Natural Blonde Ale

Natural Blonde Ale

            For me blonde ales are a meh beer, something to turn to at the end of a hot day (although it is more likely I will reach for an IPA).  For some reason, however, this style has the reputation for being the penultimate American beer.  Blondes are very approachable (I’m talking beer fellas) and are often medium to light in body with a clear crisp finish and a medium level of hops balanced by a slight malty sweetness.

            The Natural Blonde pours a deep golden blonde with a quickly dissipating head that leaves rings along the glass as it settles.  I found that this beer, in particular, was a steady drink.  I did not become bored of it, my nose filled with the scent of ginger and citrus, nor did I feel the need to think much about it as I drank.  There are subtle notes of grass and a slight floral quality but in the end it rather fit the generic description of a blond ale only with more hops and gusto than most.  The light carbonation made the flavors sit high in the palate, elevating them above the flavor of whatever you are eating.  In its own category I would give the Natural Blonde a B+.   

Beer: Natural Blonde

Serving Type: Tap

Style: Blonde Ale

ABV: 4.6%

Score: B+

People's Pint: 100% Local

People's Pint: 100% Local

            When you go to a brewery, you must try the seasonal beers.  Did you hear me?  I will say it again, you must try the seasonal beers.  This season at The People’s Pint they have a new and exciting beer called “100% Local Ale”.  The description reads:

"The People's Pint is super proud to announce our 100% Local Ale. It's made with Barley grown in Hadley & Wheat grown in Belchertown; both malted by Valley Malt in Hadley. Four Star Farms in Northfield grew the Cascade and Nugget Hops and The People's Pint Brewery mixed it all together to make Massachusetts' first 100% Local Ale. Please enjoy."

            And honestly, this green, locally sourced, way of thinking is something to be very proud of.  The beer pours golden amber with a short, quickly dissipating head.  It has a strong smell of ginger and lemon that carries over into the flavor.  It is crisp with a very strong wheat presence, almost yeasty.  The local American hops impart a zesty citrus flavor to this gloriously balanced and hoppy beer.  This is truly a unique and honest beer, but not very complex, a definite must try but maybe not a mission brew.  I give it a B+ for concept and taste. 

Beer: 100% local

Serving Type: Tap

Style: Ale

ABV: 5.0%

Score: B+         

People's Pint: Oatmeal Stout

People's Pint: Oatmeal Stout

           Another brew from the People’s Pint – their Oatmeal Stout is worth blogging about.  Oatmeal Stouts are a relatively new indulgence of mine, largely because it was a style not usually commercially distributed - but now more and more breweries are producing fantastic beers in this style.  This does not mean that it is a new technique.  In fact, oats were commonly added to beer in medieval Europe – but the craft largely died out until a resurgence at the tail end of the nineteenth century.  Oatmeal Stouts are traditionally big in body and unbelievably smooth due to the addition of oats, which also impart a smidgen of sweetness.  Other than this, however, I find that Oatmeal Stouts are more unique to the brewery and not to the style of brew – they are exciting because you have a general idea of what to expect (and no, Oatmeal Stouts do not taste of oats) but you are always surprised!

            People’s Pint did a good job on their Oatmeal Stout.  It pours a deep brown, almost black, with a foamy head that sits back and becomes denser rather quickly.  It has an interesting nose: butter and wood and an earthy sweetness.  The first few sips have a strong espresso and chocolate presence.  There are strong hops and toasted bread behind each taste and a smokiness that takes up shop in the back of your throat at the finish.  The carbonation is very present; it cascades over the top of your tongue and froths up into your gums.  This brew is primarily bitter with only a very faint sweetness with a buttery creaminess cut by a dry powdery palate: definitely a study in balances.      

Beer: Oatmeal Stout

Serving Type: Tap

Style: Oatmeal Stout

ABV: 5.1%

Score: B-

People's Pint: Farmer Brown

Farmer Brown Brown Ale

            The People’s Pint Brewery is a local brewery (local to Greenfield, MA) with a commitment to making good beer from local and traditional ingredients.  I went to their bar/restaurant this past weekend and had a number of their beers; I started out with their Brown Ale. 

            Historically ‘brown ale’ was a term first used in the late seventeenth century by London Brewers to describe a new style of mild, lightly hopped ale made with entirely brown malt.  That definition has evolved over the centuries to a modern definition encompassing ales including a sweet component, moderate bitterness, and a malty hoppy finish with low alcohol content. 

            Farmer Brown is mahogany in color with a short, off-white, head.  It has a pleasant aroma of freshly baked bread and sweet malt.  The first sip is creamy and velvety and slightly nutty with a lot of brown sugar.  As you continue to drink you begin to notice a definite sweet fruity presence – a faint veil of raspberry attempting to push its way through to the foreground.  Each sip brings a slightly different flavor, now hazelnut and almond, now vanilla, now just the slightest whisper of a medium roast.  This is an incredibly drinkable ale with subtle carbonation.  It is one of the most popular brews at The Peoples Pint; I know I am enjoying it, as each sip leaves delicate lace rings along the inside of the glass.  I would describe this as a solid fallback beer, one that would stand alone alongside a spicy or salty meal – I would not, however, add sweet to sweet.  I would give it a B.

Beer: Farmer Brown

Serving Type: Tap

Style: Traditional American Brown Ale

ABV: 5.4%

Score: B         

Delirium Noël

Delirium Noël comes from the Huyghe Brewery located in Melle, Belgium; famous for their pink elephants and unfiltered goodness.  I am fond of their Delirium Tremens so I was excited to try their new Christmas brew.  The beer that a brewery selects as their “Christmas Ale” should reflect the holiday and the changing season.  It should be zesty and complex.  One should feel at home sipping it surrounded by mounds of snow, one should feel warmed by the beer, it should rejuvenate and invigorate.

This beer pours a frothy khaki head, which dissipates within seconds forming a light film over the beer, a burnt orange-amber in color.  Holding my glass to the light I see yeast particles suspended in the amber matrix. Delirium Noël is malty and smells of banana and dried fruits, notably prunes and apricot.  The taste is on the rich end and rather sweet, reminiscent of a fruit cake, with a tinge of anise and soy sauce at the finish.  The carbonation is lazy and the hops are not present at all, making this a rather drinkable beer despite having an alcohol content of 10% ABV.  For a Christmas brew Delirium Noël is lacking in complexity, I was bored and disappointed.  I give it a B-. 

Beer: Delirium Noël

Serving Type: 750ml bottle

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

ABV: 10%

Score: B-

Beer

Poster in my room.

            Benjamin Franklin once said, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”  Benjamin Franklin was a wise man; I think we should all take his words to heart.  I am by no means trained in the subtle art that is sniffing and tasting beer, but I do enthusiastically partake.  I will use the “beer” section of my blog to catalogue my endeavors to taste, document, and share as many beers as humanly possible.  As a result, please excuse the quality of the pictures in this section; some might be taken with my phone, some might be difficult to see from the poor light quality in a seedy bar, some might be blurred and distorted from the beer that has been guzzled.  But, I do this all in the name of craft. 

Rank System

A++ Best Beer I have tasted in its respective style

A+ This one’s to you Benny boy!

A Nectar of the Gods

A -  Limericks will be written.

B+ Damn Good

B Pretty Good

B- Fair

C+ Disappointing

C Poor
C- Well, it’s beer…

D Please pass me a chaser

Cheers Boston!