It's summer, so-to-type, in the Bay Area, which means lots of cold fog in the mornings and evenings and brilliant sun and beautiful days in between—the tomatoes have finally started to peak and the corn is mighty delicious. Life is good. And so are the beers. As I prepare to brew my first beer (a Schwarzbier!) with the assistance of a homebrewing friend, I've continued my exploration of the darker side of lagers. Continuing with the fantastic trend of collaboration beers amongst great brewers, Stone of southern California, BrewDog of Scotland and Cambridge in Massachusetts released a Juxtaposition Black Pilsner. With 10 percent alcohol, calling it a double/imperial/strong black pilsner would be more correct, as Schwarzbier (classically-styled) this ain't. Pensive it is however. Dark roasted aromas, very earthy very dark, taste stronger, bitterness takes big presence, slow drinking, but quite fantastic, earthy entrancing open, rich dark brief glances of what lies within. I'm considering getting some more to age. From Stone's Blog: Aside from being the first lager ever brewed at Stone (and using Bohemian lager yeast no less), this beer represents several other Stone “firsts.” This is the first time we’ve used Japanese Sorachi Ace hops and Motueka hops from New Zealand (there are no American hops in this beer). It’s also our first time both mash-hopping and mash-wort hopping a brew, as well as our first time using more than two kettle hop additions (there were 9 hop additions throughout the wort boiling process)
My lack of familiarity with Avery, a top brewer in Boulder, Colorado is shameful, but I've started my penance with the Avery Anniversary Lager Seventeen, a dry-hopped black lager). This is what Schwarzbier is all about, utterly beautiful dark color, lovely light subtle hop aroma, taste crisp, elegant, long, superb beer. I could drink a lot of this beer—a superb introduction to Avery. Meanwhile, while the Isle of Skye Wee Beast from Scotland didn't strike me as fitting the common descriptors for a scotch ale/wee heavy. Less sweet, more refreshing. Struck me more like a blackberry lambic, but much less tart/yeasty. In any case, incredibly refreshing, dang delicious, outstanding. The surprising refreshing category enjoys another entry with the Emelisse Barley Wine Ale from the Netherlands. The nose on this is quite fantastic, rich complex and in no way overpowering, pleasant to drink, the flavors are integrated and very interesting, yet refreshing, no alcoholic heaviness whatsoever, rich and delicious! I usually love Saisons, but the Lost Abbey Carnevale Ale from San Marcos in southern California didn't do much for me. Not refreshing, nothing stuck out like a sore thumb, but the beer just felt like decent enough ingredients that didn't come together. Wouldn't revisit. And the Anchor Humming Ale from San Francisco? All the lack of definition and slight feel of staleness that make me fail to appreciate Anchor ('cept for their Christmas beer) at all. And the fog settles back in . . . time for some heirloom tomatoes, an avocado, and an acme baguette. To arms!