Brewery: Diageo (Great Northern Brewery) Dundalk, Ireland
Overview: Harp Lager is a bit of an anomaly in ale-rich Ireland, but was developed in the 1960s as a response to a market trend towards lager-style beers. As such, it does not particularly fit in a classic category, but its brewery location in Ireland makes it surge in popularity for celebrations aside its big brother, Guinness.
Aroma: Light malt smell along with a meadow breeze rising off of wet grass. Some lime and lemon in the background. Fresh and clean.
Appearance: Crystal clear very pale yellow. Giant frothy head that sticks around the center of the surface and leaves some lacing on the glass.
Flavor: Malty sweet, but very light in overwhelming tones, with some of the light citrus notes carrying over. Very little hop bitterness at all, perhaps a slight freshness, like cut grass or a Spring garden sprouting in your mouth.
Overall Impression: Highly drinkable and pleasant. Not a complete standout in the history of beers by any standard, but a good stock party beer to work your way through, particularly towards St. Patrick's Day in an attempt to get something "authentic." More like a generic light pilsener than anything else. Good, and fun to drink, but I think I'll stick to the stouts on March 17.
Vitals:
Style Irish Lager (no classic defined style)
Price $7.99/six-pack
Found In Grocery Store Beer Aisle
Alcohol Content 3.5% by volume
Availability Year-round
Rating: 91
Monday, March 7, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Beer: Belhaven Wee Heavy
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| Photograph by Cameron Mathews |
Overview: Belhaven Wee Heavy is the strongest offering from Belhaven Brewery, and carries with it the classic Strong Scotch category.
Aroma: Heavy aroma of dark fruits with raisins. Malty sweetness with a hint of brown sugar. Some light smoke underneath.
Appearance: Clear brown with amber highlights looking slightly orange around the edges of the glass. Thin greyish-tan head with superfine bubbles.
Flavor: Malty sweetness up front with some evergreen hoppy notes on the sides of the tongue. Figs and other fruits hanging out. Somewhat of a dry finish with a hint of smoky ash, and a tonic-like end in the throat. Some cocoa bitterness throughout.
Overall Impression: One of my all-time favorite Strong Scotch Ales, the Wee Heavy is appropriately named. Not strong enough to punch you straight in the teeth, but with enough alcohol hiding in there that this may cut your drinking session in half. Overall the sweetness is delicious and blends well with the smoky and peaty characteristics that are typical of the Scotch ales.
Vitals:
Style Strong Scotch Ale
Price $3.99/20 oz. bottle
Found In Local Liquor Store
Alcohol Content 6.5% by volume
Availability Year-round
Rating: 96
Monday, February 14, 2011
Beer: Lindemans Kriek
Brewery: Lindemans Vlezenbeek , Belgium
Overview: Lindemans brews the most widely distributed variety of lambics that I am aware of. I have heard anecdotally that they are not the prime examples of lambic beers, which is a style of fermenting beers with naturally occurring wild yeasts and resulting in a souring effect on the beer. The Kriek is a cherry-infused fruit lambic, and my first choice to see how Lindemans stands up to my own palate. I scheduled this review for Valentine's Day, because a delicious cherry pink beer seems to perfectly fit the occasion.
Aroma: Ludens Cherry cough drops with a mild hint of the tart sour undertones. Like cherry sours from an old time candy store. Get more of the sour malt flavor when nose tires of the cherries.
Appearance: Pours red like cranberry juice with an enormous frothy pink head like the top of a thick strawberry milkshake.
Flavor: Smooth cherries, like a juice. Carbonation understated, and lends to an easy drink and soft mouthfeel. Tartness there, but not overwhelming, and sour notes very understated, unlike a gueuze. Tart cherry leaves some drying on the tongue.
Overall Impression: Absolutely delicious as an after-dinner beer. Sweet and smooth with a delicious cherry flavor that would easily complement any chocolate desserts or other sweets. This is a beer for non-beer lovers, who want a sweet and yet refreshing beverage that still packs some kick. Clearly more reminiscent of a cherry wine or champagne than a heavy beer flavor, and one of the best tasting beverages I've reviewed.
Vitals:
Style Fruit Lambic
Price $10.99/750 ML bottle
Found In Regional Liquor Store
Alcohol Content ...
Availability Year-round
Rating: 98
Overview: Lindemans brews the most widely distributed variety of lambics that I am aware of. I have heard anecdotally that they are not the prime examples of lambic beers, which is a style of fermenting beers with naturally occurring wild yeasts and resulting in a souring effect on the beer. The Kriek is a cherry-infused fruit lambic, and my first choice to see how Lindemans stands up to my own palate. I scheduled this review for Valentine's Day, because a delicious cherry pink beer seems to perfectly fit the occasion.
Aroma: Ludens Cherry cough drops with a mild hint of the tart sour undertones. Like cherry sours from an old time candy store. Get more of the sour malt flavor when nose tires of the cherries.
Appearance: Pours red like cranberry juice with an enormous frothy pink head like the top of a thick strawberry milkshake.
Flavor: Smooth cherries, like a juice. Carbonation understated, and lends to an easy drink and soft mouthfeel. Tartness there, but not overwhelming, and sour notes very understated, unlike a gueuze. Tart cherry leaves some drying on the tongue.
Overall Impression: Absolutely delicious as an after-dinner beer. Sweet and smooth with a delicious cherry flavor that would easily complement any chocolate desserts or other sweets. This is a beer for non-beer lovers, who want a sweet and yet refreshing beverage that still packs some kick. Clearly more reminiscent of a cherry wine or champagne than a heavy beer flavor, and one of the best tasting beverages I've reviewed.
Vitals:
Style Fruit Lambic
Price $10.99/750 ML bottle
Found In Regional Liquor Store
Alcohol Content ...
Availability Year-round
Rating: 98
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