September 21, 2006
Tasting Notes
So, the clone I brewed of the Stone Vertical Epic Ale 06.06.06 is finally mature enough to drink. And the Victorious Boilermaker IPA has been in the keg a few days. I must say, both are doing very well…
Stone Vertical Epic Ale clone
This is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale, and it has a very deep color. Not quite as black and opaque as a stout, but close. More of a very deep red color to it, slightly translucent. Being a Belgian, it’s got a fruity, estery smell, almost like a fine port. It’s light on the tongue, but with a very complex flavor, the result of dark grains and the Belgian yeast strain. All in all, this is already a good beer. It’s the first I’ve had of this batch since I bottled it a month and a half ago, and while I worried it would take longer than this to age and mature, it seems to be doing quite well for itself. More time is always beneficial, but I might start breaking into these every once in a while.
Victorious Boilermaker IPA
As I mentioned previously, this was my first all-grain beer, and I was a little bit worried about it. I didn’t hit anywhere near the right target metrics during the brew process, so I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. Well, my fears were completely unfounded! Now, this isn’t a beer for everyone. It’s a hop machine, weighing in at an unbalanced 6.4% alcohol with a whoppingly-bitter 110+ IBU’s! It was intended as a fairly light-bodied ale, and it’s definitely not lacking bitterness. This is a beer for a true hop-head. Light, nice flavor, good pale color, and with a bitterness that will suck your cheeks out of your mouth. Again, it’s not for everyone, which just means there’s more for me!
I do believe I’ll have to pour a few pints of the Victorious Boilermaker IPA this Saturday, while watching my Boilermakers attempt to go 4-0 playing Minnesota and brewing up a Scottish Wee Heavy with fellow blogger Neal from autoDogmatic, and smoking some cigars… I do believe this is what they call the “good life”.
The Unrepentant Individual linked with Longhorn Beer
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And here I was, trying not to think about how I wish it was already Saturday. Thanks a lot!
I can’t wait.
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