Monday 29 August 2011

Terry's Beer Tour of the World #3

Fordham

Helles Lager.  A Delaware beer, from a brewery established in 1703 in Dover, Delaware.
5.7% Alc.  Very nice.  Low fizz, light hops, well balanced – light head that doesn’t stay long. They make a great range including some real heavyweights.  The website is worth a look.

note:-  where I bought this six-pack near Towne Centre they had a rack of Absolut quart bottles for $19.99 each.  All the different flavours.  Haven’t finished my Margaritas or I would have grabbed one.


Magic Hat
Almost Pale Ale

5.1% Fruity apricot or orange. Not much else. Overpowers anything else.  Thin. Not something I liked.


Fix Lager

Greek beer, since 1864, brewed by a Bavarian who came to Greece with the new King.  Very nice.  A little chewy but crisp and clear.  No head to speak of but nice, especially when cold and in a cold accompanying glass.



Belhaven Scottish Ale

5.2%.  Very nice – top of the range stuff.  Malty and hoppy – burnt toffee taste.  Low head, not very heavy.  An old Scottish brewery and this is their oldest beer.  Definitely one to travel to Scotland for if you can’t get it locally.


Blues' Golden Ale

Had the Blues Golden Ale at the Fish Whistle in Chestertown, looking out over the Chester River at Common Sense at anchor
 A mellow, yet refreshing golden ale with balanced layers of flavor. The crisp and clean finish of Blues’ Golden Ale makes it the perfect complement to any meal. 16 Mile names this golden ale for The Delaware Blues who fought in almost every battle of the Revolutionary War. A monument in their honor is located Outside of Legislative Hall in Dover, Delaware.


National Bohemian (commonly referred to as Nat Bo)

This is good.  Got a 6-pack for $7.49 at a coffee shop in Chestertown.  One of the better beers I’ve had – not too sharp, not sweet.


Stone IPA 6.9%

Hoppy and herby from the get-go.  I like it much better than the Magic Hat.  Comes from North County San Diego and is apparently one of the IPA-cultists’ favourites.  In the craft-brewing arena, IPAs are much discussed and much-consumed here.  If you’ve got to have a hobby, drinking beer should be at least considered, eh?  Not to be drunk quickly and better with spicy nibbles of some sort.  Should be on anyone’s list.



St Michael’s Ale

At first sight you think this is going to be one heavy beer but it’s not, unusually.  Other dark ales often have a bite that clamps your jaw shut tight but this is not like that.  Certainly a lot of caramel (even if they can’t spell it as most yanks can’t pronounce it!) and some hops but not a lot.  Very drinkable.  I didn’t realize they were on Talbot Street, St Michaels.  I bought a six-pack at the Acme Grocery on Talbot but they didn’t say either.  Could have wandered in if I’d known.  It’s a limited distribution beer (they only make about 4) and it’s only just made it across the Bay to the Western Shore of Maryland.  For a brewery that’s only been open a couple of years, this is a good start.  Don’t like any Wheat Beers, though so I gave that one a miss and didn’t see the India Pale Ale;  the current fad in the US for IPAs seems to be to see how fruity it can be so I’ve begun to steer away.  This real ale (you can imagine Falstaff drinking it) is a return to roast beef, dumplings & gravy.


Blue Moon Brewery  “Pale Moon”

Unbiased - didn't know it was a Coors when I bought the six-pack. Certainly drinkable and quite pleasant as a first beer after emerging from "Irene" hibernation.  Maybe not the long taste of a Belgian but I would put it in with other Pale Ales. 5 to go which will be nice when I get to them.  Good stuff.

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