Professor Good Ales

Written by Franz Hofer for A Tempest in a Tankard

Anyone who lives in or has been to Central Europe at this time of year has likely warmed him- or herself with a mug of spicy mulled wine (Glühwein). I remember well my first encounter with this aromatic winter elixir. The gray sky hung low over Saarbrücken, and an icy drizzle coated the paving stones leading to the Sankt Johanner Markt in the center of town. But something was different about this day. Aromas of baking spice and roasted nuts mingled with grilled bratwurst and pine boughs. I rounded the corner and was greeted by a cheerful panorama that seemed to defy the dark afternoon: my first Christkindlmarkt. The square had transformed itself into a collection of open-air stalls decked out for the season, many selling Christmas ornaments, nutcrackers and other handmade wooden toys, some selling Lebkuchen and candied almonds, and others selling beer and Glühwein to wash down the Fleischkäse, sausages, and other delectables. It is a winter scene that plays itself out all over Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Alsace and the South Tyrol.

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Written by Ken Carman for The Professor

  At Music City Brew Off I judged the Wheat/Rye category. A brewer contacted me back, claiming his entry was listed as a perfect clone of “Urban Wheat 312,” all of which, of course, did not end up in the description of the beer. To be honest I don’t remember being told whether it was wheat or rye, though my fellow judge believes he was told, so when I judged the beer, being perfectly clear and no wheat protein sense I thought it was rye. But there was no sense of rye either, which I commented on.
 What I sensed was a nice APA that fit neither rye or wheat.
  It bugged me a tad at first, and I answered the brewer’s questions as best I could. After solid judging for 2 weeks: every other day then 2 days in a row, I was surprised I remembered as much as I did. So, after we discussed the entry between me, the organizer, the other judge and the brewer, we settled the issue. Continue reading “A Beer Judge’s Diary, Re: Urban Wheat 312 by Goose Island”

Profiled by Maria Devan for PGA

Ithaca beer’s 17 is like a breath of fresh air. It has a fruity scent that is tempered by sweet wheat. It’s got a lovely floral to the nose and a bit of delightful pepper. That yeast is delicate and dry. There’s funk but it too is delicate. taste and it’s like it is as light as air and and clear as water. The flavors are cool. Yellow golden flavor like it’s color. The beer is hazy and beautiful topped with a white crown. Light fragrant wood is on the nose. The taste is surprisingly herbal. It’s pungent with bitter herbal. It’s also peppery. The bitter is a tad sharp. Light honey scents start to come forward as it warms. It’s tart but not bone dry in the finish. That touch of honey finishes this beer and a peppery little edge.

The Brett in this adds a musty quality as if to the wood. An old attic closet. It’s light and feather like to the nose. This beer has so many gentle things going on and then there’s this tremendous fruit. You can imagine that a bee would like the scent. It’s a looker in the glass and the bitterness keeps you up from swooning. It ‘s like small flowers on tall stems. With sap and bitterness in them. The wheat is dry and sweet perfection. Soft and rolling. The carbonation is perfect. Perfect lightness form bubbles.

This beer is not timid though. It has sharpness and straight line edges to it. Wheat is crisp and well defined. It’s a wafting sweetness to it.

Congratulations Ithaca on a lovely beer.

4.5

Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.

Profiled by Maria Devan for PGA

Pours a lovely caramel brown with a glowing orange blush to it. Slight haze, faint head of tan foam that would have been bigger had I poured more vigorously. It lasted and left a film on top and made a little lace. presents elegantly int he glass and twinkles like a xmas tree light.

Nose is like a piece of spiced cake has been set down in front of me. Bright orange peel, sensual figs, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Clove and some soft notes of ginger. The ginger really peeks out brightly and lightens up the nose with a bit of gaiety. The malt is a light sugar cookie type scent with hints of brown sugar. There’s some malty depth to it but not too much. This smells a lot like pumking only without the pumpkin.

Taste is lovely. The orange peel is the bright stage on which all these jolly spices play. They are well blended and none stands out more prominently than the others. The fig is a bit of voluptuous dark fruit to go with that dark malt. The malt plays a bit deeper on the palate and shows it’s resilience but it has a melt in your mouth quality that is delightful. There is no alcohol on the nose or on the palate save for the very last moment when it tings with a faint medicinal. I feel this adds a bit of gaiety to the beer. There is even a touch of hops bitter to finish this one . Just as these spices are merrily dancing on your palate a small but noticeable hop bitter comes through and ends the beer with a discreet finish and leaves the malt to linger in the aftertaste.

I thought this tasted a lot like pumking without the pumpkin.

4.

4.5

Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.