’t know if I would put this in the IPA family but I would buy this again.

Saranac Pale Ale Review

Saranac of Utica, New York is part of the F.X. Matt Brewing Company which is the fourth oldest family-owned brewery in the United States. They have brewing beer since 1888. When you’ve been doing something that long you know they have to be doing something right. We have reviewed Saranac beers before which you can check out here. Up for review today is their Pale Ale.

These days when people hear Pale Ale they probably automatically think of a really hoppy India Pale Ale. Pale Ales, however, are an English invention, much like the IPA, but with less hops. Saranac promises a little more hops than your typical Pale Ale but less than an IPA.

Saranac Pale Ale pours a light copper with a frothy, off-white head that rose to over three fingers at its height. Some carbonation could be seen rising to the top to reinforce the head. The aroma has notes of hops, malt, biscuit, and a sweet note of caramel.

The first taste follows the nose, though a little more subtly. Caramel and hops seem to predominate on the palate. It has a light, silky mouthfeel with a slightly dry finish. There was some lacing on the glass early on but towards the end the lacing stopped for the most part.

Overall, this is a good beer. I will reiterate this isn’t an IPA. With that said this is a beverage you can easily make a session beer and at 5.5% ABV it won’t fight you back. If you are looking for something to try this is worth it for sure. It is a good, solid beer.

21st Amendment Brewing Blood Orange IPA Review

21^st Amendment Brewing Company was founded in 2000 in San Francisco’s historic South Park by Nicco Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan. They have made a good name for themselves out in San Francisco, winning several awards from the local press. Their beer has grown in distributorship steadily and now finds itself from coast to coast with at least some of their offerings. One of those beers, their Blood Orange IPA, is up for review.

The Blood Orange IPA pours a golden orange with a white, frothy head that stood just over one finger tall at its height. The aroma of orange and citrus is dominates but it does allow notes of hops and malt to shine through in the nose as well. There was a bit of carbonation as the beer poured but it evened out after the pour. This beer looks inviting.

The first sip follows the nose very closely. The citrus from the orange shines through with some notes of grapefruit from the hops. There is a slight hoppy, bitter finish but just enough to leave you wanting to take another sip. The beer is on the lighter side of medium, or it could be the heavier side of light. There was also some sticky lacing on the glass as I drank which made my glass look like it was tastefully decorated for Halloween.

Overall, this beer is pretty darn good. The sweet citrus up front followed by the hops and grapefruit notes were a fun tease for the palate. As soon as you were finished with one sip you wanted another. If you like IPAs then I suggest giving this a try. It will be a slightly different variation on what is becoming a saturated market.

Tröegs Nugget Nectar Review

Tröegs Brewing was started by two brothers in 1996. They sold their first pint in 1997 in central Pennsylvania and have grown steadily since then. Now, their beer is found all over the country and still expanding. They now feature 11 year-round brews and several limited runs. Among those limited runs is their Nugget Nectar Imperial Amber Ale.

Nugget Nectar pours copper in color with a slightly off-white head that rose to just over one finger at its height. There is an aroma of hops and pine forward with sweet notes of caramel and a hint of malt. There was some moderate carbonation rising to the top at first but that mellowed quite a bit as it settled.

The first sip features a sweet forward note of caramel sweetness. There is some hop pine and resin flavor that follows. There are notes of a mellowed sweetness, like you would get from a raisin. This is quickly followed by malt before it finishes with some subdued hoppy bitterness. The beer feels light in the mouth and is very smooth with a dry, hoppy finish that lingers subtly. The carbonation is perfectly suited for this beer, giving it an easy and satisfying drinkability.

The beer had some moderate lacing and the taste was consistent throughout with just a slight drop in sweetness as the session progressed.

Overall, this is a fine beer. It does pack some punch at 7.5% ABV but this is a beer with repeat drinkability. It doesn’t have that bite of alcohol that many beers with such a high ABV feature. This is a beer you want year-round and can enjoy on cold winter’s night or a warm summer’s day. The more I drank the more I enjoyed. The unique flavor really made this a fun session.

Brooklyn Brewery Brown Ale Review

Brooklyn Brewery has been around since 1988 when their first case of beer was delivered to a local bar. They have since grown to the point where there are a dozen different beers being brewed and they can be found in most states. One of those beers is their Brown Ale. You can check out our other Brooklyn Brewery reviews here.

Brooklyn Brown Ale is a year-round offering. The beer pours a deep brown, almost coffee color. There is a small tan head that rose to about half of a finger at its height. The nose is one of malt and a sweet note that comes through and dominates, like a sweet caramel. There is very little carbonation seen rising to the top, mostly because this beer is dark.

The first sip follows the nose but with a bolder statement. There are notes of roasted malts forward with some malt and bread mixed in. This is followed by a sweet toasted caramel before it brings a slightly bitter, malty note forward at the back. It really is a pleasant sip with distinct notes coming through on each sip but all working together to give you a solid Brown Ale experience.

The beer feels medium-bodied in the mouth with a silky, dry finish. There is just the right amount of carbonation for a brown ale. Despite not having a large head there is a nice lacing going on as the beer drinks. The flavor is consistent throughout the session with notes of bread and malt coming through occasionally.

Overall, Brooklyn Brown Ale is a good beer. There is something comforting about brown ales and this one fits right in. You could make this a session beer without a single regret and at 5.6% ABV it won’t bite you back. This is just a good beer.

Shiner Wicked Juicy IPA Review

Spoetzl Brewery, home of Shiner Beer, has rolled out quite a few tasty beers over the years, some of which have been reviewed here. Shiner Bock might be their flagship brand but they currently produce 16 beers. Sadly, not all of them are distributed as widely as Shiner Bock. However, they are continuing to advance their brand and bring their other flavors to more markets. One beer that recently made it to my market is their Wicked Juicy IPA.

Wicked Juicy IPA is advertised as a “dry hopped and unfiltered IPA…bursting with a rush of tropical hops for a bright, juicy kick.” The beer pours a hazy, cloudy orange. There were bits of yeast floating in the beer. The head was a creamy white that stood about two fingers at its height. There wasn’t much carbonation seen but a few lines of bubbles rising to the top. The aroma was kind of subdued. There were notes of citrus, hops, and cracker or biscuit that came through.

The first sip followed the nose. I was expecting much more of a hop forward flavor. That wasn’t the case. A refreshing, juicy note came forward with notes of orange and grapefruit as well as some hoppy pine. There was also a nice malty, biscuit flavor that came through as well. The beer felt medium-bodied in the mouth with a somewhat creamy mouthfeel that I wasn’t expecting with an IPA. The finish was slightly hoppy but not overwhelming. The carbonation was well done and there was some soapy lacing going on with the glass as it drank. The beer also held its flavor throughout the session.

Overall, this is a nice beer. If you love hops you might be disappointed. If you like hops but also like a refreshing beer you will be happy here. Wicked Juicy IPA clocks in at 5.7% ABV and 60 IBUs so this is a beer you can drink for a session and it would make a nice session beer given its refreshing nature. It is a good beer, it just seems a little subdued for an IPA but I certainly would drink it again, especially on a warm summer day.

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale Review

The story of Lagunitas Brewing Company begins in 1993 with Tony Magee and his hobby of brewing his own beer at home. Eventually it grew and the California company was born. The story of their Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale dates back to 2005 and the company’s shut down which lasted for 20 days. As Lagunitas states, they did the crime, they did the time, and now they have the bragging rights. If you are really interested in the backstory of this interesting brew click here.

Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale pours a deep amber with a fairly thick, slightly off-white head that rose to one finger at its height. The aroma is unique. It features some hop notes but there is an added note which is hard to place. It reminds me of old wine barrels to a degree, an earthy sweetness. There is some noticeable carbonation rising to the top.

The first sip is unique. I don’t know if I have had a beer similar to this. There is a mellow start, almost malty. That is quickly followed by this interesting note that might be best described as oaky and dank at the same time, like a red wine or whiskey barrel. There is also a slight citrus undertone with notes of hops and malt. The taste is really unique and the nose and flavor complement each other well here. It feels very light in the mouth and finishes dry. There is a slight alcohol taste on the backend but that is to be expected since this brew clocks in at 9.7% ABV. Despite the alcohol taste that comes through it is finishes with a nice warmth similar to the one you get when drinking red wine.

There is some nice lacing on the glass as the brew drinks. There is also a consistent flavor profile. You get the same taste with each sip and you keep sipping because it is so unique.

Overall, this is one of the most original beers I have ever tasted. It is a little sophisticated but also somewhat familiar. This brew has some bite so making this a session beer could result in unforeseen consequences. This is a good sipping beer with a unique and interesting taste. This is a limited release but worth giving a try.