Topic Archives: Belgian Pale Ales
Idle Hands Brewing To Start Bottling
One of Massachusetts newest breweries – Idle Hands Brewing will start bottling soon. Actually as early as this weekend. As you might recall, Idle Hands got caught up in the State of Massachusetts beer law issues in which their farm-brewery license was denied. Luckily, the state re-re revised their thought view on the laws (pending hearings) and Idle Hands has been able to proceed.
About Pandora:
Awaken your curiosity with Pandora, a medium-bodied handcrafted ale that marries the light fruit and spice notes of the Idle Hands house yeast with citrus happiness of an American Pale Ale.
Style: Belgian Pale
Availability: 750 ml bottles
Arrival: TBA
6.5% ABV
Uinta Wyld, Monkshine & Yardsale
Uinta Brewing (Salt Lake City, UT) has been rebranding recently. 3 more beautiful labels have surfaced.
From the Four+ Series:
Wyld– Organic Pale Ale, 4 %. Available year round.
Monkshine – Belgian Style Pale Ale, 6.8%. Available year round.
Yardsale – looks like Gelande, the winter amber lager seasonal has been renamed. (Speculation) Old artwork below…
VID: Goose Island Fleur Brew Day
Getting the behind the scenes tour at Goose Island Brewing (Chicago, IL) was enlightening. They are growing so fast it’s hard to keep up. The operation is very efficient for sure. I got to meet a few brewers, especially the one responsible for Fleur, a Belgian golden ale. Fleur is brewed with Kombucha tea, and hibiscus. It has a floral nose and taste, with some strawberry flavors peeking through. Check out the brew day vid.
NEW RELEASE: Lagunitas Little Sumpin Wild
You might have seen, or by now addicted to Lagunitas Brewing’s “A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale.” It’s a pale wheat ale that drinks like an IPA. It’s 50% wheat malt, and full of every hop starting with the letter “c”. This new release is “A Little Sumpin’ Wild Ale” the Belgian sister of “Sumpin’ Sumpin”. It’s based of Sumpin’ Sumpin’ but with a few hop adjustments before “going wild”.
Commerical Description:
Another Big Sister of the Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale…. Loads of Malted Wheat for a Curious Malt Foundation and a Light Color, But Our Belgian Yeast Leaves a Huge Flavor and Complexishness.
Style: Belgian Strong Pale
Taste Expectations: Bright citrus hops. Fruity – flavors of pineapple, grapefruit, tangerine. Biscuity malts, with a little bit of Belgian yeast finish. Very very drinkable.
Availability: 22oz Bombers. Limited draft offerings. Retail $5 or less.
7.8% ABV
FYI: Apparently some of the Sumpin’ Wild Ale is now aging in chardonnay barrels. Some rare kegs might show up around the country in the future.
Smuttynose Star Island Single
To my knowledge, this is the first time this Smuttynose brew has been available in Georgia. Star Island Single is a part of the breweries full time lineup, replacing Portsmouth Lager.
Star Island Single derives it’s name from Star Island lying just off the coast of New Hampshire almost into the waters of Maine. It’s a Belgian Pale Ale, brewed abbey style with the obvious Belgian yeast. All in all an interesting lager replacement by Smuttynose. It’s a little high for a session beer, but it’s close. And a bit lower on the ABV when compared to other beers brewed in the Belgian style. Here’s their description –
“Visitors to Smuttynose Island, peering across the dark waters of Gosport Harbor towards the ragged rocks of neighboring Star Island, are sometimes startled by the fleeting sight of mysterious, alluring creatures swept up from the Atlantic’s cold, inky depths. Or so they tell us.
Our Star Island Single is an eminently sessionable, abbey-style ale offering a beguiling mix of flavor and refreshment. This medium-bodied golden ale features a slight residual sweetness from Honey Malt and hints of citrus and tropical fruits from the unique Belgian yeast it is fermented with, leaving a crisp dry finish. Enjoy it sociably while you savor good times, tall tales, friendly company & life’s unexpected pleasures.”
Taste Expectations – Citrus, lemon peel. Light sweet malts. Some spice. Comparable to a Belgian Blonde.
Availability – Year round. 12oz/6 pks & Draft.
5.6% ABV
NEW LAUNCH: Mad River Brewing!
It seems like California brewers are taking Georgia by storm. 21st Amendment just arrived from San Francisco, and now Mad River Brewing from Blue Lake, California.
Mad River Brewing started the same way that a lot of craft breweries begin – with a dream. Granted you hear that a good bit these days but it takes someone actually making that dream a reality that brings us new beers. Brew master Bob Smith took that dream and ran with it. It was 1977 when Bob joined the “Humbrewers Guild” a home brewing group in California. Trips to a home brew shop in Chico, California found Bob Smith crossing paths with owner Ken Grossman who later founded Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. After seeing Ken’s success, Bob was determined to follow suit.
Knowing Ken Grossman proved to be most important in founding Mad River. By 1989, Sierra Nevada had outgrown it’s current facility and equipment. Construction had already commenced on Sierra’s new location, so Ken Grossman sold equipment to Bob Smith. Mad River was born. By December 1990 the first kegs of Steelhead Pale ale were shipping.
A quick rundown of the offerings by Mad River:
Steelhead Extra Pale – Pale Ale, 5.6% ABV. Spicy & floral. Light bitter.
Steelhead Double IPA – DIPA, 8.6% ABV. Citrus hop flavor. Dry hopped with Amarillo.
Steelhead Porter – 6.5% ABV. Complex malt flavor with smoky malt in finish. Light dryness.
Steelhead Extra Stout – 6.5% ABV. Lots of roasted malts. light American hop character.
John Barleycorn Barleywine – 9.5% ABV. Nutty caramel malts. Hints of plum, black currant, and maple.
Double Dread Imperial Red – Red Ale, 8.6% ABV. Big malt foundation on the clear red ale. Alcohol subtle for an imperial.
Serious Madness Black Ale – 8.6% ABV. Black brew with silky smooth body & mouthfeel. Complex malt character.
Mad Belgian Golden Ale – Belgian Pale, 6.5% ABV. Crisp, dry & effervescent. Belgian yeast blends well with honey favor.
Estimated Arrival Date: July 8, 2010. Launch titles to be finalized during launch week. Mad River is distributed by Savannah Distribution.
WELCOME TO GEORGIA MAD RIVER BREWING!
MEET THE BREWER: Brouwerij De Landtsheer
Meet brewer/owner of Brouwerij De Landtsheer better known as the makers of Malheur today at The Porter Beer Bar!
From 4:30 pm -5:30 pm meet Manu de Landtsheer the owner of Malheur here in Atlanta all the way from Buggenhout, Belgium and have an ever so popular Malheur 10 or 12 on draft.
Not familiar with either?
Malheur 10 – Belgian Strong Pale Ale, 10% ABV. Flavors include coriander, orange peel, honey. Some floral hops. Little bit of alcohol warming to round this out.. (It is 10%!)
Malheur 12 – Quadrupel, 12% ABV. Flavors include dark fruits, caramel, Belgian candi sugar, and malts. Some alcohol warming in this one too – (It’s 12%!)
He’s come a long way – come say hi!
The Porter Beer Bar – 6/21, 4:30-5:30 pm
1156 Euclid Avenue Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30307
Twitter: @PorterBeerBar
