February 15, 2014 Show

This week we welcomed Freddie back to the show after his week off and we had our first return guest, Jason Jarecki and this time he brought Carl, a fellow craft beer lover.  We examined a few new beers to the market along with some other staples, but all fell within the German styled beer guidelines.

Samuel Adams- Escape Route-  This Kolsch style beer has a strong fruit character, but by no means is it a fruit beer.  This is a very crisp and smooth easy drinking beer, as you would want from a Kolsch beer.  Sam Adams recently brought this to the market as a new Spring seasonal release and it is perfectly times and is a beer that can be enjoyed in large quantities in cold or warm weather.

Troegs Brewing Company- Cultivator Helles Bock- Another new entry to the market, it actually just came into Exit 190 Beer Deli the day we were laying out beers for the show.  This is another new Spring seasonal beer in the German style, this time a Helles Bock with a bit more of a hop bite, but still incredibly smooth.  The malt profile truly shined in this beer and was perfectly sweet, but enjoyable also the 6.9% ABV didn't show at all and this is another beer that can be enjoyed in large quantities.

Samuel Smith Old Brewery- Organically Produced Lager Beer- The lager style is one that many craft brewers have ignored in favor of more complex beers and have left this style to larger brewers, however this is beginning to change and with good reason.  The lager style is one that when done right can be enjoyed by all with it's smooth crisp taste that is highly refreshing.  Samuel Smith's take on the style is incredibly refreshing and the organic selection of ingredients adds an extra layer of freshness with a strong malt aroma backed with fresh grassy hops.  This beer was the favorite of all.

Ayinger- Jahrhundert Bier- The only true German brewery on this weeks show and what a beer it is! The Jahrhundert Bier is a dortmunder export and is very malt forward but incredibly smooth and easy drinking. The mouthfeel, when compared to the other beers, would lead one to believe that this is a much higher ABV beer, however it comes in at 5.9% ABV but still is incredibly complex and a great way to round out the 4 beers for the weeks.

This weeks special 5th beer for our guests is:

Southern Tier Brewing Company- Krampus: This imperial Helles lager is the perfect way to showcase all of the things that we discussed from the earlier beers.  This highly malted beer is still surprisingly hop forward with a perfect spicy hop bite  It remains perfectly balanced and still finishes smooth and crisp as the best Helles lagers should, but still manages to pack a punch at 9% ABV.