Beer Review - Oskar Blues Old Chub

I was hanging out at Hamilton Creek Brewery and brewer Scott S hands me four different Oskar Blues beers He generously brought them back from the Ale for The Trail beer event and requested that I review them for the blog. I will be honest - I have tried all four beers numerous times. I am very familiar with this brewery, and have even visited their Longmont Colorado location. One thing I have not done is review any of their beers. I think it's about time so let's go!

Oskar Blues Old Chub Scotch Ale
Oskar Blues Grill and Brewery- Lyons, CO
ABV: 8.0%  

Smitty's Review: Canned on 1-31-11. Sampled at 55 degrees in a British pint glass. Pours cola brown with a two fingers khaki colored head that diminishes to a retentive ring. Aroma of sugary malts, bread, and bold fruity ale esters. Lighter side of medium bodied, with light texture and soft carbonation. Flavor of brown sugar, hazlenut, raisen, and berries that transitions to a faint peaty finish. You can tell that hops are there to bring balance, but I could not detect any significant characteristics, as they have melded nicely into the beer. Alcohol becomes more noticeable toward room temp, but in a good way. All in all- a perfect Scotch Ale and a benchmark for an American interpretation of the style. You read that correctly- it's perfect. I would not change a thing.

• Rating*: 10 out of 10
• Recommended Food Pairing: Roast beef, game, chicken, mild cheeses, creme brulee, fudge brownies
• Value: a tad on the high side at around $10.99 per six, but worth the price
• Beer Audience: Anyone who enjoys craft beer, especially those who like malt forward UK style beers.
• Where to buy: Most liquor stores with a high gravity beer section should have this.

* rating system based on aroma (1 pt), appearance (1pt), palate (2 pts) flavor (3pts), comparison to other commercial examples of the style (3pts)

Thanks to Scott and the Oskar Blues Rep for donating the beers. I will be reviewing the others soon, so check back soon or join the Nashville Beer Geek Facebook group. Cheers

Smitty

Quickie Beer News

Tired. Long week

Main Street Brewfest in Franklin on March 12. Click here for more info

Bounty Bev got their high gravity license! That means more high gravity love coming to the music city. The first to make an appearance is Sprecher Kreik at J Barleycorn. Speaking of Bounty Bev, they brought in Lucky Bucket IPA to the low gravity stores. If you can still find it, it's very nice if you like bitter, citrusy IPA's. I think I will have one tonight with pizza.

Yazoo will have their Black Saison on tap this weekend until it runs out. 

As if you do not need another reason to go to the East Nashville Beer Festival, they are giving away Great American Beer Festival passes to ALL SESSIONS as a door prize. What do you have to do? Bring a new or lightly used children's book. If any of you win them and can't go, you can help out a poor beer blogger by donating them to me!

If anyone is on Facebook, I am getting near 100 members in the group in case you have not joined. Wink wink.

There's the doorbell. Pizza is here!

Smitty

Yazoo Beer Dinner at Flying Saucer

 Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 11, 2011 – Flying Saucer Draught Emporium will host a beer dinner featuring Yazoo Brewing Company on Wednesday, March 9 at 6 p.m. at its location at 111 10th Ave. South, Suite 310, with special guest Linus Hall, Yazoo founder and brewmaster.

Producing some of the most popular craft beers in the region, Nashville-based Yazoo Brewing Company has become a favorite of locals and is sought out by craft brewing loyalists all over the world. Flying Saucer will offer nine different Yazoo beers paired with three food courses during the dinner, and Hall will discuss each beer during the course of the meal.

The menu will include a first course of cabbage salad with fried green tomatoes, which will be paired with Yazoo’s Amarillo Pale Ale, Dos Perros Ale and Hefeweizen; the second course will include a smoked chicken and bratwurst gumbo and will be served alongside Yazoo’s Spring Wheat, Hop Project and Onward Stout beers; and a dessert of peach cobbler with cocoa and porter will be paired with Yazoo’s Sly Rye Porter, Sue and Nashville Porter for the final course.

“Yazoo is our hometown beer, and it holds a special place in the hearts of all Nashville beer lovers,” said Brandi Allen, general manager of Flying Saucer. “This dinner gives our customers a chance to sample a wide variety of what Yazoo has to offer and also enjoy a great three-course dinner and meet Linus, the mastermind behind the Yazoo name.”

Admission is $25 for U.F.O. members and $30 for non-members. The event is sure to reach capacity so customers are urged to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased at Flying Saucer’s location at 111 10th Ave. South, Suite 310, or by calling 615-259-3039.

http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/nashville/

Beer Review- Samuel Adams Latitude 48

I figured it was time to review a beer purchased off the grocery store shelves. Kroger to be exact. Be forewarned, I am very finicky with IPAs because they are one of my favorite styles.


Samuel Adams Latitude 48
Boston Beer Company- Boston MA
ABV: 6.0%   


SMITTY'S REVIEW: Sampled at 50 degrees. Pours translucent orange amber with light tan head that dissipates to a retentive ring. Medium bodied with a steady carbonation.Aroma of citrus and pine,with a hint of malts in the background. Initial flavor of caramel and toasted malts, transitioning to a tamed spicy, juniper-esque bitterness. Finishes with an assertive flavor of bitter grapefruit rind, but with some mildly distracting soapiness. Perhaps my standards for IPAs are a little higher than normal, but I found this beer to be average at best. Filtration took away from some of the mouth feel, and the hop profile is not that exciting. It's lacking the cohesiveness and complexity of a great IPA, at least for me. Sorry Latitude 48 fans, this one is not doing it for me. The good news is that you all have another IPA choice to throw in your shopping cart. I'll stick to Sweetwater IPA as my "Kroger beer" until the next challenger steps to the plate.

Rating*: 7 out of 10

Recommended Food Pairing: Pepperoni Pizza, Buffalo Wings, Mexican Food

Value: 
Average at around $7.99 per six pack

Beer Audience: Hopheads

Where To Buy:  Almost any place that carries Sam Adams products.

Other Sam Adams Beers To Try: Noble Pils, Black Lager, Cream Stout, Imperial Stout, Double White

* rating system based on aroma (1 pt), appearance (1pt), palate (2 pts) flavor (3pts), comparison to other commercial examples of the style (3pts)