Custom BrewCrafters St. Patrick's Irish Ale (NY)

I'm not actually thinking about St. Patrick's Day yet, but I was looking for an easy drinking beer to share and a growler seemed to fit the bill. Honeoye Falls, NY based Customer BrewCrafters cranks out tons of styles for area bars and restaurants. Growlers are available at the brewery and in several local stores, and two of their beers are bottled (one of which I reviewed here). 

This Irish ale is pretty light in the body, but very smooth and easy drinking. Some caramel malts are balanced by earthy hops which never really reach the level of bitterness. The beer reminds me of their English Pale Ale. I don't know if it's mostly the same malts and yeast (not that this is a beer that shows off its yeast). This is what happens 

To me, St. Patrick's Irish Ale is just okay, but it serves its purpose. St. Patty's Day isn't for beer connoisseurs, it's for everyone, and they could do worse than a drinkable local brew. 

Amarcord La Putena (ITA)

It's nice to have a local beer retailer that has a wide selection, but what's really great is a changing selection. I visit to my local shop (Beers of the World) every 3-4 weeks or so, but am still amazed at how many beers they have which weren't there before. Some of these may be seasonal brews which I don't remember from last year. Some may be beers that have been available to you, but I'm just seeing now. Still, I could keep myself busy just trying stuff that's new to me.

One new-to-me breweries is Italy's Amarcord, named after Fellini's film. This is wine country of course, and Italian beer doesn't receive much respect. But Amarcord is ambitious. It looks like they have four beers, the biggest being a brown ale at 10%. La Putena (not sure what this means...whore? Isn't that puttana?) is at 6.5% and is a rossa doppio malto (double red malt). It's sold in a fabulous 500 ml bottle, with a flip top cap and image of tarted up lady on the label. The color is mahogany, but I couldn't get much of a head. In fact, it turns out to be quite low in carbonation, which I like but others may have issues with.

This isn't an American-style red or amber ale, replete with hops. Instead, it's mostly sweet in an earthy way, mildly of cherries. But I wouldn't call it cloying. It's very easy-drinking, if not too much so. I would gladly slurp these down ... except it runs over $6 a bottle! La Putena a nice beer, but really not worth that price. Possibly it's a better value in a country with a decent currency.

I do think this is better than given credit for at both Beer Advocate and ratebeer. The former has it listed as a Vienna Lager (?!), which is a sure way to screw up the ratings.

Ithaca TEN (NY)

I've tried two beers from Ithaca's Excelsior series: IPAbbey and White Gold. Ithaca TEN is brewed in celebration of their tenth anniversary. It is:

an Imperial American Extra Strong and Special Double Red Ale. Our anniversary beer, TEN, is brewed with too many malts to list and an excess of American hops, including several additions during fermentation. Enjoy the russet color, aggressively hoppy aroma and flavor, rich body and fiery finish.

This is a kitchen-sinker all the way. It pours a slightly cloudy reddish-brown with a fabulous off-white head. It emits an aroma of Northwest IPA-style grapefruit and/or pine (ratebeer has this listed as an Imperial IPA, Beer Advocate as an American Strong Ale). The taste has the same elements, but they aren't all that's there. At times, it comes across with almost caramel sweetness. There are also a lemony notes and some peppery spiciness. The overall effect isn't really all that bitter. But it is big, serving almost as a juiced up version of Cascazilla.

Big beer fans should give this a try if you can find it. Others may find it an example of American brewing excess. At nearly $10 for 750 ml, it's pricey, but it's a sipper, and you can split a bottle 2-3 ways.

Belfast Bay Lobster Ale (ME)

Name notwithstanding, this beer in fact has no more lobster in it than does Green's Discovery, a brew which brags that it contains no crustacean. I think Belfast Bay makes only this and an oatmeal stout. Apparently, they contract brewing out to Shipyard, although I find no confirmation of this on the label. Ratebeer actually lists this under Shipyard, which suggests the breweries share ownership or something, but the site seems inconsistent in how they do things.

This is a red ale of the warm weather variety, with it's fairly light body and thorough fizz. Taste-wise, sweet malts are countered by faint citrus hops; caramel sweetness converts to dryness. Based on other reviews I've read, they use Ringwood yeast, but I didn't find this to be buttery or diacetyl-laden. Instead, it's noticeably tangy. I don't know if this is character or a flaw. I don't entirely like it, but without it, the beer would lack distinction. Overall, it's not a bad ale, but nothing to jump up and down about.

Sackets Harbor War of 1812 Ale (NY)

Sackets Harbor Brewing's War of 1812 Ale plays up the history of its region (eastern edge of Lake Ontario). I liked their Thousands Island Pale Ale, but War of 1812 turns out to be "safer," which I suppose isn't surprising given that it's their flagship beer.

It pours clear golden, not rich amber, without much of a head. Not a whole lot of aroma either. It has considerably less citrus hoppiness than the pale ale, which isn't unexpected, but unfortunately there isn't enough malt to pick up the slack. Slightly bready/biscuity, and only very faintly of caramel sweetness, War of 1812 really goes down easy -- too easy, I think. The body is nicely crisp, if a tad thin. I wouldn't mind knocking down several of these on a warmer evening, but in a world of interesting craft beer, this one isn't worth seeking. Not disagreeable, but not memorable either.

Southern Tier Big Red (NY)

I paid $5.49 for a bomber of ol' Big Red. Described as an "Imperial Red Ale," the labels says it's 9.5% ABV, 93 IBUs, and both kettled and fragranced with "reliable" Hallertau hops. It also says to drink this at 42 degrees, but I think I went a little warmer than that.

It pours orange/brown rather than red, and looks pretty thick. What aroma there is is slightly earthy, slightly citrusy (oranges?). For all the IBUs, Big Red is more malt bomb than hop bomb. It's sweet, slightly spicy and floral, I think, with some hops to frame it. The taste has a certain aspect -- I can't quite put my finger on it -- that reminds me of other Southern Tier brews, such as the summer seasonal Hop Sun. It's also fair to say that the high alcohol doesn't really come through. What would slow me down isn't the booze, it's the body, which is quite full and softly fizzed. This isn't a guzzler.

I found an article about the brewery which claims Big Red is the only ST imperial beer not to catch on. One problem may be the packaging: tractor on the label, "as dependable as your old grandpa's tractor." Does this sound enticing to you? Another possibility is that Southern Tier produces better beers in its imperial line. This isn't their best, but is a pretty fine beer nonetheless.

Magic Hot Roxy Rolles (VT)

To what extent are we supposed to look past imagery, packaging and marketing and focus only on the beer itself? I suppose we should do so entirely. I can't help but think about this when drinking an offering from Magic Hat, a brewery whose imagery is both (a) much of the reason for its success, and (b) in my opinion, awful. I dislike everything about it: the brewery name, the beer names, the label designs, the bottle cap "wisdom," the faux whimsy.

Roxy Rolles is a winter seasonal accurately described as a "hoppy amber ale." The hops are citrus and pine, slight in aroma and a bit stronger in taste (35 IBUs). It's a lot like an APA, but the malts are different, and ultimately offset the bitterness. Without them, it would make a fine, refreshing summer beer (it's even a bit heavy on the carbonation). As is, I don't know if it makes a great winter brew, and you may be able to get the same effect by mixing a hoppy pale ale with an amber ale. I can see some drinkers complaining that Roxy Rolles falls in between two styles, not succeeding at either. Still, I think it works, and am glad I bought a full sixer.

The underside of one of the bottle caps says "Art Show. Fart Show. Make the Beer." It takes a considerable lack of self-awareness not to appreciate the irony of this, Magic Hat, but it's good advice nonetheless, and in this case, good beer.

Ithaca Cascazilla (NY)

Since I've already reviewed a number of Ithaca beers, I figured I'd tackle Cascazilla. Formerly a fall seasonal, but has been upgraded to year-round status. The label claims this is a "monstrously hoppy red ale." Beer Advocate lists it as a amber/red ale, ratebeer as an IPA. I think the former is more accurate.

It pours clear, somehwere between copper and amber, but its head doesn't last. The body is perhaps a bit too light with moderate carbonation. There's definitely a sweetness to it that distinguishes it from IPAs or pale ales: a bit of caramel and maybe cherries (or maybe it's just the redness that makes me think that). There's also an element of grapefruit hoppiness --nothing monstrous -- and a dry finish. I've had this before, and recall it being a little more potent. My bottle says best before September, so maybe it faded a bit. I am not really complaining, though, as I like the balance. Also, I'd never guess this is 6.5% ABV.

I'd probably recommend Cascazilla as the first beer to try from this brewery.

Rock Art American Red Ale (VT)

I paid $2.25 for a longneck single, which is really too much. Maybe this is cheaper in Vermont. If I interpret the label correctly, my bottle was filled on June 28th. Do they only bottle on the 28th of each month or am I misinterpreting?

"Super Glide" is this beer's nickname, and it is indeed a smooth brew. There's a malty, somewhat sweet aroma emitted from dark brown liquid (just a tinge of red). The body is maybe a bit on the high side of medium, and there's the right amount of carbonation. The taste is slightly roasted malt with a caramel sweetness. This seems to be on the low-hop end of the scale for a red ale (the same could be said for Rock Art's brown ale). Hopheads won't like this much. If you want an easy-drinking ale, this could be your baby. Good, IMO, but a bit pedestrian.

By the way, that's Kokopelli on the label, a fertility god who is more associated with the Southwest US than New England.