I’m not one to turn down a new (to me) IPA, especially if that IPA comes from a local brewery. The Northern Lights comes from Starr Hill based out of Charlottesville, VA. Being a fan of their beers I had to pick up a six-pack of the Northern Lights as soon as I saw it.
Sierra Nevada, being one of the originators of the craft beer movement, could just sit back and let their already impressive lineup of beers pull them along. But that is not the craft beer, or Sierra Nevada, way of doing things. For 2012 they have a new beer for the Spring, the Ruthless Rye IPA. Brewed using rye, pale, caramel, and chocolate malts with chinook and bravo hops, this promises to be in interesting and complex beer.
I have always been a fan of the Denmark based Mikkeller, as all their beers are interesting and of quality. While Shane and Mike have been busy reviewing some of their other unique darker beers, such as the Rauch Geek Breakfast, Jackie Brown, and Beer Geek Breakfast, I always gravitate towards their Imperial IPAs. I found a bottle of their Hop Burn High Double Imperial Pale Ale, and although their beers tend to gravitate a little more to the pricey side, this one is worth the sticker price.
Port City has made a few appearances on Passion Beer, the most recent being an interview I conducted with the owner, Bill Butcher. Today, there’s a review in store with the Tartan Ale, a 5.5% ABV 80-Shilling Scottish Ale. The Tartan is a limited release seasonal that I have been itching to try ever since hearing about it from Bill.
The Phin and Matt’s Extraordinary Ale from Southern Tier is billed as being a classic American style Pale Ale, and there is nothing wrong with any of that. Brewed with three types of hops and three types of malt there should be a good depth of flavor and balance. Being a standard Pale Ale, it should also be approachable. All this combined makes the Phin and Matt’s a beer that I’m excited to dive into.
