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A craft beer blog written by the experts of The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club

Brett’s June Featured Beers Top Pick

June 28, 2013 by Brett Olson

Old Crafty HenWith the June beer shipments just beginning to arrive in our members’ hands, it’s time again for me to highlight my top pick from among our US and imported 12-oz beer selections (which I have the tough job of sampling each month in order to bring you the write-ups in the newsletter). I hope this preview whets your appetite for this really great brew. (Or would it be whets your thirst? – or perhaps it should be wets your thirst, ‘cause, you know, it’s a beverage we’re talking about here.)

So let’s get to it. My top pick this month is Old Crafty Hen, a special version of one of England’s more iconic beers, Old Speckled Hen. The key difference is the inclusion of a very strong Old Ale from parent brewery Greene King called “Old 5X” which weighs in at 12% ABV and is the culmination of 2-5 years of age in giant oak barrels. That’s right, this is a blended beer – with wood aging – pretty unusual for English ales in this day and age.

So how well does it all come together? Really well for my palate, let me tell you. A short description of a complex beer just won’t do it justice, so here’s the full monty:

On the pour this Hen presents an attractive amber color with a head that drops plenty of lace. Richly malty on the nose, there’s also a distinct fruity quality that only a fine ale can deliver. There’s a sweet impression along with a distinct raisiny note, prominent caramel and some bread dough. Look for a touch of butter to lend a bit of a toffee character, while hops and oak age add some floral, mildly spicy notes with hints of citrus and wood. Complex as hell on the palate, expect a prominent dark fruit character composed of cherry, raisin, and currants, all surrounded by robust, satisfying caramel malts which deliver some honey notes as well.

100 barrel maturation vessels for Old 5X
100 barrel maturation vessels for Old 5X

We found this crafty brew fairly sweet, but there’s a moderate hop bitterness and a hint of tartness (thanks to the aged 5X) to balance, along with just a hint of spicy, drying alcohol. A touch of buttery diacetyl is a hallmark of many English ales, and we get some here, as well as mild oak notes and slight hints of oxidation from the prolonged barrel aging, which provide a sherry-like component. Enjoy this fine brew on its own, or pair with a plate of complex cheeses. Cheers!

Posted in: Featured Selections, Notes from the Panel

So many good beers, so little time…

June 28, 2013 by Kris Calef

kris-beer

If you’re like me, you’re already thinking about what to toss on your grill or smoker this weekend.  I’ve got a dark rum soaked, brown sugar pack smoked salmon recipe that’s pretty tasty…and easy.  I just make it look a lot harder than it is so I can spend more time manning the smoker and drinking beer.

The bigger question is what beer will I be drinking while carefully tending the coals and wood chips.  It’s a lofty decision since as the father of 3 year twin girls, I don’t get a whole helluva a lot of chill time by the barbie with a beer.  I’ve got a tasty beer I picked up as a Society member to The Bruery, Melange 3, a 15.5% blend of Black Tuesday, White Oak and Papier.  It’s an ass kicker though so I may have to invite someone over to assist with my duties. That or put the girls down early and call it a date night.  Option B:  I can’t seem to get enough of the Logsdon Organic Seizoen Bretta we ran in March.  It could very well be my all time favorite saison.  Okay, I’m going to take a stance on that and confirm it right now.  Love that beer. Flavorful and complex as hell. Check Ken’s tasting notes on it:  http://www.beermonthclub.com/logsdon-farmhouse-ales-seizoen-bretta.htm.

I drink beer like I order food when eating out.  I study the menu ad nauseum, narrow it down to my top 2-3 picks and then order something else.  I’ll keep ya posted.

What are you grillin’ and drinkin’ to celebrate the arrival of summer this Memorial Day weekend?

Prost!

Posted in: Featured Selections, Recipes and Pairings

Brett’s Top Pick for May Beers

June 28, 2013 by Brett Olson

lost-coast-8-ball-stout

For members who might not yet be aware, our May selections are up on our website, so for a sneak peak you can check them out here.

As newsletter writer for The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club’s 12-oz clubs and a member of the tasting panel, I thought it would be fun to highlight my top pick from among the six U.S. and imported beers we select each month.  Now for May, I must say it’s a very tough call because I think we’ve got a really strong lineup of solid beers that are all very on-point examples of their respective styles. Old Dominion and LostCoast are long-standing and well-loved breweries on their respective coasts, and I’ve been a fan of the Czech brewery Primator for quite a few years now.  But, since I’ve got to pick just one—that’s the rule (that I’m imposing on myself)—I’m going to give the nod to Lost Coast’s 8-Ball Stout. (My apologies to an old favorite of mine, Indica IPA—you know I still love you babe, don’t be mad, sometimes you just gotta have a stout!)

Oatmeal stouts are known for offering a hint of sweetness and a smooth, creamy mouthfeel due to the inclusion of oats in the grain bill.  8-Ball is a prime example of the style; it just gets so much right.  The beer’s mild sweetness balances well with the drying notes from the West Coast hops and roasted malts.  Those drying notes end up a little stronger in the finish, clearing the palate and preparing you for another sip.  Delicious and super-drinkable, this one is food-friendly but is great on its own too.  And, with the ABV coming in under 6% it’s certainly sessionable in my book, but it also packs enough flavor to work as a satisfying nightcap at the end of your day. Enjoy!

Posted in: Featured Selections, Notes from the Panel

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