THE BRÜ: September 2013

September 25, 2013

The Brü Revü – Lagunitas Little Sumpin Wild

The Lagunitas Little Sumpin Wild is a take on their delicious Little Sumpin Sumpin which is kind of a wheatish IPA, though more IPA in my book. The Wild version uses a Westmalle trappist yeast in that brew which gives the beer some funky “wild” flavors to create a Belgian Style IPA with hints of wheat. Now to start, this isn’t a “wild ale” in terms of being soured or with bacteria added, it’s more of a Wild take on the original brew. There are no sour flavors or funkiness in that regard although the trappist yeast thrown into the mix does give off hints of a slight funk. The Wild poured a golden amber with a substantial fluffy white head. There were loads of the signature citrusy Lagunitas hops on the nose with a bit of funk underneath from the Belgian yeast. The taste was big juicy citrus and fruit hops with Belgian yeast flavors coming through on the end. The Westmalle yeast gave it a bit of funk though not to the Brett levels, but nicely undertoned and complementary to the juicy hops. The Little Sumpin Wild is a unique take on a Belgian IPA and the original Little Sumpin Sumpin that was a plentiful palate pleaser.

Lagunitas Little Sumpin Wild

September 17, 2013

The Brü Revü – Stone 17th Anniversary Götterdämmerung IPA

I always look forward to the Stone Anniversary beer. It may not always be something that I completely fall in love with, but it is usually something different. For their 17th Anniversary they brewed the Götterdämmerung IPA which uses all German hops and malts for a decidedly different Double IPA. An IPA from Stone is not a huge surprise, so the use of the German malts and hops is an interesting twist and definitely created a uniquely profiled IPA. The beer poured a golden amber with a substantial white head. The aroma was fruity hops with some spiciness and a peek of malt underneath. The taste evolved as it warmed, but was a sweet fruity hop followed by a grassy floral slight pine bitterness with a lemony finish. The malts began to speak up adding a light sweetness and a slight alcohol presence. It was the grassy piney bitterness that took hold of my palate and wanted to hang. The brew was light with some pilsner qualities that I can only credit to the German malt and hops and was a perfect match for the Texas heat. It was a dangerously drinkable double IPA that was well executed by Stone.

Stone 17th Anniversary Götterdämmerung IPA

September 13, 2013

The Brü Revü – Dogfish Head Festina Peche

The Dogfish Head Festina Peche is a neo-Berliner Weisse and one of the few available Berliner Weisses in the can/bottle in Texas. Their version of the Berliner Weisse is fermented with peaches which arrives perfectly timed with the summer peach crops and summer heat. A Berliner Weisse is a very wheaty, very sour low alcohol style of beer that began in Berlin and is exceedingly popular in Germany where they have a tendency to lace them with fruity syrups to cut the acidity. Here in the U.S. they are a great summer thirst quencher and are becoming more popular with the rising popularity of sour/wild beers. The Festina Peche poured a hazy golden yellow with a slight white head. The aroma was bready and malty with a slight tartness and bit of peach. The taste started with a light tartness up front that gives way to ripe peach flavors that has a surprisingly dry finish. The wheat beer flavors were subtle but came through on the end and lingered on my palate. The Festina Peche is not an overly sweet beer but the peach adds a subtle sweetness to this sour beer. Overall the it was a good Berliner Weisse that highlights and is accentuated by the peach flavors.

Dogfish Head Festina Peche

September 11, 2013

The Brü Revü – Stone Espresso Imperial Russian Stout

The Espresso version of Stone’s Imperial Russian Stout is part of their odd beer for odd years series where they put a unique spin on their seasonal beers. This is obviously a riff on their already stellar Imperial Russian Stout where they introduce some Espresso into the mix. The Espresso IRS takes that beer and kicks it up to a completely new level. The beer poured an opaque dark brown to black with little to no tan head. The aroma held coffee with the strong IRS notes of dark chocolate and even some dark fruits as well. The taste was perfect with just enough espresso to compliment the IRS while not overpowering it. The strong bitter espresso played off the Stone IRS flavors of chocolate, dark roasted bitterness and a hint of anise. It was a beautiful symphony of deep dark Russian Stout flavors that kept rolling through crescendo after crescendo with every sip. The flavors left a lingering bitterness on my palate along with a subtle dark fruit sweetness. The Espresso Imperial Russian Stout was an exceptional beer and a perfect addition to the odd beer for odd years family. If only it would become a regular in Stone’s seasonal rotation!

Stone Espresso Imperial Russian Stout

September 9, 2013

Beer Bums Meeting – September 2013 – Imperial Beers

Imperial beers was such a good idea. Mainly Imperial IPAs, but one Imperial stout and one Imperial Pilsner along with THE Imperial from Costa Rica. All great beers not a stinker in the bunch!