The Daily Beer

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis

Eel River Triple Exultation

This local craft beer from Fortuna, CA was recommended to me by a friend. It is brewed by Eel River Brewing Co.

Service type: 1 pint bottle on tall glass.
Style: Old Ale, 9.7% ABV

Appearance: dark reddish brown with tall and thick brownish head.

Aroma: rich malt and earthy  notes, alcohol in the background.

Taste: not as malty as on the nose, with some fruit in there and bitterness in the end, very alcoholic.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied with sligth carbonation.

Overall: not my favorite beer by far. I've tried, I've checked it off the list. Period.

Ruhstaller 1881 Red Ale

Service type: 750ml bottle on pint glass.
Style: California Red Ale, 5.6% ABV.

Appearance: deep red amber in color, very clear, with medium bodied white head that quickly disipated leaving some lacing behind.

Aroma: hoppy and citrusy, with some metallic hints in the background.

Taste: piny hops with caramel notes, very clean, no alcohol, metallic citrus aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: very easy drink, I'd say light to medium bodied, with almost no carbonation feel.

Overall: this could very well be a low alcohol/any ocassion/beer. Very good indeed.

Blue Frog Red Frog Ale

Stone Double Bastard

Arrogant bastard from Stone is one of my favorite local brews. I had not had their American Strong Ale until today and I have to say I have a new favorite from Stone.

Service type: 750ml bottle.
Style: American Strong Ale, 10.50% ABV.

Appearance: Copper/orange in color, very hazy, with almost no head.

Aroma: Hops and straw; very clean.

Taste: WOW! Pure balanced hoppy goodness followed by caramel malts and molasses.

Mouthfeel: Very clean and smooth carbonation. Medium body overall.

Overall: I repeat myself, my new Stone favorite. I will drink this brew every time I see it at a menu. Until I find a better one that is, of course...

Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA

I know yesterday I said I would taste the Allagash Quad today, but as it turns out, we went skiing all day and found ourselves having having lunch at a pizza place again, in the picturesque Truckee. The only beer they had I hadn't tried was the Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA on tap. I figured "what the hell" and went for it, I could always crack open the Quad when I got home. It was good.

Service type: 375ml tall glass on tap.
Style: American India Pale Ale, 6.50% ABV. 

Appearance: Pale gold and completely clear. Almost no head at all.

Aroma: Hops and grass, very crisp.

Taste: Hops and caramel. Very balanced with some citrus and earthiness.

Mouthfeel: Almost no carbonation, light to moderate body, very refreshing.

Overall: I will definitely be having this one again. I picture myself poolside on a hot summer morning with spicy shrimp "aguachile" on the side...

Eye of the Hawk, Mendocino Brewing Co.

Today we had sushi from our favorite place for lunch and had to go pick it up. On the way home I was in sort of a hurry but had no beer at homoe; I had to stop on the mini-mart on the gas station by our place and this was the only beer on the fridge that I hadn't tried. It's brewed by the Mendocino Brewing Co.

Service type: bottle.
Style:  Handcrafted American-style Strong Ale, 8.0% ABV.

Appearance: amber and mahogany, produced less than half an inch of white head with good retention and minimal lacing.

Aroma: fruity malts, caramel, wood.

Taste: smooth sweet and caramely malt with very little alcohol in the background. Some bitters could be perceived in the finish like burnt toast or metal.

Mouthfeel: very easy drink, medium bodied with minimal carbonation.

Overall: a good enough strong californian Strong Ale to repeat once in a while.

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

Today I found myself skiing in North Lake Tahoe for most of the morning up until right after midday. After a good morning's ski I went for a hamburger to a local restaurant in the little but picturesque town of Truckee, and I decided to accompany lunch with a Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale; only by coincidence, also brewed by yesterday's Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Service type: on-tap
Style: American IPA, 6.80% ABV.

Appearance: Deep orange/brown amber, with lots of white full head which held for quite some time. Very clear and clean appearance.

Aroma: Toasted malts with deep floral and piny hops in the background.

Taste: Very smooth malty flavor at first, finishing with fruity notes and fresh piny hops in the background.

Mouthfeel: Very fresh throughout, medium body beer with just the right hint of carbonation.

Overall: Very, very nicely balanced IPA; it's a shame it's only available during holiday season.

Ovila Quad, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

To start off the year I tasted the Ovila Quad from the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co in Chico California.

Serving type: bottle.
Style: Quadrupel (Quad), 10.40% ABV.

Appearance: I has a deep brown color with a full healthy head and lacing. It appeared cloudy as expected and.

Aroma: dark fruits and caramel at first, then deep caramel.

Taste: dark fruits and pronounced caramel although some alcohol could be perceived and it wasn't overly sweet. Very malty though and little hops could be tasted.

Mouthfeel: medium body overall with little carbonation feel and velvety smooth finish.

Overall a very nice Quad good for any occasion.