August | 2011 | Beer Apprentice - Craft Beer News, Reviews, Interviews and Info.

Review of O’Fallon 5 Day IPA

For today’s craft beer review I’m going to be trying the O’Fallon 5 Day IPA for the first time. This beer is brewed by the O’Fallon Brewery located in O’Fallon, Missouri.

Let’s just go ahead and jump right into the commercial description from the website, ofallonbrewery.com.

We dry-hop this American Style India Pale Ale with seven grains and four domestic hop varieties by adding dry whole hops to the finishing tanks so the beer rests “on top” of the hops for five extra days! Malty sweetness up front with big cascade and glacier hops in the finish – a wonderfully drinkable IPA!

How ’bout a taste?

This brew has an ABV of 6.1% and comes in a 12 oz. bottle.

The appearance was of a light amber to copper color. Quite a bit of burnt orange was showing around the edges. It’s very clear also. A barely off white colored head that had very nice size, retention and lacing stood atop the liquid. The cap was soft and somewhat creamy looking.

As I stuck my nose in I was greeted with decent bursts of grapefruit citrus and the most faint caramel malt. I found some type of toasted wheat bread along with light touches of grain and a piny hop to finish it off. It smelled “ok” enough, however it seemed a little relaxed.

The taste revealed a grapefruit citrus with a sturdy hop bite. The caramel sweetness was kept to a minimum, although it seemed as though a biscuit and graininess really stood out more in the taste than it did in the smell. The bitterness was quite pleasant, but the overall flavor profile was relatively timid compared to other American style IPA’s.

The mouthfeel was medium to medium/thin. It was crisp, sort of snappy, clean, smooth, refreshing and thirst quenching. A nice bit of flavor was left behind and, actually, I found it to have a smidgen of warmth to it.

Overall, the O’Fallon 5 Day IPA, seemed to be somewhat average for the style. Everything about the aroma and taste seemed subdued, relaxed and apprehensive. With that being said, I still enjoyed the drink and found nothing bad or off putting about it. In fact, I think this could be a great introductory IPA for someone interested in the style. It’s easily drinkable and has a lot of the proper characteristics of an IPA. I would never turn it down if it was offered, yet I think that I could find a much better IPA if need be.

What brewery do you guys think makes a great introductory IPA?

Leave a comment and tell me all about it.

Thanks. Cheers.

Score: 3.7 out of 5

Grade: B

Review of Hacker-Pschorr Weisse

30 Aug

How’s everyone doing? I hope all is well. I thought I would take a few minutes and write another craft beer review for you guys if that’s ok?

I’ve decided to share with you my tasting experience of the Hacker-Pschorr Weisse produced by Hacker-Pschorr Brau GmbH from Munich, Germany.

I’ve heard many good things about Hacker-Pschorr, however I have never tried anything from them, so I’m looking forward to this review.

Here’s the commercial description from the website, hacker-pschorr.de.

Brewed with 60 percent wheat, 40 percent barley – using top fermenting yeast, it is then slowly lagered and remains unfiltered throughout the finish.

Let’s see how it is.

The Hacker-Pschorr Weisse comes in an 11.2 oz. bottle and has an ABV of 5.5%.

The brew poured a cloudy, deep orange color with burnt yellow highlights throughout. The crown was large, off white, fluffy and somewhat creamy looking. The retention was decent and the lacing was very good. It looks pretty nice in the glass I must say.

Within the nose I found a sufficient aroma of fruity banana with well proportioned spices of clove and light pepper. Wheat fragrances were noted, although they stayed moderate and mild mannered. A nice bouquet here. Well balanced and straight forward.

The flavor revealed the ever present banana along with the aforementioned spices of clove and pepper. More wheat and yeasty characteristics were found coinciding with savors reminiscent of light crackers and white bread crusts. The taste was very pleasing. No frills here.

The mouthfeel was medium to medium/light. Dry, smooth, crisp, refreshing and thirst quenching with some very good carbonation. A very good dose of flavor was left behind, especially the spices.

For me, this is one of the better Hefeweisse beers I’ve tried. It’s very solid, very well made and truly fits the style. Totally sessionable and easy to drink. I would recommend giving it a try while the weather is still warm, although I think this could also be enjoyed on into the Fall season. Even though this particular type of beer is not a favorite of mine, I don’t think that I would hesitate to pick this up or turn it down if it was offered. I’m much better off having tried it.

As I’ve said many times before, I really appreciate everyone reading and commenting on the posts. I hope you are finding them helpful and/or informative. Please feel free to critique them if necessary.

Cheers!!!

Score: 4.0 out of 5

Grade: B+

Review of Reissdorf Kolsch

29 Aug

Today’s craft beer tasting is going to be of the Reissdorf Kolsch from Brauerei Heinrich Reissdorf located in Koln, Germany.

I haven’t reviewed a Kolsch in a while, so I’m eager to try this one. It’s received great marks from experienced craft beer “folk” around the globe.

From the website, reissdorf.com, we find this description.

Reissdorf Kolsch is the beer speciality from Cologne with a tradition starting in 1894. A Kolsch with a pleasant, full-bodied, and uniquely light and sweet taste in premium quality, that is brewed for the adepts who prefer something special.

Ok…. let’s pour.

The Reissdorf Kolsch has an ABV of 4.8% and it comes packaged in an 11.2 oz. bottle.

As I finished the pour, I noticed that the beer appeared a very clear, straw yellow to honey gold color. It had a bright white, soapy textured crown that was of decent size, however the retention was below average and the lacing was just “ok” in my opinion.

The aroma seemed to have a very “grassy” or “grainy” hop bill. A touch of sweetness in the form of a light lemon and light green apples. The fragrance smelled clean and fresh with notes of newly cut hay and toasted bread crumbs. Not bad.

The taste started with a crisp and clean profile. Again, more of the light lemon and green apples along with a significant “grassy” hop bite. It was slightly tart, but not sour. A bready malt was tasted not long after the initial wash of flavor, which tamed quite a bit of the sweetness and sourness. Nothing extraordinary, but quite satisfying.

The mouthfeel was medium, very dry, smooth, crisp, refreshing and thirst quenching. It’s very easy on the palate, but an adequate amount of flavor was left behind for me to enjoy.

Well… we have a pretty good little Kolsch here. Quite quaffable and sessionable. I would have absolutely no problem drinking this again if it was offered. Especially during the Spring and Summer. This brew doesn’t exactly “floor” me as some of the reviews would lead me to believe, however I still thoroughly enjoyed sampling this fine beer. I think it would be worth your while to pick up a bottle and try it if you see it. I don’t know that I would go out of my way to grab it, but if it was in front of me….. I might grab a 6-pack to share with a friend.

Is the Kolsch style a favorite of yours? Leave a comment and tell me about it.

Thanks for reading and commenting everyone. Until next time!!!!

Cheers!!!

Score: 3.6 out of 5

Grade: B