Ashland Amber Ale

Have you ever seen a movie that starts strong, then seems to take a turn for the worst to a point it becomes a chore to finish? In my opinion Insidious is a prime example of this. I mean, how bad was that final act? It came out back in 2010 and it still bothers me to this day. I thought it was a fantastic horror movie up until the whole “Further” explanation and then I struggled not to walk out of the theater before the credits rolled. The ending was even more ridiculous but then again this is a beer review blog, not a movie review blog, so let’s get back on track. Brewed out of Caldera Brewing Company in Oregon, Ashland Amber Ale is a beer that reminded me of every movie I have ever seen that started strong, but somewhere along the line went off the rails and became a chore to finish.

Ashland Amber Ale pours a clear amber with a cream colored head. The presence of the caramel malt seems to dominate the aroma. There is also a hint of hop spice that in retrospect teased the beer’s downfall. The first sip of Ashland Amber is full of caramel malt. it’s very sweet and almost creamy in texture. The initial taste reminded me of an Oktoberfest Ale, which is one of my favorite seasonal beers. As you can imagine I thought I found a winner. However, the deeper I got into the glass, the malt seemed to take a backseat to the herbal citrus flavor of the hops.

Normally I don't have a problem with an amber ale being a little hoppy. Sometimes it is a nice way to balance out the bold sweetness of the malt. The problem with this particular one is that the hop blend does not compliment the beer; it takes over and it takes over in a negative way. Sip after sip the lingering flavor of the hops overwhelmed my palate to a point the beer tasted nothing like the sweet almost Autumn seasonal beer it did when I started. It tasted bland and bitter with a hint of sweetness. Basically, it tasted far worse. By the time my glass was empty I felt relief instead of wanting another.

Overall I give Ashland Amber Ale a 2/5. It starts strong but fades in the last act. Look elsewhere for a good Amber Ale.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Hop Nosh IPA

The great thing about sampling a lot of different beers is once in awhile you happen to stumble upon one that is truly exceptional. When this happens, every bad beer you have tried up until that point seems worth it. And every good beer you have had seems like it built your palate to appreciate this very moment. This was the feeling I had when I first tasted Hop Nosh IPA(formerly Hop Notch) from Uinta Brewing Company.

Brewed in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hop Nosh IPA pours a slightly hazy golden amber with a finger thick white head. The strong citrus aroma with a hint of malt sweetness seemed to jump right out of the glass promising a bold flavor. Upon tasting this medium-bodied IPA, I was immediately hit with the bitterness of grapefruit and the sweetness of pineapple. That sweetness fades abruptly into a dry, bitter finish that lingers until the next sip. And I found myself looking forward to the next sip until my foam-laced glass was empty.

Some beer drinkers do not like IPAs because they feel they are too bitter. And while this is a bitter beer, it still feels properly balanced. The pineapple sweetness, although brief seems to go a long way into balancing the bitterness of the hops. That being said I would’ve liked to have seen that pineapple flavor stick around a little longer into the finish, but that’s a very small gripe when enjoying a beer this well-crafted.

Hop Nosh IPA has an ABV of 7.3%. While it is slightly present in the dry finish, it is mostly hidden in the bold flavor which makes this beer deceptively delicious, and seem lighter than it really is. It might not be as light as a session IPA but it does feel lighter than other IPAs. Basically it’s a great beer to compliment the warm weather, but if you are going to enjoy a few be careful when you get up out of the lawn chair.

Overall I give Hop Nosh IPA a 4/5. This is a fantastic beer and a great example of an IPA.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Kelpie Seaweed Ale

Once in awhile I come across a beer I just have to try. In most cases it is a new offering from one of my favorite breweries, or if I'm in a different city I usually seek out something from a local microbrewery. But in the case of this week's beer I was intrigued by the idea of a Seaweed Ale, it just took a me a little time to build up the courage to try it.

When I was a kid I had a wild imagination and a love of horror movies. The movie Creepshow 2 did no favors for me whenever I went swimming in a lake. In Creepshow 2, a group of teenagers were attacked and eaten by a mysterious blob after swimming in a lake they clearly shouldn't have. As a child, I would think of this anytime I swam and got stuck in seaweed. Each time I thought the seaweed I was stuck in was the blob about to eat me. So because of that I am not usually excited about anything seaweed-related, but I thought what better way to get over it than try it in my favorite beverage, beer.

Kelpie Seaweed Ale is brewed in Scotland by the Williams Brothers Brewing Company. It pours a clear brown with a light khaki colored head. The aroma is strong, full of roasted malt, a hint of salt and bitter chocolate. Upon tasting the roasted malt flavor overwhelmed my palette. Bitter chocolate and molasses are strong in the malt and finishes with a light salty finish. There is little to no hop presence. Just the flavor of roasted malt, that lingers unpleasantly until the next sip.

The most noticeable thing about Kelpie Seaweed Ale is the fact that there is nothing special going on here. It tastes like your run of the mill average brown ale and that is what makes this beer truly disappointing. Nothing about this beer stands out even though it is brewed with a truly unique ingredient. If you are in the market for a good dark beer, this is a good way to play it safe but I think it is best to look elsewhere.

Overall I'd give Kelpie Seaweed Ale a 2/5. I may not have forgotten the nightmares of being caught in seaweed as a child, but I'll forget this beer as soon as this blog is finished.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!