APA Blinded Taste Challenge

Head over to HereForTheBeer.com to view this article: http://www.hereforthebeer.com/apa-taste-off/

Zombie Dust Review and the Here for the Beer Rating Scale

Head on over to www.hereforthebeer.com to view this post: http://www.hereforthebeer.com/zombie-dust-review-and-the-here-for-the-beer-rating-scale/

Double IPA Blinded Taste Challenge – Round 2

This article has been relocated over to HereForTheBeer.com and can be viewed by following this link: http://www.hereforthebeer.com/double-ipa-taste-off-round-2/

Turner Agate Brews

0001 Three B's Stout - Coffee Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
0002 AIPA - Amber IPA
0003 BIPA - Belgian IPA
0004 Sour - Blend with 18 month old Sour.  Half batch being aged for future batch

0005 WIPA - Wheat IPA 

0006 Turnertoberfest - Oktobfest (Pilsner)
0007 Ten Stout





0001



0002



0003









0005

 

















Flavor Profile and Development (P&D): BIPA (Homebrew 0003)

This Belgian IPA was brewed in May of 2012.  The intent was to use an IPA recipe that would be fermented with a Belgian yeast strain.  We used candied sugar to try and boost the ABV, which ended up a little over 7%

4 weeks post brewing.  Great citrus hop aroma.  The mouth is very loose.  The maltiness gives way to a subtle alcohol flavor.  Hard to pinpoint any of the Belgian flavors before the mouth is too quickly wiped away by the bitterness of the hops.  The balance is definitely off.

Citrus Hops→Maltiness→Alcohol→Bitterness

5 weeks post brewing.  The citrus up front shines brighter than the previous week.  There is some maltiness present, but the sweetness from the Belgian yeast now shines through.  The flavors flow smoothly together as the bitterness flows through the end.

Citrus Hops→Maltiness→Sweetness→Bitterness

2 months post brewing.  The hops on this brew faded really fast.  I have heard of this phenomenon, but have never experienced it firsthand.  The citrus nose has faded into a something more floral.  The mouth is now more warm and boozy rather than an alcohol flavor.  This is because the maltiness and alcohol have blended together.  The bitterness at the end has mellowed out significantly.

Floral Hops→Warm Boozy→Bitterness

Even though IPA’s are not recommended for aging, I thought it might be interesting to see how the Belgian flavors develop as the hopiness fades.  3 bottles are saved and the next one will be cracked around the 6 month timeframe.

Review of Rogue Voodoo Bacon Maple Ale

I have never been a huge fan of beer reviews in general.  So why am I writing this?  Because Rogue has done something worthy of writing about with the Voodoo Maple Bacon Ale.  Here is a picture of the donut from Voodoo Donuts, an Oregon establishment, which serves as the inspiration for this brew:

I read quite a few reviews of this beer that were less than favorable, but I was just too intrigued.  I kept an eye out for this brew, but could not find it anywhere.  I was in East St Louis at a liquor store my wife recommended and there was a lone bottle sitting on the shelf.  I figured that was the definition of fate and purchased the bottle without hesitation.

My wife wanted to partake so I cracked the bottle open for the two of us. 

The nose was all maple, not rich maple syrup, but more sweet like the smell of an actual maple donut.  The second this brew hits your tongue the smokiness overwhelms the palate.  This smoke rolls into a definite note of bacon.  The bacon flavor quickly washes away as a more distinct syrupy sweetness, more rich than the smell, finishes off.  The smokiness rolls back, who knows from where, and sticks with you until the next sip.  It is truly an amazing journey.

I usually am not a fan of disjointed flavor profiles such as this one.  For a beer with many flavors, such as a stout, I really prefer when the flavors blend and roll over each other.  They can be distinct, but not too distinct in my definition of greatness.  However, this brew does such an amazing job of mixing distinct flavors that pair so well together that I just fell in love with it.

By the time I had finished about 1/3 of the glass, the rich flavors and smokiness were pretty overwhelming.  I will admit the last half of the pint was a struggle.  Needless to say my wife did not get very deep into her glass.  My first thought was that I wish Rogue had tamed the smokiness a bit more, but on second thought, I was happy they went bold.

I could not have been more impressed by another great creation from Rogue Ales, who have become one of my favorite breweries.  My recommendation, if you see the bright pink bottle, pick one up and find a time when you have 5 or 6 friends or relatives with you because a little bit goes a long way.

Here for the Beer Rating: 4/5

My Beer Cellar

2011
Schlafly Barleywine Style Ale
Bells Third Coast Old Ale x 1
Third Tier Three B's Stout x 3

2012
Stone Russion Imperial Stout x 2
Ballast Point Sea Monster Imperial Stout
Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale x 2
Lake Louie Limited Scotch Ale x 3
Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
Boulevard Dark Truth x 2
Port Brewing Company Old Viscosity
Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout x 9
Ale Asylum Bedlam x 6
New Holland Dragons Milk x 4
Bells Third Coast Ale x 3
Bells Expedition Stout x 4
Third Tier Sour x 12
Founders Backwoods Bastard x 3
Founders Bolt Cutter
Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break
Stone Double Bastard
Rogue Double Dead Guy