Craft Beer Thread

"Unearthly" by Southern Tier Brewing Company


This imperial pale ale was weird -- well-crafted, but off-putting to my taste buds.  A light amber appearance in the glass.  Good lacing.  Too much of a syrupy-sweet taste.  A lot of carbonation.  Caramel and apple juice flavors.  Nice finish, but the sweetness ruined the hops for me.  Not my cup of tea.

I picked this up with a separate six-pack of another brew that I will review later.  I got them at a gas station (!) right off the Northway in Saratoga that also featured 6 or 8 taps for growlers.

Petronio

Here is the label description:

Sounds like some of the bad batches I made when I attempted beer making about 25 years ago.
Everyone should try to brew beer, it's not hard but it will teach you why you pay so much for a good bottle of beer.

"Backseat Berner" by Otter Creek Brewing

This East Coast-style American IPA is out of Vermont and was a nice surprise find at the rest stop off the Northway.  It pours an unfiltered orange hue with smallish head and some lacing.

A deep, rich pine aroma with hints of citrus fruits.  Hop-forward, bitter, with a long strong finish.  7% abv.  Really delicious to me, my favorite style right now.  Maybe could ease up on the hops, but still a winner.  Recommended.

Petronio

Edit:  FYI they have this at the Tops in North Creek.

Petronio, I like the way you drink!
I recently had the pleasure of drinking a few from your local farm brewery plan bee.
Top notch!

mikegbflo wrote

Petronio, I like the way you drink!
I recently had the pleasure of drinking a few from your local farm brewery plan bee.
Top notch!

Thanks -- but not sure what farm brewery you are referring to?

Petronio

Normally I'm a hoppy beer guy but lately I'm going for the big malty beers of winter.  

Jacks Abbey Framing Hamemer is the best Baltic Porter you can buy.  Weights is at 10% abv.  Been losing weight and am down to 4 beers or less per week so i better make them count.

Great dessert beer!

This one, ten minutes from walkway over the Hudson.
we also stopped up the road at Suarez family brewery.
These breweries are the definition of quality beer.
#goaheadandgetit

Coach Z wrote

Normally I'm a hoppy beer guy but lately I'm going for the big malty beers of winter.  

Jacks Abbey Framing Hamemer is the best Baltic Porter you can buy.  

Porters are weird.  I used to homebrew them in law school.  Now every time I have a porter I think "why aren't I drinking a stout?"  They have their place, however.  I like them heavier -- I feel like too often when I get a porter it is too light and the malt unbalanced by sufficient hops.

Petronio

mikegbflo wrote

This one, ten minutes from walkway over the Hudson.
we also stopped up the road at Suarez family brewery.
These breweries are the definition of quality beer.
#goaheadandgetit

Go figure!  Have not heard of either.  Will have to check them out.  Thanks for the tip.

Petronio

"Dirty" by Adirondack Brewery


At 12,000 barrels a year, Adirondack Brewery still qualifies as a microbrew.  This is touted on the label as "A Hoppy Unfiltered American Pale Ale."  However, in the glass there seemed to be no cloudiness or residue that would indicate an unfiltered brew.  A lot of carbonation.  A pleasant yeasty aroma, with mellow malt.  Smooth, drinkable, somewhat forgettable.  A single-note beer.  This would be a lot better if they amped up the hops.  I'll make my way through the rest of the six-pack, but won't repeat.

Petronio

"UBU Ale" by The Lake Placid Brewing Company


The pic does not do it justice, but this English Ale is a deep, deep garnet color in the glass if you hold it up to the light.  This is a beer to drink with meat -- a juicy burger, a nice steak, pulled pork, some kidney pie.  A malty aroma and rich, mellow malt taste are accompanied by notes of chocolate and caramel.  Alcohol is a little high for this flavor profile IMO.

At first I was like, "I don't like this beer", but then I put my hoppy IPA preference aside and enjoyed this brew for what it is.  Think Killian's Red, except really good.

Petronio

This is made in Utica.  The stuff made in LP is waaay better.

I've got another one for ya Petronio
 
We discovered this brewery last summer while at Cronins golf resort.
Premium IPA's & old world Pilsners, World class beer!
Perfect way to cap the day after the great skiing at Gore!
Here's to a solid second half of the season 

Coach Z wrote

This is made in Utica.  The stuff made in LP is waaay better.

Yep. Every one of those Lake Placid beers made in Utica has that "Saranac" aftertaste that makes every Saranac beer unpalatable to me these days.

mikegbflo wrote

I've got another one for ya Petronio
 
We discovered this brewery last summer while at Cronins golf resort.
Premium IPA's & old world Pilsners, World class beer!
Perfect way to cap the day after the great skiing at Gore!
Here's to a solid second half of the season

Absolutely, I've had Paradox at Basil and Wick's a few times.  Righteous brew.  Have to make my way up to the brewery to get some cans to bring home -- I don't think they distribute.

Petronio

Dude I like almost every Saranac product I've ever tasted. Their basic pale ale is a go-to. Beer is supposed to have an aftertaste.

mattchuck2 wrote

Coach Z wrote

This is made in Utica.  The stuff made in LP is waaay better.

Yep. Every one of those Lake Placid beers made in Utica has that "Saranac" aftertaste that makes every Saranac beer unpalatable to me these days.

 the recipes are not the same and the water is very different plus its hard to make really good beer in that scale compared to 7 barrels at a time.

Brownski wrote

Dude I like almost every Saranac product I've ever tasted. Their basic pale ale is a go-to. Beer is supposed to have an aftertaste.

This isn't something to argue about, man. It's like me telling you that anchovy pizza is the best pizza I've ever had, it's a go-to, and Pizza is supposed to be salty. It's a taste thing. An opinion. Not something with a right or wrong answer.

I taste a distinct metallic aftertaste in everything that comes out of that Matt's brewery. It sours me on the good early flavors of Saranac beers and the other beers that they produce there (and they do a big business producing other people's beers).

I prefer beers that are made elsewhere. You don't. That's fine.

Maybe so but you totally triggered me here, man

Brownski wrote

Dude I like almost every Saranac product I've ever tasted. Their basic pale ale is a go-to. Beer is supposed to have an aftertaste.

I like all of the Saranac Beers as well. The Matt's beer on the other hand...not so much.