Welcome back to another of Freedom Rolling's Brew Reviews! Today we will be heading up and down the White Mountains of New Hampshire to see what this area has to offer. As with this and all the other brew reviews, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
Off we head first to the tourist city of Conway, New Hampshire and the Tuckerman Brewing Company for their Headwall Alt Brown Ale. After many different offerings reviewed that have excited the taste buds whether by hops or malts, this particular brew seems bland in comparison. The brown color makes this at least somewhat appealing to the eye, with a slight hint of caramel to the scent. The fact that this is a neutral beer makes it acceptable to have with almost any sort of pairing, but we look forward to finding something else in the category that's a little more exciting.
On our way down the White Mountains, we make a stop in Ossipee, New Hampshire and the Hobbs Brewing Company for their Black Sheep German-style pilsener. However, there certainly isn't much that we can say that would make this seem odd, as this seems like the light, refreshing malted brew that many of us have come to enjoy. The light golden color will remind you of the sunshine outside as you enjoy this, but be ready for a hint of hops in an aftertaste that may catch you by surprise. Although we haven't had too many pilseners in this series, this brew seems a bit average, and perhaps something more exciting will come from elsewhere.
Once again back up to the Mount Washington Valley at the tourist area of North Conway, New Hampshire, this time at the Moat Mountain Brewing Company for their Kearsarge Kölsch ale. Don't let the golden color of this particular brew fool you, though, as this one isn't going to have much of a scent or taste to it. It will remind you of the average macro-brew that you find at the grocery store. Some may have adjusted their taste buds to enjoy this sort of a thing, but there are better beers out there in this country to try.
Your Internal Compass may take you to a very lovely area of New England, but if you're looking for a good brew, you may have to dig a little deeper.
The time is once again upon us for a Brew Review! Today, we head back to the city of Louisville, Kentucky, this time to the Noble Funk Brewing Company. Noble Funk is in the old part of the city, offering beers and ciders for their patrons to enjoy, along with a variety of other food and beverage options. Today, we'll be looking at a selection to see what is offered. As with this and all other brew reviews, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
First up on tap, it's time to get patriotic for the Mr. American Single IPA. The good ol' USA might be the red, white, and blue, but this brew has a lovely golden color. The looks can be a bit deceiving, as this has a fairly average taste when considering other brews done in this series. The hop taste is on the stronger side for the single version so it's not a bad choice if you like your hops, but if you're looking for an exciting experience, it's best to try something else.
Going a little further down the flight pallet, we come across the Holle Beaver Part Deux: The Beahollever. This double IPA comes with a golden color and strong scent from the citra hops. When compared to most doubles, the hop taste on this brew has much more of a controlled balance to it, and although the drinker will find a citrus aftertaste from the amount of hops, it doesn't seem uninvited, but rather a full circle to the experience. This makes the Beahollever a wonderful choice if you love your hops and are looking for a double.
Finally, we take a look at King of the Celts, listed as an Irish red ale. Although it may have the familiar red tint to it, this particular brew seems like it's mislabeled, as there is an overwhelmingly strong taste of coffee. If you blindfolded the drinker, they would think they're drinking a porter, and not a red. Noble Funk does state this to be an annual occurrence, but hopefully they try something different the next year, as this brew does not meet any sort of expectation as to what a red ale can and should be.
Should your Internal Compass bring you to Old Louisville, it's a toss-up as to whether Noble Funk is going to be up your alley, but you may find it worth your while.
Freedom Rolling once again presents another Brew Review. This time, we'll be visiting Against the Grain Brewery and Public House in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. First started in 2011 at their location adjacent to Louisville Slugger Field, Against the Grain has been offering a wide variety of beer, along with an assortment of barbecue menu options. We'll be taking a look at a few of their offerings, but as always, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
First up to bat, we find the Sol Mate, their version of a wheat beer. After one sip of this brew, you'll find that it is that clean and smooth taste you'd expect from a wheat. There is a bit of a heavy malt to it, but it covers any sort of aftertaste that may come as a result of drinking. If you're looking to enjoy a good summer beer by the river and don't enjoy the hop taste, this may just end up being your "Sol Mate".
Against the Grain is certainly proud of their Louisville location, and what better way to celebrate this than with their hazy pale ale, the "Loo-a-Vuhl". It is unclear where the "hazy" part comes, as the presentation of this brew is a clean yellow. With one sip, you'll find an incredibly strong hops taste, but not really much of anything else. The lower ABV value, 5.5% specifically for the Loo-a-Vuhl, is what makes a beer a Hazy Pale Ale as opposed to the IPA version of the Hazy, but it's definitely teetering on the fence.
Time to show some excitement with Jazz Hands! In comes one of the more interesting styles of brews, a jasmine rice lager known as the "Jazz Hands". Behind the appealing golden color, one sip will remind you of drinking sake, a traditional Japanese rice wine. There is an aftertaste that comes much later, but if you're already in tune with sake, then you'll find it to be familiar. Although there wasn't a food pairing included when trying this, it would be curious how this goes with a sushi roll, or some other form of less-cooked fish entrée.
Unique and sometimes colorful titles are a trademark of Against the Grain Brewery. The brewer must have had a rowdy night prior to the making of their signature Double IPA, the "Citra Ass Down". Trying this particular brew, we can understand why it's so highly lauded. Starting off with that pleasant scent from the citra hops, you won't necessarily get the strong taste of hops you'd expect from a double, but this is a full drinking experience, as the strong hops will come in the aftertaste. You might need a palette cleansing water if you're looking to try anything else, but if it's just this brew for you, we can see why this 8.2% ABV monster is going to be thoroughly enjoyed.
We now take you south of the border, this time for the El Nopal Mexican Lager. One sip of this particular brew will find a much cleaner and smoother taste than what would be expected from a cerveza. It isn't a truly bland experience, though, as the first sip will find a little bit of a hop taste at the top of the palette, just to give that extra kick. This might not be brewed in Mexico, but if you want to take your mind down there, this may just be the way to do it.
For the final offering from Against the Grain, it's time to step over to the dark side, this time for their Black Pilsner. A first look might mislead you into thinking this is a stout, but this won't have the heavy taste. It's clean and smooth, and although chocolate malts are used, the taste isn't very strong, making it a much more balanced choice. The brewers do give a funny tall tale about brewing this in the dark while blindfolded, but whether or not they saw what they were doing, they showed great control in crafting this choice, and is a satisfying choice for those that like to live on the "dark side" of beers.
So if your Internal Compass ever takes you to Louisville, don't shy away from the downtown area, because you'll want to give Against the Grain Brewery and Public House a try.
Welcome to another edition of the Brew Review, where Freedom Rolling takes a look at craft beers from across the country. Today we head into the Green Mountain State of Vermont for what they have to offer. As with all of the Brew Reviews, please ensure that these, or any beers, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
We start over at the small city of Bridgewater Corners, Vermont, home of The Shed Brewery and their offering, the Mountain Hazy IPA. This particular brew starts off with the familiar scent of hops and a lighter yellow color, however the taste does not bring the powerful taste of hops that people would expect from the India Pale Ale. This one is a bit more subtle when tasting, though there are certain ways you can pick out the hops. It isn't the most exciting thing to drink, but it is an average brew that can be tolerated if it's one of the few available.
Off we head to the Champlain Valley in Burlington, Vermont and the Foam Brewers for the India Pale Ale known as Dead Flowers. The drinker will first be adorned with a light, lime-like color. Although marked as an IPA, this particular brew has only a moderate hop taste, masked by a very strong citrus taste that seems to come from a lime flavor. This balanced offering is a perfect choice for a summer day on the lake, whether just fishing or having a gathering, as everyone permitted will enjoy this beer.
Time to head deep into the Green Mountains, where Lawson's Finest Liquids awaits in the community of Waitsfield, Vermont for a Sip of Sunshine. Although originally brewed at their main location, production of this beer has been moved to Stratford, Connecticut. If you're a connoisseur that likes your hops, then this brew is certainly for you. Apart from the golden color that will remind the drinker of sunshine, a very strong amount of hops and an 8% ABV makes this a hop lover's dream. Although it may just be a sip, you'll feel like you're walking on sunshine with this offering.
As you continue to Follow Your Internal Compass around the country, hopefully you are able to find these, as well as many other craft beers to enjoy.
Once again, Freedom Rolling presents another Brew Review. The choice to "Live Free or Die" is upon us as we take a trip to the Granite State of New Hampshire for a few of their selections. As with all of the Brew Reviews, please ensure that these, or any beers, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
We start down at the state's most populous city of Manchester, New Hampshire, as we visit Great North Aleworks and their Robust Vanilla Porter. This is presented with a nice light brown color that would be expected from a porter. One sip of this brew, and it's not evident why this one is a vanilla porter, as the taste is overwhelmed with coffee. The brewers claim that the vanilla comes towards the end, but it just doesn't seem to be there. For a run-of-the-mill average porter, it isn't so bad, but it's certainly not what's advertised by the title.
Take a trip up to Plymouth, New Hampshire for the Last Chair Brewery and the Powder Bear Hazy IPA. First presented is a golden color and the scent of hops that drinkers of this particular type have come to know to love. As you sip this particular brew, the hops are mellow at first, but then begin to come through along with an acidic taste coming from citrus hops. On a hot summer day, this choice will certainly be a nice way to cool off and enjoy the White Mountains region.
Returning to Manchester, New Hampshire and Great North Aleworks, this time for the Tie Dyed dry-hopped Pale Ale. As the light golden color is presented to the drinker, a hint of banana from the scent is also given. However, with one sip of this brew, there is a hop taste, but it is much more subdued than the India variety, making for a more balanced and refreshing experience. Any summer picnicker would be proud to have this choice in their cooler, and if you're one to just start getting into hops, this brew is for you.
So until the next time we review more beers in the country, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
Once again, another Brew Review brought to you by Freedom Rolling, but this time a little something different. Shenandoah National Park in Virginia has reached out to some of the local brewers to contract a few selections that are exclusive to the park, and today, we'll be looking at some that will be available within the various visitors' centers. As with all of the Brew Reviews, please ensure that these, or any beers, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws, whether you enjoy these at the park, or take them to another location.
Our first trip takes us over to Waynesboro, Virginia and the Basic City Beer Company for the Limberlost Lager. This brewery is proud to be able to use the spring water from the park as a base. This light colored brew, upon first taste, gives the drinker an experience light to the palette. Without any sort of taste of hops or the heavy presence of a malt, this is a neutral beer that would seem well with just about anything, even by itself, during a summer day.
Welcome to Harrisonburg, Virginia; home of James Madison University, and the Brothers Craft Brewing Company for their offering of the Skyline Falls Hazy IPA. A beautiful golden color greets the drinker along with the very familiar scent of hops that one would come to expect with this type of brew. However, the sip shows the hops to very controlled, as the tip of the tongue doesn't give that forcefulness of the hops; it isn't until the beer hits the roof of the mouth that the bitterness will come. Although the name is inspired from the park, this brew is regularly available at the brewery, and for good reason, as it is one to certainly enjoy during or after spending time with nature.
We return once again to Waynesboro, Virginia and the Basic City Brewing Company, this time to be able to try out their White Oak Canyon Wit. Once again, the local spring water is used as a base for this particular brew. The first sip had a hard bitter taste hit the palette, but further sips reduce that initial hit making for an enjoyable experience, and is typical of what a good witbier should be. The drinker would very much enjoy this during the summer months.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you to Shenandoah, stop by the visitors' center to enjoy a couple of local craft beers.
Welcome back to Freedom Rolling's Brew Review, as we sample three different beers from across this great nation and give our take on what they have to offer. As with all of the Brew Reviews, please ensure that these, or any beers, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
Take a trip with us to the Three Notch'd Brewing Company in Charlottesville, Virginia for their 40 Mile IPA. Brought to you in a wonderful golden color, the immediate scent and first sip of this particular brew is the American-grown hops we've all come to know and love with the West Coast version of this style. The amount of hops isn't as heavy as some other IPAs, whether single, double, or imperial, as this beer is given a refreshing balance to relax the palette between sips. This was recommended to us by a local connoisseur, and we can understand why it's so popular, as it's one of the better IPAs we have had in the Brew Review series.
Shooting down to Charleston, South Carolina, we go to the Cooper River Brewing Company for their orange-infused blonde ale. The first scent makes the oranges very clear, as the entire fruit is used in the creation. However, the lack of a foam head coupled with the fruit would make someone think it was a cider. Aside from the overpowering taste of oranges, there really isn't much of anything else to this particular brew. Although it isn't so bad for a foray into outdoor grilling, there are plenty of other better choices to enjoy.
We head back to Charlottesville and the Three Notch'd Brewing Company for another one of their IPAs, this time the "Minute Man". This particular brew a little more of an orange-ish color, along with the scent of hops, you also smell what seems to be the zest of an orange. Upon first sip, the flavor of the orange, which seems more like the powdered drink style than the juice, seems to overpower the taste of hops that you would expect from an India Pale Ale. Hops lovers will find themselves disappointed, but the drinker that is just starting to get themselves into this style will find it to be an appropriate education, as they'll be eased into the familiar after-taste of the hops so they know what to expect when experiencing other IPAs.
So until the next time we review more beers in the country, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
Freedom Rolling is back with yet another brew review! This time, we're looking at some beers in South Carolina. As always, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with not only local laws wherever you may be, or any regulations from the campground where you may be staying.
Come down to the Atlantic Cost of Charleston, South Carolina, home of Edmund's Oast Brewing Company. One of their popular popular offerings is a dark brown Dopplebock known as "Wolves at the Door". As with many beers of this type, this particular one is a bit on the heavy side, so it's probably not one you'll want to enjoy in the summer by the lake. Save this brew for the winter season, as the sweet and smooth taste will help you to curl up by the fire on a colder night.
Take a quick trip northwest to Greer, South Carolina, and the Southern Growl Beer Company. While there, perhaps you'll want to sample their "Garde Dog", a French-style bière de garde offering known for its lovely golden color. Although this particular brew goes down smoothly, there is that slight hint of hops that is able to keep the drinker's palette excited. This is a good brew for those who seem to like a little of everything in their taste buds, and is suitable for all seasons.
Heading a little south, we look to the Good Times Brewing Company in Greenwood, South Carolina. First founded as a pizza restaurant known as The Mill House, they would later expand to also include a brewery. One of their offerings is the Irish Whip red ale. One sip of this particular brew, and it is everything that a red ale can and should be. From the lovely amber color to just that subtle bitter hop taste behind the smooth malts, drinkers will want to enjoy this concoction for a long time to come at almost any point in the year. Consider having poured from a nitrogen cask instead of through carbonation, and it's a possible contender for one of the best beers in the country.
Before closing this one out, just a quick announcement about the beers of South Carolina: Most of the brews that we review come from micro-brews, farm brewers, and similar classifications. Unfortunately, a number of states have been placing stringent and sometimes excessive regulations on brewery-bars, more specifically "establishments that sell and serve alcohol", requiring expenses that these companies cannot reasonably handle. More information can be found at this link.
So as your Internal Compass takes you across the country, try some of the local craft beers as able, and see how they fare for you.
Welcome to another review of craft beers brought to you by Freedom Rolling. Today, we look at three different breweries previously visited across South Dakota and what else they have to offer. As with every review, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
Welcome to Sturgis, South Dakota. Aside from motorcycles, this city offers the Sturgis Brewing Company's Black Hills Blonde Ale. Although the first scent may have the drinker wondering if this brew is somewhere between a blonde and a wheat, the smooth taste will make you remember not to judge a beer by its cover. Anyone looking to spend some time in the summer at one of western South Dakota's man-made lakes will not want to pass up an opportunity to enjoy this brew, especially with a little trout fishing on the side.
Take a trip to Sioux Falls and the Remedy Brewing Company for their regular wheat offering, the Hefe Metal. First founded in 2013 like many other small breweries across the country, Remedy has been offering many different options to discerning drinkers in the upper midwest. Hefe Metal is, as the name would suggest, their hefeweizen being offered. The wheat taste is much more powerful than any of the wheat beers previously encountered. A drinker will be able to balance it out with some food at meal time, but someone who is looking for a beer by the lake should probably try something a little more mellow and enjoyable.
Heading back to the Black Hills, we turn to Rapid City, South Dakota and the Lost Cabin Beer Company for their American Pale Ale, the "Bruce Banner". For the uninitiated, Bruce Banner is a superhero series character that would transform into "The Incredible Hulk". One sip of this particular brew, and the drinker would certainly agree that this "packs a punch". Right away, a strong taste of hops hits the palette that makes you think Bruce Banner is bordering on the verge of an IPA. Not much of any other taste comes to the drinker as it's hops on top of hops. Some really like that taste, and if they do, the Bruce Banner is going to be for them. Those enjoying a smoother taste will want to look elsewhere.
So as your Internal Compass takes you across the country, try some of the local craft beers as able, and see how they fare for you.
Welcome to another review of craft beers brought to you by Freedom Rolling. Today, we look at three different breweries across the country and what they have to offer. As with every review, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
We start in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the Fernson Brewing Company for one of their signature offerings, the Lion's Paw Lager. This particular brew comes in a delightful reddish amber color, and is a staple across bars offering craft brews in the Mount Rushmore state. Be prepared for a slightly sour taste when you first sip on this beer, but like with any good lager, the hops will come in later to give a more rounded taste. This may be a decent choice if you are in the area, and could be worth a shower if you happen to be staying for an extended period, but there are better brews to actively seek out when traveling the country.
Heading down south to Fort Worth, Texas, and the Martin House Brewing Company, we turn to the "Best Maid" sour pickle beer. Sours have started to find their place on many taproom lists, although this is one of the weirdest brews to ever try. The scent of pickles is very prevalent when first presented with the beer. The first taste is almost as if one took the liquid contents of a pickle jar and ran it through carbon dioxide pressure. Although we'll freely admit to not yet being to the point of enjoying sour beers, and the beer itself did not foam when poured which could lead to an adverse review, it doesn't seem like one to try again.
Heading back to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, we finally head to the Remedy Brewing Company, and one of their regular offerings, the Queen Bee Imperial Honey Cream Ale. As a lighter colored summer beer, Remedy advertises "a subtle honey sweetness", but there is nothing subtle about this one. The first smell and sip brings an overpowering sensation of honey to this particular brew. Once getting over that hurdle, it will not only leave the same powerful taste in your mouth, but the later stages of the brew will almost taste like cough syrup. Certain connoisseurs will enjoy the higher alcoholic content of 7.3% when compared to other beers of this type, but when looking for cream ales, there are many better choices even in this part of the country alone.
So as your Internal Compass takes you across the country, try some of the local craft beers as able, and see how they fare for you.
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