Monthly Archives: September 2013
Review of Meantime IPA
What’s up guys? It’s time for another craft beer review!!! Today, I’m going to be trying the Meantime IPA made by the Meantime Brewing Company Limited situated in London, England.
This is another brewery that I’ve just started noticing around my area. I’ve read and understand that they are looked upon very favorably, therefore I’m ready to try it.
The website, meantimebrewing.com, gave a nice little description about this beer that I want to share with you.
India Pale Ale is the beer that sustained the British Raj – it did not just survive the passage to India, it matured to perfection on the long voyage. Original IPA was heavily hopped – up to twice as much as domestic beers – and so Meantime use plenty of Kent Fuggles and Goldings to help re-create the flavours of the world’s first great pale beer style.
Let’s pour this thing.
This beer came in a 25.4 oz. bottle with an ABV of 7.4%.
It poured a hazy, caramel orange type of color. It formed a well sized off white head from a fairly easy pour. The texture was soft, frothy and semi-creamy. The retention time was better than average and the lacing didn’t look too bad either.
This brew had a very nice aroma. Sugary caramel malt with a round and slightly toasted hint of bread crusts and croutons. A fruitiness that seemed to be of an apricot and peach combination. It was sweet smelling, yet it also had a pleasant earthy or leafy type of fragrance that in some ways reminded me of a brown ale. Overall, well balanced and fairly complex.
The taste was quite a bit more malty than a typical “American” IPA that’s for sure. Savors of toast, biscuits and slightly spiced rye bread. Again, a fruity apricot/peach mixture along with some gently toasted grains. The sugary caramel malt came into play again as well. The bitterness was a nice and manageable “tickle”. Like the bouquet, the taste was very well balanced in my opinion.
The mouthfeel was medium bodied. Rather smooth and slick and mostly dry. Just a smidgen of warmth was felt from the alcohol. The carbonation was of medium strength, which helped in retaining a touch of flavor on the palate for a few moments after each sip.
Yeah, I thought this was a nice beer. Easily worth a try. It had a lot of character and it was nicely complex. It could easily generate some discussion at a tasting. The drinkability was decent too. I believe that it would fit perfectly with the Fall season that’s for sure. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s not a hopped up American IPA by any means, so don’t go into it thinking that. The malty backbone adds a solid base for which to enjoy this brew without being completely overwhelmed or palate fatigued by a ton of bitterness and hops. I’d drink this beer in the future with no problem that’s for sure. You guys should give the Meantime IPA a try if you have the chance also and be sure to let me know what you thought of it.
Thanks for reading everyone. I really appreciate it.
Until next time. Cheers.
Score: 3.85 out of 5
Grade: B+
Review of Prairie Artisan Ales Prairie Gold
Hello everyone. Thanks for stopping by to read another craft beer review. Today, I’m going to be trying the Prairie Gold produced by Prairie Artisan Ales located in Krebs, Oklahoma.
This will be my first time reviewing a beer from Prairie Artisan Ales. I’ve heard nothing but good things about them, so I’m kind of excited about it.
Let’s get to the website, prairieales.com, and see what they have to say about this particular brew.
Prairie Gold is a dry, highly effervescent saison fermented with a mix of ale yeast, wine yeast, lactobacillus and 2 strains of brettanomyces. This beer highlights the various yeasts and bacteria used to make it. Lemon, pear, white wine grapes, and a touch of funk dominate the flavor and aroma in this champagne like beer.
Sounds like my kind of beer!!!!
This beer came in a 25.4 oz. bottle and it had an ABV of 6.5% according to the label.
It poured a hazy, yellow/golden/orange color. A well sized, fizzy white head was formed from an easy pour. It dissipated rather quickly and little to no lacing was left on the sides of the tulip. I saw quite a bit of sediment floating about the liquid as well.
The nose smelled of soured lemon and grapes with some excellent musty funk involved. Bready and yeasty tones along with some grassy and floral tones as well. This thing was very well balanced and harmonized. I liked the aroma for sure.
The taste also had a good deal of lemon citrus and soured grapes. Very white wine like. A slight acidity was present, but definitely not enough to distract. Some grassy tones and a bit of yeastiness actually helped pull it back a tad.
The mouthfeel was medium bodied. Crisp, bitey, sharp and dry. The carbonation was fairly lively and a very nice amount of flavor was left behind on the palate after each sip.
Well, aside from the appearance I thought this was a very nice, solid and good beer. It was properly sour and tart for a wild ale I thought. It was rather complex too. The drinkability was good and I definitely wouldn’t mind sharing this beverage with friends. It seemed like it would be a great brew for the Springtime too. With that being said, give the Prairie Artisan Ales Prairie Gold a try if you see it and let me know what you thought of it.
Thanks for reading everyone. I really appreciate it.
Until next time. Cheers.
Score: 3.95 out of 5
Grade: B+
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