Taproom Talk

I remember reading something, somewhere, years and years ago that gave me a prime directive. Like a seed that can germinate years later, it nestled itself in my brain. I will now share this defining element with you, but please do not wait as long as I did. There is a beer that has a red tailed bird on its label. If you see it, buy it, because it will be one of the best beers of your life.

While at a local ‘SUPER BEER AND WINE WAREHOUSE OHMYGOODNESS!’ I spied two candidates. Immediately, like in Robocop, I saw the prime directive before me

R.E.D T.A.I.L = B.U.Y I.M.M.E.D.I.A.T.E.L.Y

I bought those two candidates: one beer that I liked, Red Tail Ale (which I will review seperately) and one that I loved, RED NECTAR. Simply put, Red Nectar is one of the most delicous, balanced and thouroughly drinkable beers I have ever had.

What else needs to be said? “An American classic – and a Gold Medal winner at the 2006 California State Fair and a Silver Medal winner at the 2005 Los Angeles County Fair and 2004 Great American Beer Festival Cheers.”

I rarely imbibe pilsners for some odd reason, for when I do happen to have one, I’m usually impressed. Coupled with the fact that I happened to get my hands on a Pilsner from the Czech Republic, it should come as no surprise that I was thoroughly impressed with the Lev Lion Pale Double Bock from the Mestansky Pivovar Havlickuv Brewery.

This light gold colored intensely bubbly beer poured with a nice white head that revealed an inviting hop nose with a subtle maltiness. The taste was true to a smooth and crisp Pilsner and had a slight pepperiness to it that finished with a well done maltiness.

This is a great Pilsner style beer from a brewery that clearly knows a thing or two about producing highly drinkable beers. If you can get your hands on a Lev Lion Pale Double Bock, you’ll surely enjoy it!

Every once in awhile, I like to pick up some exotic beer with labels containing a good dose of unrecognizable wordage. One of my latest finds was the Ducassis from the Brasserie des Géants brewery in Belgium. This pleasant, unfiltered fruit ale, fashioned from blackcurrants, which give it a plumb color, has a bold floral taste with a huge, lasting head that produces a heavy flowery aroma. The taste is wonderfully complex– I picked up hints of malts intertwined with a strong currant flavor that produced a sour, but satisfying finish.

The Ducassis is a rare find and I plan to keep an eye out for more beers from this brewery due to the interesting showing of this fruity brew.

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of pleasantly hoppy beers. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that I approached River Horse’s Hop Hazard with the same glee and excitement I used to experience as a wee lad with a whole dollar to spend in a candy store.

The beer poured with absolutely no head and gave off a welcoming citrusy hop smell; moreover, upon inspection, the Hazard was a darker than expected color, almost typical of a logger. Crisp and smooth as I drank it, I did notice a malt backdrop that progressively became more pronounced as I continued to drink giving the beer a grassy taste that left me somewhat disappointed. Hazard’s malt finish was a bit bland as well.

I love hoppy beers, especially in the summer time; however, River Horse’s Hop Hazard didn’t live up to my expectations.

Oh black beer, black beer, how do you taste? Like a dark chocolate espresso from an ancient master’s recipe that has been retraced.

Oh black beer, black beer, tell me more about your flavor. I have a spicy maltiness and a pleasantly burnt taste that you will surely savor.

Oh black beer, black beer, what is your body? Ever so smooth and crisp without the peppery strong alcohol taste that leaves you feeling shoddy.

Oh black beer, black beer, what is your name? I am the great 1554 Brussels style black ale from the New Belgium Brewery, where amazingly good beers like Fat Tire gave us our fame.

With its big white head that lasts an eternity and a wonderful hoppy smell, Mendocino White Hawk IPA is sure to please the most highbrowed of beer snobs. The White Hawk has an elegant hop taste with subtle spiciness, which is highly complemented by a malty backdrop and a smooth refreshing finish. Its gold hue and light bubbly body give off an inviting essence that leaves you feeling lonely once you’ve finished this fine beverage.

As far as IPAs go, Mendocino has done it once again with a strong showing of yet another beer– you’ll find yourself wanting to take the White Hawk home every time!