August 2006 Archives

Yet another hit-and-miss weiss... when will I ever learn?  Seriously, I'm about to swear off weissbiers unless I know I'm getting a "just born" bottle, preferably of a tall German persuasion with glassware to match.

Characteristics: Medium gold color with limited head (even after spinning the bottle), light carbonation, slightly chewy body (from the yeast) and lemony finish.

Minor Gripes: Without the yeast, this is a fairly bland beer.  And even with it, this is on the verge of dull. 

Bottom Line: Get it fresh and work all the yeast out of the bottom of the bottle, or don't drink it at all.

Rating: 4.75 / 10

I saw this at a restaurant in Milwaukee and had to sample it.  Smooth, low-key, fairly easy-drinking. Certified organic hops and barley is a plus, as is the gorgeous green glass flask (which I unfortunately neglected to photograph...).

Characteristics: Light gold and slightly cloudy, light-to-medium carbonation, light body, subtle nutty and oakey flavors, with a warm, round, and slightly bitter finish. 

Minor gripes:  The flavors were so subtle that garlicky food completely overpowered it.  Also, the body was so thin that it was hard to hold the beer in my mouth long enough to investigate some of the flavors.

Bottom Line:  Did I use the word "light" enough times in this review?  Certainly worth sampling, but not quite ready to be a regular part of my rotation (assuming I could find it in DC).

Rating: 5 / 10

I first found this beer (and brewery) when I lived in Madison, WI.  New Glarus is a Swiss-founded village about 40 miles south-southwest of Madison, nestled among rolling hills and golden-green fields.  The brewery makes 10-12 different brews in the course of a year, but Spotted Cow appears to have become their staple.

Characteristics: Cloudy gold, medium weight, average carbonation, smoky citrus flavors resolving to yeast.

Minor Gripes: Like its witbier brethren, Spotted Cow is inconsistent and ages poorly.  I've had some batches that tasted like lemon Alka-Seltzer, while others make Blue Moon look and taste like Busch Light.

Bottom Line:  When it's on, Spotted Cow is a phenomenal beer for those who like the Belgian wheat / wit style (as opposed to the German style).  When it's not on, you may as well use it to mop the floor.  It's just a tricky beer (but I keep coming back to it...).

Rating:  5.75 / 10 (docked .5 for inconsistency)

I first tried this beer about five years ago in a bar in the East Village. When I found it in a bar in Milwaukee about 4 months later, it was among the worst experiences I'd ever had -- and I was sad. I've tried a few since, and nothing has matched that first taste, but the widget can is FAR superior to the bottles.

Characteristics: Nitro-pour resolves to a reddish-gold with creamy head, light to medium body, tangy and slightly toasted malty flavors with a little caramel in the mix.

Minor Gripes: Inconsistency in the import market... both in the freshness factor and the misguided idea that both bottles and widgeted cans should be sold over here. Guinness learned its lesson nearly 10 years ago (switching to all widgets) -- hopefully Morland can afford to do the same.

Bottom Line: In my recent tour of English widgeted cans, Old Speckled Hen slots in between Tetley's and Boddington's / Wexford -- it's a little creamy, more flavorful than the yellow ales, but lacking the bitterness of the Tetley's. When it's on, this is a fantastic beverage.

Rating: 6 / 10 (when fresh and widgeted; deduct 1 full point if missing either)

I saw this at a local Japanese restaurant and had to sample. Don't be put off by the name -- this is not a "sweet" beer in the sense of the Lindeman's lambics or Leinie's Berry Weiss.  The owl label is a total bonus.

Characteristics: Dark, deep brown, almost no head and very slight carbonation, light-to-medium body, slightly bitter and fruity finish (apple?) with hints of curdled milk. 

Minor Gripes: Rare as hell and therefore VERY expensive in the states. Could use either more body or more carbonation (though not both).

Bottom Line: For a light stout, this is a solid beer.  Stands up well to (and plays nicely with) wasabi and soy.  It's light enough for summer nights.  Perhaps for that reason I'd hestitate to call this a stout in the grand sense (even if the beer labels itself as a "lacto" or milk stout). It's really somewhere between porter and brown ale.

Rating: 5.75 / 10