Beer – Page 8 – The Sporting Brews

River Horse Roly Poly Pils

River Horse Brewing Company is located in Ewing, N.J. and has been producing a fairly wide variety of beers for a few years now. They have grown since 2007 when the current ownership group bought it and have focused on growing and reaching a wider audience. One of their year-round brews is Roly Poly Pils, a Czech-style pilsner which we will review. If you want to read the review on River Horse’s Summer Blonde Ale click here.

Roly Poly Pils pours a hazy gold, almost light honey color. There is a nice, thick white head that was about two fingers deep. This beer looks great off the pour. The creamy head looks like something you would top a dessert with. There are a bunch of small bubbles rushing to reinforce the head. The aroma features a little malt, some bread or cracker notes, a hint of lemongrass or light citrus.

The taste pretty much follows the nose. Very consistent in that regard. You get malts, a little hops, a light citrus sweetness, a light note of pepper, some bread or cracker notes as well. The carbonation is just right for a pilsner. It has a light to medium mouthfeel. The more of the head you get the heavier the mouthfeel. However, the beer maintains a slight head throughout the process. It does finish a bit dry which just makes you want another sip.

Overall, this is a very nice beer. Americans tend to see their pilsners more in the Miller Lite category. River Horse is bringing a lot more flavor and has produced a flavorful beer that packs multiple layers of flavor and was consistent throughout the process. This is a beer you can drink any time of year at any occasion. At just 5.3% ABV it is perfectly suited to be your companion at any occasion too. This is a beer worth trying.

Forgotten Boardwalk White IPA Review

Forgotten Boardwalk Brewery of Cherry Hill, N.J. took over the old Flying Fish brewery building. The company was founded by Jamie Queli who has made it her personal vision to brew beers and turn her brewery into a sort of adult playground. They have a few year-round brews and a few seasonal and limited runs. One of their seasonal beers is the White India Pale Ale.

The beer poured a hazy gold with a solid white head that rose to just over a finger at its height. There were some bubbles seen slowly rising to the surface. The aroma was one of hops, yeast, and a note of citrus. They blended well together and created a nice nose to the beer that wasn’t overpowering.

The first sip brought forth a yeasty bread flavor followed quickly by a tinge of citrus and finally the hoppy bitterness you would expect of an IPA. The beer felt light in the mouth and finished dry. The carbonation was on the lighter side of moderate, just enough to tease your tongue.

This is not your typical IPA. It doesn’t have the grassy or piney bite of hops but is rather mellow in that department. You definitely notice the hops but the Belgian yeast is allowed to play its role without interference. It is like you are drinking two different beers in the same sip but somehow the flavors come together in a fun and playful way. The beer does leave a little lacing on the glass as you drink, like ocean waves crashing onto shore and the breakwater beyond. The only complaint I have is there is a little alcohol taste at times. It does clock in at 6.6% ABV but I didn’t expect that much of an alcohol taste. It doesn’t kill the mood of the brew though.

Overall, this was a fun beer to drink. As a fan of both white and wheat beers and IPAs it was nice to see the two get along so well. This is a fun beer that you can definitely enjoy in the summer. The flavors mesh well and are allowed to shine in their own right. I’d buy this again.

Review of O’Fallon’s Daze of Summer

O’Fallon Brewery was founded in 2000 in Missouri and has grown from a small production to one that is now distributing to several states, mostly in the Midwest but they are available in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The beer up for review today is their Daze of Summer which is described on the bottle as a “malt beverage with natural flavor and artificial color.”

The beer pours a color that is hard to describe. It’s on the pink side, but also a dark honey color. It was surprising but interesting. The aroma was one of malt. There was a hint of citrus but I noticed mostly bread and malt. There was a small head of just under a finger that was just off white. You do see some bubbles rising quickly to the surface despite the hazy clarity of the beer.

The first sip was mostly a bubbly malt. The carbonation tickled your tongue and was on a similar level to a soda. There was a citrus note trying to come through but the flavor was malt on that first sip. Given the color of the beer you almost expect a pink lemonade or pink grapefruit flavor but that was lacking in this sip.

As the beer drank and carbonation settled a little more the citrus flavor started to poke through more. The malt flavor was still there and is the first thing you taste but as the beer drank the malt was quickly replaced by citrus. I believe it to be lemon. It is just there enough to be noticed but it doesn’t quite want to poke through. Similar to a ghost it only makes it presence felt when it wants. If I had to say I would definitely place this in the lemon category. As I’m sitting here drinking the beer I get stronger and stronger notes of lemon and citrus. The finish is a bit dry and on the crisp side.

Overall, this is an interesting beer. Can I call it a beer when the bottle says malt beverage? The more I drank it the more I felt like they were leaning towards a pink lemonade radler of sorts. I don’t know it I would put it in radler territory but at just 4.8% ABV it is something you can have during the day while enjoying the summer. It isn’t a bad beer by any means. It was just different. If you pour this beer I suggest letting it sit for a minute. I just wish it did more to stand out from the crowd but it wasn’t bad and I would drink it again, though next time I might try from the bottle.

Magic Hat Single Chair Golden Ale Review

Magic Hat Brewing Company began producing beer from South Burlington, Vt. in 1994 and has grown to become a nationwide distributor. Even though it was bought by Pyramid Breweries in 2008, and Pyramid was bought by North American Breweries, Magic Hat has stayed true to its roots. You know them. You’ve seen them in stores. We’re drinking them. Up for review is Single Chair Golden Ale.

Single Chair is an ode to one of only two remaining single chair ski lifts in Mad River, Vt. It is advertised as a medium-bodied golden ale that is crisp and refreshing. The beer pours a clear gold with moderate carbonation rising to the top which features a nice, white, foamy head that stood just over a finger tall.

The aroma is malt, some bread, a little sweet note, possibly from citrus, and a touch of grass. The aroma is very light with nothing taking the lead here. It is pleasant and just smells like beer.

The taste is almost identical to the aroma. The malts and breads take the forefront here. There is a touch of sweetness but without a clear identifier. It just tastes like beer which is a good thing sometimes. It doesn’t advertise a lot of bell and whistles and it doesn’t bring them. Its just a straight up golden ale which is nice and refreshing. The art on the can shows a ski lift so you almost expect a heavier winter beer but this beer can be had year-round. It is on the lighter side of medium in the mouth with moderate carbonation, just enough to tease your tongue. It finishes crisp and dry.

Overall, this is a good beer. It is as it it’s advertised, a medium-bodied golden ale. It tastes good and consistent throughout the glass and while it doesn’t really stand out it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Don’t be afraid to drink a beer with a ski lift all year long, though I feel if I had this in the winter I would just be dreaming of warmer days. At 5.0% ABV it is something you can drink any time and anywhere.

A Review of Sea Dog Brewing Company’s Sunfish Ale

Sea Dog Brewing Company out of Maine was founded in 1993. They have grown and this is the second review of one of their products on this site. You can find the first here. This time we are reviewing Sea Dog’s Sunfish, a wheat ale with natural peach and grapefruit flavors added.

The beer pours a honey color. I didn’t achieve much head on this beer, most likely because of the glass as I had no issues with other Sunfish beers I tried prior. There is a pleasant aroma that highlights the fruit but also a touch of honey and wheat. There is moderate carbonation seen rising to the top.

The first sip definitely brings forth the fruit. The peach comes first but the grapefruit quickly follows. Grapefruit can be tough to include in beer as it tends to be too bitter but the peach flavor mellows that and just the citrusy sweetness is allowed to come through. There is also a note of honey. The wheat does not come through much at all despite this being a pale wheat ale. The carbonation is lightly moderate, just enough to lightly tickle your tongue, like a little brewed foreplay. Sunfish has a light mouthfeel as well.

There isn’t much aftertaste which is nice. You do get notes of peach and grapefruit after you drink but neither are overpowering. The finish is dry and has you wanting another sip before you are even done with the first. The fruit could have been overpowering but they aren’t and instead play well with each other, allowing each to bring out the best in the other.

Overall, this is a fun, refreshing beer. It is definitely something you can drink during the day at the ballpark, beach, lake, or cookout and at 4.6% ABV it won’t sneak up on you either. The unique flavor combination really works here and does make it stand out among other fruit beers. I’d say this is worth giving a try this summer.

Rusty Rail Brewing Train Wreck Imperial APA Review

Rusty Rail Brewing out of Mifflinburg, Pa. is a small operation that began brewing in 2013. It wasn’t until 2015 that they really began putting out barrels to meet demand. They are still a small operation, with about 8,000 barrels produced every year and they are sold only in Pennsylvania and New Jersey at the moment. One of their more popular offerings is their Train Wreck Imperial APA which is a cross between an India Pale Ale and an American Pale Ale.

Train Wreck Imperial IPA stood out because of the label at first. It’s a great label with two trains colliding and hops exploding from the wreck. Points for the art work there. The beer itself poured a light gold or honey color, almost burnt orange. There was a nice white head of about two fingers at its height. You don’t notice many bubbles through the haze of the beer. You can definitely notice the hops aroma with notes of citrus and grass.

The first sip offers you an interesting hop variety. You can tell there are some citra hops in there. The beer starts off with a little fruity tang followed by hoppy bitterness you would expect with a pale ale of any sort. The fruit has an orange, lemon, grapefruit fusion to it. It feels medium bodied in the mouth but kind of smooth with just the slightest tingle from the carbonation. There is some fine lacing to the glass that is light but clearly evident. The one inconsistency I noticed was that there were some sips that had a bit more of an alcohol aftertaste while others didn’t feature that at all. It does clock in at 7.7% ABV so you expect a slight alcohol taste at times but the fact that not every sip was like that was a little surprising. There is a dry, hoppy finish to it that makes you want another sip.

Overall, this was a pretty interesting and fun beer to drink. I bought a six pack of it last week and have slowly been giving it the run through. It has actually gotten better with each beer. The beer has a pleasant aroma as you drink with the hops slowly giving way to grassy notes. The flavor was nice and inviting and while it may not be the most spectacular APA ever made it is good and fun and the art gives you something to stare at as you drink. I would buy this one again.

A Review of Flying Fish’s Jersey Juice IPA

Flying Fish Brewing Company opened its doors in 1995, well technically in 1996 since it actually started selling online only, in Cherry Hill, N.J. Yes, they sold beer online in 1995 when it took minutes to dial into a modem. So, I guess you can say that founder Gene Muller was way ahead of his time. The company has gone on to win ten medals at the Great American Beer Festival, the best of any New Jersey brewery. One of Flying Fish’s more popular offerings is their Jersey Juice India Pale Ale, a limited release.

Jersey Juice India Pale Ale pours a honey-gold with a thick, white head that stood just over a finger. The aroma of hops is evident as you pour. However, as you get closer to the beer you notice a nice floral note with hints of citrus and just a note of biscuit or oats. There are quite a few bubbles rushing forward to reinforce the head.

The first sip showcases a creamy head, slightly heavier than medium mouth feel. You do notice the hops but the fruit in this beer are nicely balanced and allowed to shine. There is a little lemon zest and sweetness followed by a little bitter and sweet grapefruit and finished with the hops. One thing about this that I found interesting was the hops were notable but they didn’t linger. Some IPAs have that hop shock but this was smooth. Mixed with the creamy body it was very delightful. The carbonation isn’t even close to overwhelming and as the beer sits the beer actually gets better and smoother.

The beer laces the glass like it was part of Cinderella’s gown. The flavors stay consistent throughout and the longer the beer sits the better it gets as the carbonation fades just enough to make this almost silky. At 6% ABV, you would expect a little more of the alcohol to come through but you don’t even notice it with this beer.

Overall, this is a very good beer. It has enough hops to please IPA fans but isn’t overwhelming so fans of other beers can enjoy this one as well. The fruit plays well with the hops and oats and every aspect compliments each other. This is a very good summertime beer, just refreshing enough with the fruit. If you want to try a fun take on an IPA without straying too far from the IPA roots then Jersey Juice IPA is worth keeping an eye out for.

Cooperstown Brewing 1998 World Champs Special Edition Brew Review

Cooperstown Brewing Company is located not far from the Baseball Hall of Fame. It is only natural that they produce beers with baseball names. Previously, we reviewed Bambino American Amber Ale. Today, we tackle their limited edition 1998 World Champs 20^th Anniversary beer.

The can reads it is “A light golden ale with subtle fruitiness and delicate hop aroma. A smooth, easy drinking refreshing ale.” This beer clocks in at 4.4% ABV so it is on the lower ABV side.

The beer pours a hazy, straw gold with a nice thick white head that rose to just over two fingers on the pour. You can see some bubbles rising to the top but the haziness prevents a lot of bubbles from being seen. The aroma is one of hops, straw, and fruit. The beer looks inviting.

The first sip offers a crispness that is followed by hops. The hops are the primary flavor here with notes of fruit that are subtle. The fruit is lemony citrus. This reminds me more of an India Pale Ale than golden ale but that’s fine. The flavor isn’t bad at all.

The head lasted a fair amount of time and the beer laces the glass well. There remains a tiny layer of foam that keeps the beer looking fresh and inviting as you drink. The beer is light-bodied in the mouth with a dry, crisp finish.

This beer is hard to judge. It isn’t a bad beer to drink by any means. Being a limited edition release in a beer that isn’t sold across the country makes this one tough to judge. I like it. It is a good beer that has a fun can, especially if you are a baseball fan or New York Yankees fan. I saw them in the store in 16 ounce cans which are sold in four packs. Overall, this is a decent beer. It is something you buy more for the novelty than for anything else. There are a lot of similar beers out there. I am not disappointed I bought it and might even buy it again but the can is what stood out here and sadly it still does. Their Bambino offering was much better but this one wasn’t bad by any means.

A Review of Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale

Rogue Ales began brewing in 1988 in Ashland, Ore. and have become fairly well known as the craft brew craze has grown. One of their more popular offerings is Dead Guy Ale which is brewed in the style of a German Maibock.

The beer pours a very sexy dark honey or amber color. It is slightly cloudy and there are few, if any bubbles to be seen. You know they are there because there is a one finger deep slightly off-white, foamy head. The beer looks inviting and pleasant right off the pour. You notice the malt in the aroma with notes of biscuit and toast. There are soft notes of caramel as well. The head seems to stick around as well.

The first sip is very pleasing. There is the malt, some caramel or toffee notes, some bread notes, and a little sweetness at the end that combines with the dry finish to make you want more. The more you drink the more the sweetness comes through as a bit of molasses or something in that neighborhood. There is a bit of grassy or earthy tones as well. They are subtle and the overall flavor profile is very nice and inviting.

There is moderate carbonation, just enough to slightly tickle your tongue as you drink. There is also some lacing on the glass. My glass was being used for the first time so it just being washed a little while beforehand surely downplayed the lacing. You can tell that this is a beer that would lace your glass like a wife on her wedding night.

Overall this was a good beer. If you happen to like malty beers you will find this a favorite. It is malty, bready, sweet, and just a pleasant beer to drink. Don’t let the name fool you, Dead Guy Ale will bring you to life if you like darker beers. At 6.8% ABV this is a beer you will want to sip but you will also want to drink this in a session.

Tall Tales Brewing Company Red Headed Step Child Red Ale Review

Tall Tales Brewing Company was founded in 2011 in Parsonsburg, Md. One of their more popular brews is Red Headed Step Child Irish-style Red Ale. The bottle boasts, “A dark Irish red with roasty overtone and a subtle, apple, fruity finish.”

The beer poured a reddish-brown with a foamy, slightly tan head that was about a finger and a half at its height. You notice the fruitiness of the beer in the aroma right away which was still a shock given how most Irish-style reds tend to be malty and yeasty. You do get notes of malt and yeast as you would expect but the fruit played a large role in the aroma and invited you in to discover its flavor. There is some moderate carbonation showing.

Even though I had the apple, fruity aroma I still was not prepared for how much of a front seat the fruit takes. The first taste you get is a bit of yeast and malt but the fruit immediately follows. You expect some of the apple flavor from the aroma but this beer really brought the sweetness and tartness that apples offer.

The beer feels pretty light in the mouth. There is some carbonation but it is still a smooth beer. The finish is a bit on the dry side, almost like a cider but not quite in the same neighborhood. It is just dry enough to get you wanting another sip. The apple really makes this unique. It isn’t often you see a beer in this style given a new twist but Tall Tales Brewing took the chance and I think it works well.

Overall, this is a fun beer. The name is fun, the taste and aroma are fun. I might enjoy this more in the fall but you can definitely get away with it any time of the year. The beer clocks in at 6.5% ABV so there is some heft to it but the alcohol taste doesn’t really come through which is nice. If you are looking for something fun and different you might enjoy this.