Mike Loves Beer -

Ranger IPA

April 21, 2010

Name – Ranger IPA
Country – United States
Type – American IPA

Appearance – Pours a very clear golden orange color with a good sized white head that left a nice amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell – Citrusy and floral hops. Some bready like malts

Taste – Citrus hops are there and then a pretty big bitterness that sticks around throughout tasting it. There is a caramel and bread like malt backing. And there is this I want to say metallic type taste to it as well. It just doesn’t sit right with me.

This is my first New Belgium beer in quite awhile, ever since my trip to Arizona. I got it through mail order from Beverages 4 Less and have heard good things about it. There was just something with the taste that didn’t seem on to me. The hop taste was slightly odd and the metallic taste makes me think that it is infected or something happened with it’s trip to me. I would like to try one fresh sometime just to see if it was just my bottle but this bottle didn’t impress me much.

Overall Grade – C

Home Brewer Newb Help Needed for Recipe

April 20, 2010

/ Home Brewing /

12 Comments

So now with my second batch, Black IPA, in the primary and about to go into secondary I am trying to think of my next brew. This time I want to make the recipe instead of just go on a premade recipe. I want to try to stick to extract with specialty grains for now since I don’t know the first thing about all grain. I am hoping to go by Funky Buddha some time to see an all grain brew done so I can grasp it in my head.

So here is what I need help on. I’m not really sure what types of grains and hops to really pick out and how much of them for the idea I have. I would like to make a chocolaty Belgian strong dark that is similar to The Bruery’s Two Turtle Doves and Terrapin’s The Dark Side. I am looking at you my home brewing friends for some assistance on what I should look at. Like if there is a really good and easy ingredient calculator out there to use please let me know. Or if you think I should use some specific items please let me know. The only thing I am pretty sure of doing is adding cocoa nibs to it probably in the secondary.

So here I am asking for help from my friends as the home brew newb. I appreciate everything in advance.

Saison De Lente

April 20, 2010

/ Beer Review /

3 Comments

Name – Saison De Lente
Country – United States
Type – Saison

Appearance – Poured a hazy straw color that is a little close to orange. There is a bubbly white head that leaves a little lacing on the glass.

Smell – Lemony and peppery to the nose. You can pick up the yeast and a little slight funk.

Taste – Lemon, pepper, clove and bready character. The brett is there that you can pick up. But a refreshing taste.

If you didn’t know by now I am becoming quite the fan of The Bruery. This one can be added to the list of good brews. While I don’t see anything super crazy about it there is still the very refreshing quality it has. This along with Hottenroth will make excellent summer day beers.

Overall Grade – B+