A Brief Description
of Our Beers
SUFFOLK STRONG BITTER (Adnams) A refreshing beer of real flavor, distinctively
hoppy and dry. Fragrant with the aromas of the finest English hops and
malt. ABV 4.20% [England]
LIBERTY ALE (Anchor Steam) A top-fermenting ale yeast is used during
fermentation and is responsible for many of Liberty Ale's subtle flavors
and characteristics. Carbonation is produced by an entirely natural
process called "bunging," which produces champagne-like bubbles.
Dry-hopping (adding fresh hops to the brew during aging) imparts a unique
aroma to the ale. ABV 6.00% [US]
PALEEKO GOLD (Anderson Valley) Golden color. Generous use of Pacific
Northwest hops establishes a distinct style, separate from any domestic
or European beers. Crisp and clear. Light and dry for such a full-flavored
ale. The large measure of hops adds both a floral bouquet and a lively,
citrus finish. ABV 5.50% [US, California microbrewery]
SUMMER SOLSTICE (Anderson Valley) Copper-colored ale, smooth, malty,
and lightly sweet, with a hint of spice. ABV 5.50% [US, California microbrewery]
AUGUSTINER EDELSTOFF (Munich Agustiner-Brau Wagner KG.) Pale lager -
Spezial. Lemon, ginger and butter aroma. Sweetish taste with a touch
of bitterness on the finish. One of the best examples of this difficult
to brew style ABV 5.50% [Germany]
AVENTINUS (Schneider & Sohn) {500ml bottle.} A venerable German
wheat doppelbock, generally considered to be a classic. It pours a cloudy
darkish chestnut brown color, with a white head that grades from coarse
bubbles at the bottom to fine bubbles at the top. Spicy notes on the
nose - cinnamon, cloves, banana and vanilla. In the mouth it is smooth
and malty. Lives up to its reputation. ABV 8.00% [Germany]
14ER ESB (Avery) Named for the 54 Colorado peaks which tower over 14,000
feet in elevation. Copper hued. Avery treats the water to simulate English
hard water and they blend several specialty malts and hops to produce
a delicate balance between aromatic maltiness and herbal hoppiness.
IBUs 37 ABV 5.00% [US, Colorado microbrewery]
WHITE RASCAL (Avery) Belgian-style wheat, or "white" ale,
that's unfiltered and spiced with coriander, Curaçao and orange
peel to produce a refreshing thirst quencher. IBU's 10 ABV 5.60% [US,
Colorado microbrewery]
EAST INDIA PALE ALE (Brooklyn) This ale is inspired by the original
East India Pale Ales brewed in England in the early 1800s for the troops
in India. (Eventually these ales became known as IPAs.) Everyday English
ales were spoiling during shipment from London, around the Cape of Good
Hope, to Calcutta. Using extra malt and hops, British brewer George
Hodgson developed an ale with bitterness and strength to survive the
long voyage and in doing so gave birth to a great beer style. The color
is deep golden. Brewed from British malt and a blend of hops featuring
the East Kent Golding variety. It has a robust bitterness, a warming
malt palate and a clean hoppy finish. ABV 6.80% [US]
BUDWEISER (Anheuser-Busch) The king of beers. ABV 4.9% [US]
BUD LIGHT (Anheuser-Busch) Pretender to the throne. ABV 4.20% [US]
ROSE DE GAMBRINUS (Cantillon) Fruit beer, lambic (see glossary). When
young the Rosé de Gambrinus still presents its full fruity taste.
Later the lambic will take over the fruit and dominate. The beer is
fermented in oak casks with whole, fresh raspberries and naturally occurring
airborne yeasts. Very dry, tart, and fruity (at first) but also complex.
The real McCoy. Not an artificially sweetened dumbed down knock-off.
ABV 5.00% [Belgium]
ENTIRE BUTT ENGLISH PORTER (Salopian) {500ml bottle} "Entire Butt"
means essentially "the whole barrel" and translates into "everything
but the kitchen sink." Complex. Brewed with 14 different malts
and 3 hop varieties to achieve the effect of a blend of ales. Pours
almost black with a sustained white head. Finishes dry with hints of
chocolate. Medium bodied. Very good example of a traditional English
Porter. Bottle conditioned. ABV 4.80% [England, Shrewsbury microbrewery]
CORONA (Grupo Modelo) Originally brewed in Puerto Rico, now in Mexico.
Light straw in color with a very mild flavor. Needs a wedge of lime.
ABV 4.60% [Mexico]
MONKMAN'S SLAUGHTER (Cropton) {500ml bottle} English Ale/Bitter. Cropton
is a fiercely independent brewery dedicated to hand-craftsmanship -
they still stir the mash with a wooden paddle. Brewing is done in small
batches. Bottling, labeling and packing are all done by hand. Cropton
also has the distinction of being the only female-owned brewery in the
U.K. Monkman's Slaughter is unfiltered and unpasteurized and has a perfect
balance of hops and malt. Strong but perfectly drinkable as a session
beer in the English way. ABV 6.00% [England, Yorkshire microbrewery]
APRIHOP (Dogfish Head) Brewed with apricots and finished with whole-leaf
hops. Fruity, with citrus and cedar notes. IBUs 55 ABV 7.00% [US, Maryland
microbrewery]
HEFE-WEISSBIER (Franziskaner) The beer is top-fermented and noted for
its agreeable carbonation levels and zesty wheat flavor. Very refreshing
taste. All Franziskaner weiss beers are brewed in strict adherence to
the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516. ABV 5.00% [Germany]
ESB (Fullers) Extra Special Bitter. The aroma shows a sweet honey-like
malt, but is also noticeably hoppy, somewhat flowery. The palate is
medium-bodied with a smooth mouth feel. The first note in the flavor
is a rich fruity-malt taste mixed with nuttiness. Crowned Champion Beer
of Britain in 1978, 1981 and 1985. ABV 5.90% [England]
HEINEKEN Contract Brewed in Pennsylvania Those who've had the Dutch
version of this lager say it's fresher and altogether better. ABV 4.90%
[Netherlands]
HOEGAARDEN (pronounced "who-garden") Named after the town
in Belgium where it was first brewed in 1445. It's in the family of
white beers, so named because they are not filtered and have a cloudy
appearance. White beer is also brewed with equal parts of barley and
wheat, and is top-fermented - a combination that gives the beer a "sour"
quality. The sourness, however, is nicely offset by the addition of
coriander and dried Curaçao orange peel. ABV 5.00% [Belgium]
JEVER PILS Not strictly a German beer type, Pilsner originated in the
Bohemian city of Plzen (or Pilsen) in the mid nineteenth century, and
is also referred to as Pils or Pilsener. The light color of the beer
results from the use of lightly toasted malts in contrast to the darker
malts previously used in beer. Real pilsners should have a distinctively
hoppy, flowery nose that becomes apparent as soon as you open the bottle.
There's a bitter hoppiness on the palate that leads to a dry, lingering
finish. This is probably the most bitter of the Northern German Pilsners.
IBUs 44 ABV 4.90% [GERMANY]
EISBOCK (Kulmbacher Brauerei) The beer is a dark mahogany color and
has an assertive alcoholic presence. The finish is dry, but mellow.
A feast for the palate. And the head! {See "Eisbock" in glossary}
ABV 9.20% [Germany]
FRAMBOISE (Lindemans) Southwest of Brussels, in the quiet Belgian town
of Vlezenbeek, the Lindemans family has been farming and home brewing
as long as anyone can remember. Commercial brewing started in 1811 in
their barn-like brewery. The Framboise has a magnificent aroma and a
delicate palate of raspberries with undertones of a fruity acidity.
Elegant, sparkling, clean natural taste. Style -Raspberry Lambic. ABV
4.00% [Belgium]
CASSIS (Lindemans) A classic Belgian favorite. Black currants have been
used for centuries as an ingredient in beers and liquors in Belgium
and Northern Europe. Deep reddish-purple color with an exceptional aroma.
Complex flavor. Full-bodied and soft, yet refreshing and crisp. ABV
4.00% [Belgium]
MICHELOB ULTRA(Anheuser-Busch) A low-carb light lager. No aroma. No
taste. 95 calories. ABV 4.20% [US]
OLD RASPUTIN RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT (North Coast) Russian Imperial Stout
was originally brewed in 18th Century England. The name evolved as the
Russian Imperial Court developed an early appreciation for this big,
intense brew and provided a ready and eager export market. A rich, intense
brew with a robust palate, fruity nose, and a warming finish. Complex.
IBUs 75 ABV 8.90% [US, California microbrewery]
PRANQSTER (North Coast) A Belgian style golden ale. Floral aroma. Fruity
flavor. Clean finish. Best poured with a full head. IBUs 20 ABV 7.60%
[US, California microbrewery]
RED SEAL (North Coast) A full-bodied, copper-red pale ale. IBUs 45 ABV
5.50% [US, California microbrewery]
PETRUS TRIPLE (Brouwerij Bavik) Triple denotes that the brewer used
three times the normal amount of malt to brew this higher alcohol ale.
Pale in color, as a true triple is supposed to be, this mild beer offers
a flowery hoppy taste with a soft alcohol punch. The balance between
the hop-bitterness and the malt-sweetness leaves a smooth mouth feel.
ABV 7.50% [Belgium]
ST. PETER'S OLD STYLE PORTER (St. Peter's Brewery) The beer is a blend
of a mature old ale and a younger light beer - just as a true Porter
should be. The marriage produces a characterful brew, which is dark
in color and complex in taste. Serve at room temperature. CAMRA Champion
Beer of Suffolk 2005. ABV 5.10% [England, microbrewery]
NUT BROWN ALE (Samuel Smith) Often called "mild" if it is
on draft, brown ale is a walnut-colored specialty of the North of England.
Brown ale is one of the oldest English brewing styles, mentioned in
literature in the 16th century. The beer has a walnut-like color, a
palate of hazelnuts and a long clean finish. ABV 5.00% [England]
ORGANIC LAGER (Samuel Smith) Lightly-kilned lager malt grown in the
UK is the main ingredient, with a substantial addition of organic Vienna
malt and organic Hallertau Perle hops from Germany. A full-bodied lager.
A touch hoppier than many lagers, yet well-balanced. ABV 5.00% [England]
AECHT SCHLENKERLA RAUCHBIER MAERZEN (Brauerei Heller-Trum, Bamberg)
{500ml bottle.} is made entirely from smoked malt. Heller Trum is one
of the very few breweries left in Germany that does its own malting.
Smoke from a beech wood fire is "forced" through germinating
barley for up to thirty-six hours at varying temperatures. This gives
the beer an unusual smoky dryness. It has a smoked sausage and bacon
aroma. In the mouth there's a balance of sweet malt and smoke, with
noticeable fruitiness in the mid-palate. Surprisingly quaffable. IBUs
29-32 ABV 5.40% [Germany]
SCHNIEDER WEISSE (Schneider & Sohn) {500ml bottle.} A classic German
hefeweizen. This beer has an amber color and a thick, foamy head. Complex
aroma. On the palate it is fairly dry, but not especially bitter. Good
stuff! ABV 5.40% [Germany]
PALE ALE (Sierra Nevada) Deep amber color. Full-bodied. Made with premium
Cascade hops. Fragrant bouquet and a spicy flavor. IBUs 37 ABV 5.60%
[US]
RAUCHBIER (Braueri Spezial, Bamberg) {500ml bottle.} A malty sweetness
balances the mild smoke flavor of this amber brew. A little less smoky
than some Rauchbiers. ABV 4.60% [Germany]
IPA (The Stone Brewing Company) A medium-bodied ale. Light-medium malt
character with a heavy dose of hops. Two full weeks of "dry hopping"
give this beer its abundant hop aroma and crisp hop flavor. ABV 6.90%
[US, California microbrewery]
AMERICAN PALE ALE (Stoudt's Brewing Company) A crisp, medium-bodied
ale with a light amber color. Generous additions of Cascade hops provide
a refreshing bitterness and a vibrant citrus aroma. Ibos 40 ABV 5.10%
[US, Pennsylvania microbrewery]
SUMMER LIGHTNING (Hop Back Brewery) English summer ale. Straw-colored.
Dry and happy. Long finish. As refreshing as lager. Delicious. ABV 5.00%
[England, Salisbury microbrewery]
THOMAS HARDY'S ALE (O'Hanlon's Brewing Company) Hardy's Ale was first
brewed in 1968 at the request of the Thomas Hardy Society to mark the
40th anniversary of the author's death. Each vintage was blended from
as many as six different brews and underwent three fermentations. Collector's
have been known to pay outrageous amounts for bottles from the 1960s
and in the hundreds of dollars for those from the 1980s. Scarce, subtle
and complex, Thomas Hardy's Ale is the beer enthusiast's equivalent
of rare cognac. Bottle-conditioned to mature in the bottle like fine
wine, this old ale/barley wine will improve with age for at least 26
years. Not for the faint of palate, especially when the beer is young
and brash. Maturity brings an elegance of flavors unmatched by any other
beer. Ibos 70 ABV 11.70% [England]
HOPDEVIL (Victory Brewing Company) As its name suggests the beer is
loaded with hops, which are backed up by rich German malts to give a
smooth finish. ABV 6.70% [US, Pennsylvania microbrewery]
WHIRLWIND WIT (Victory Brewing Company) A lively interpretation of the
classic Belgian 'white beer' style. ABV 5.00% [US, Pennsylvania microbrewery]
HOPS INFUSION (Weyerbacher Brewing Company) A beer with piney, citrus
notes, hop complexity and a strong foundation of malt. More than holds
its own in the IPA category. ABV 6.20% [US, Pennsylvania microbrewery]
SIMCO DOUBLE IPA (Weyerbacher Brewing Company) {22 oz bottle} This IPA
uses exclusively Simco hops created in 2000 by Select Botanicals Inc.
The beer harbors a big flavor profile with citrus-grapefruit and piney
notes. With the underlying malt foundation the beer is well-balanced.
Brilliant! ABV 9.00% [US, Pennsylvania microbrewery]
CASTELAIN BLOND BIERE DE GARDE (Brasserie Castelain à Bénifontaine)
{.750ml bottle} A golden color. Moderate in body. This style of beer
is characterized by a toasted malt aroma. The flavor of alcohol is evident.
This is the sweetest among the Bières de Gardes. It's earthy
with an aromatic maltiness and a long finish. Pairs well with food.
ABV 6.40% [France]
CHIMAY CINQ CENTS (Bières de Chimay) {.750ml bottle} Tripel in
style. Golden color. Slightly hazy in appearance. Has a fine head and
an agreeable aroma of hops and yeast. The flavor has notes of muscat
and raisins. The sweetness is unique, the beer smooth and velvety. ABV
8.00% [Belgium]
DELIRIUM TREMENS (Brouwerij Huyghe) {.750ml bottle} Pours a lovely hazy,
golden-straw color and has a pure white head. The alcohol is expertly
masked by an upfront malt sweetness, and with flavors of fresh tropical
fruit and honey the beer slips down all too easily. ABV 9.00% [Belgium]
DE RANKE XX BITTER (Brouwerij De Ranke) {.750ml bottle} One of the
hoppiest of Belgian ales. Pours a deep, slightly cloudy golden color
with a light head formation. Rich malt body. It is permeated with a
resiny, aromatic hop character and the bitterness in the finish lingers
on the tongue for quite a time. Will age in bottle for up to five years.
The dog's bollocks! ABV 6.00% [Belgium]
OMMERGANG WITTE (Ommergang Brewery, Cooperstown) {.750ml bottle} A
Belgian Wit (otherwise known as 'white' beer). This style is defined
by the addition of wheat. Has a hazy, pale golden color, and a soft
body. The mild citrus flavors come from spicing the beer with coriander
and orange peel. Relatively low in alcohol, Witbiers pour with a white
frothy head and have a light, refreshing flavor. The Ommergang is a
fine example of this style. ABV 5.10% [US, New York microbrewery]
SAISON (Brasserie Dupont) {.750ml bottle} Saison is a Belgian bottle-conditioned
ale. It is a pale straw-color with a thick, whipped-cream like head.
On the nose it has lots of light estery fruit notes - orange and zest
- along with a smooth vanilla and spice scent. In the mouth it is full-bodied.
It is quite bitter in a lemony, slightly hoppy way. The finish is very
citrusy, slightly bitter, and leaves a sparkling sensation on the tongue.
These beers are little known outside the region. They were originally
made in the winter then laid down to be drunk in the summer. They had
to be sturdy enough to last for months but not too strong so as not
to be refreshing in the summer. Saisons traditionally have an orange
color and a dense head. ABV 6.50% [Belgium]
ARROGANT BASTARD (The Stone Brewing Company) {22oz bottle} "This
is an aggressive beer. You probably won't like it. It is quite doubtful
that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an
ale of this quality and depth. Maybe you should stick to safer and more
familiar territory" it says on the bottle. Go for it! ABV 7.20%
[US, California microbrewery]
DOC'S HARD APPLE CIDER (Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery) Semi-dry
and effervescent with a fresh apple nose. It's crisp with a fruit forward
taste. Clean and refreshing. ABV 4.50% [US, New York]
