Earlier this evening, I finished bottling 2 cases of my maple brown ale. The beer was in secondary fermentation for 4 weeks per the recipe, which is a bit longer than the 20 days I'd been used to for previous beers. Can't wait to try the finished product...
I checked the final gravity before priming w/ maple syrup & light malt extract, and it came in at 1.012 (above the minimum value of 1.010). I was a bit surprised that it was on the lower end of the range for this style, but will see how it all comes together in 2 weeks. Had a taste of the beer before mixing in the sugar-- definite roasted flavor from the dark chocolate malt, but a bit drier than I was expecting. It appears the majority of the maple syrup flavor has fermented out. A fellow BeerAdvocate recommended adding a spice called "fenugreek" to the boil next time for maple flavor that will remain after fermentation. Will first see if any maple flavor from the priming syrup remains after 2 weeks...
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Beer Review: Santa Fe Pale Ale
I received three 12 oz bottles of Santa Fe Pale Ale from Beer of the Month Club in July. This was my first time to try any Santa Fe beers, since they're not available in St. Louis. Was definitely looking forward to it. Overall, this beer is very drinkable, but on the other side of the coin, a bit lacking in complexity. Here's my review:
Style: American Pale Ale
Aroma: (Score: 6/12) a confluence of citrusy hop aroma w/ biscuity malt, suggesting balance
Appearance: (Score: 2/3) creamy, lingering off-white head; light copper color with very slight haziness- possibly due to beer being colder than optimal serving temp.
Flavor: (Score: 15/20) leans more toward sweet maltiness than hoppy bitterness; bitterness makes a pleasant, yet prominant appearance toward the end; dry, clean finish; perceived very slight warmth of alcohol
Mouthfeel: (Score: 2/5) low-to-medium carbonation; light-to-moderate body
Overall: (Score: 6/10) delicious; highly-drinkable; well balanced; however, a bit lighter than I prefer an American Pale Ale to be
Total Score: 31 (Very Good)
Style: American Pale Ale
Aroma: (Score: 6/12) a confluence of citrusy hop aroma w/ biscuity malt, suggesting balance
Appearance: (Score: 2/3) creamy, lingering off-white head; light copper color with very slight haziness- possibly due to beer being colder than optimal serving temp.
Flavor: (Score: 15/20) leans more toward sweet maltiness than hoppy bitterness; bitterness makes a pleasant, yet prominant appearance toward the end; dry, clean finish; perceived very slight warmth of alcohol
Mouthfeel: (Score: 2/5) low-to-medium carbonation; light-to-moderate body
Overall: (Score: 6/10) delicious; highly-drinkable; well balanced; however, a bit lighter than I prefer an American Pale Ale to be
Total Score: 31 (Very Good)
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