Blue Point Winter Ale

Can you believe it's March? I almost can't. The last two months managed to squeak by without leaving too many scars and stains but I've managed to persist in keeping notes on new beers I've stumbled across. I'll try to be better at collecting seasonal brews and post them in a timely manner.

I'm not the Winter ale variety type but whenever a brewery I like does a seasonal beer, I'm usually inclined to try it at least. Blue Point is one of my favorite local brewing companies and I feel as though most of their brews are pretty good, and good enough to warrant a purchase of anything they come out with. This Winter ale is what it is, a Winter ale, a dark beer with a hint of bitterness and a lot of roasted flavor. The bitter part of the beer is not overwhelming but I do classify this beer for having the proper label, it is dark, heavier on alcohol and has a roasted bitter bite. Like all dark beers, I never recommend these types of brews for folks who only usually enjoy just lagers.

Newcastle Brown Ale

Wow, time really does fly. The holidays are over and the presents have been doled out. All that is left is the New Year's and then another year ahead. Last year, I resolved to buy less beer that were not really my taste and stick to the types of beers I like instead of attempting to try it out. So far this year, I have kept that resolution to a greater extent. I have not purchased crazy IPA's just to try knowing that they really are not my favorite type of beer. This coming new year, I'm on the prowl for organic brews and rediscover beers that I thought were just fine, but trying them again years later, I realize they're more than just fine. Like this easily overlooked brown ale:

Although not American, Newcastle Brown Ale is definitely a classic beer without a lot of carbonation, refreshing taste and a caramel hint to it. I really like this beer for its simplicity, there really isn't a lot of favor going on, it is not a heavy beer, but it does a lot of things right in terms of balance. Usually when I read the label, Brown Ale, I have a pretty close idea that it's going to be on the heavy and bitter side. This is untrue for Newcastle, this beer is as light as they come, the only thing dark about this is the color which is attributed to the caramel coloring I think. This is a great entry level type of brew away from lagers without being heavy or intimidating to drink.

Duchy Originals Organic English Ale

The brand of this ale sounds dirty almost but it's really just organic goodness. There's something about the water I'm going to say with these organic brews, they always have this crisp taste to it not found in non-organic brews it seems. I don't have any proof of this, but all the organic ales, pale ales, and the like all have this similarity to them. This is a good English ale to try, I like the weight of it and it is not overly carbonated. I can taste some bit of citrus with a really pleasant sweet aftertaste.

These types of brews are pretty hard to come by without really searching specialty shops for. I'm sure overseas where they are local, they probably come in cans or smaller bottles. It's hard to commit to those giant bottles without knowing what awaits inside. I've gone and dumped a few bottles right down the drain after taking a sip, a gulp, followed by another sip to realize acquiring a taste for it would not be much fun. For the most part, I've gotten some good ones without too much hesitation, I'd easy count this as a good buy.

Coney Island White Lager

I can't help but be drawn to these Coney Island labels, the artist really captures the color and flair of the carnival theme. I'm sure those who've never been to Coney Island may have this image in their heads that it is a smaller version of a state fair, but I assure you it is not. It is pretty run down but has its moments of being the first amusement park in New York. No childhood is complete for a native New Yorker without visits to this dirty beach and amusement park. I recall a summer two years ago where I made it to Coney Island and bought a corndog to only feel defeated by the deflated and staleness of it. Maybe I went at the wrong time, but it was light out, I would assume the lack of foot traffic may have attributed to idling of the corndog.

I thought I would like this white lager just all right and I did. I don't think I will buy another because I am not a huge fan of the style of beer. It's not a strong beer but there is a ton of flavor in it, there's definitely some essence of citrus and spices. I would recommend this to Belgian ale fans who love the tarty orange peel goodness.

Kasteel Cru Fine Lager

I've seen these in four packs and they're pricey at more than $12 for only four bottles. I managed to get a single to try since the label explicitly says made with champagne yeast. How fancy. I'm not much for the fancy besides loving some expensive cognac now and then. This beer does smell a bit like champagne and has the taste of champagne mixed with beer, the tartness of it, and the bubbles. I'm not a fan of champagne or white wine since it does a number on my intestines. However, I am a bit impressed with capturing the champagne feel right into a beer for those who enjoy that type of thing. This is something I would probably never buy or drink again, based on personal tastes, but it is a good beer to try, there is not anything else like it I've seen.

When I wrote about summer escaping too quickly, I did not realize it would be this quick as the weather has changed within a week to feel very much like Fall. I'm going to be pillaging some store shelves to find some brews I have not tried.

Saranac Brown Ale

Dark ales are not always good buys for me. Half the time they're too bitter to be enjoyable, or they're bitter and heavy in alcohol at once that after having just one, I'm feeling like I'm done wanting to drink anything but a gallon of water to flush it out of me. I've had a few good dark ales to keep trying them and really give things a chance in hopes they'll be good, or even turn into one of my favorites. Saranac does it well, I would have to say do they it better than Smuttynose with this one. There is some bitterness to it, but really not a lot and although this has a bit more alcohol than the other brews, it's not an obvious difference.

I'm realizing August is sliding its way to a close and I'm feeling like summers are shorter and shorter as years go by. I used to measure parts of the year not by season but by things that should be done before a certain time but everything seems cyclical it is hard to keep track of where time really goes. There's only a few more months left in the year and there are a few little personal milestones and markers to pass, but other than that, I'm really just looking for those Fall brews to hit the shelves.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

For years, I've drank these at random and never thought too much about it and after trying many types of brews, I've come to realize this is a really good beer. Sierra Nevada really gets it right with this pale ale, the weight, flavor and alcohol content is very balanced. This is really an anytime type of beer and pairs well with most foods. This leaves a sweet aftertaste without a lot of bitter or grit, it's probably one of best common beers I can think of.

I'm not too worried that my favorites will be replaced by better brews as I keep trying more of them. But sometimes, it's a nice surprise to try a beer again after many years and think differently of it.