Reissdorf-Kolsch

Reissdorf - Germany
16.9oz brown bottle. No freshness date. 4.8 abv
It pours a clean straw/golden color with a foamy, slow-fading snow-white head and some trailing and patchy lacing.
A mildly fragrant dry malt smell is noticed upon a fairly hard pour. A faint aroma of cut hay lasts.
A surprisingly sweet and firm malt body lives within its rather weak appearance. The delicate hop profile has a light lime-like quality with just a hint of a metallic tang.
This is a brew that requires a more careful examination to identify subtle flavors and fragrances. Nothing except the appearance profile jumps out as obvious or easy to characterize. Very approachable.

Turning Water into Beer?

Please don’t shoot the messenger here, but let’s consider the possibility that Jesus may have actually turned water into “beer” not wine at the wedding feast in Cana (Canaan) of Galilee as written in John 2:1-12. It is well known that Jesus spoke in the ancient language, Aramaic. The Aramaic and Hebrew translation of ‘Strong Drink’ (a fermented barley) to Latin is literally bibere, or ‘beer'. It is also known that grains such as barley, wheat and corn were in abundance throughout the Canaan region in Palestine where beer was commonly brewed. Water is needed to create beer. Wine is made from fermented grapes. Water is not needed to make wine. When the bible was translated into the English language under the orders of King James, it is quite possible that the word strong drink, or beer, which was by then considered a drink of the lower classes, was changed to wine, a drink enjoyed by royalty and the wealthy aristocrats of King James’ time. I wasn't there, but my guess would be that beer, not wine created all the buzz at the wedding of Cana.
What do you think?

Black Sheep Special

Black Sheep - Masham, N. Yorkshire Ripon, UK - 4.4% abv
It pours a deep copper color with a big beige head and plenty of sticky lace.
There's a biscuity malt and floral hop aroma.
The rich and hearty malt has a biscuity taste and a caramel sweetness.
The cutting and bitter hops have tea-like and citrus bitterness.
It has raw and wild feel and a fine Micro-brew-like quality. All in all this is a very tasty and balanced brew with an edge. That it's low in alcohol means you can probably have another.

Ya, Oktoberfest has started early!

So Happy!
I visited Costco today and noticed pallets of Hofbrau Oktoberfest loading into place. Got a case! Am enjoying one (lots) as I type. The history of Oktoberfest is coming soon to blog near you!

Hofbrau Munchen - Oktoberfest

Hofbrau - Oktoberfest Munchen, Germany - 6.3% abv
12oz green bottle. No freshness date on bottle.
It pours a light gold color with a medium-sized snow-white head and some sheets of sliding lace.
The aroma is mild. There's a light smell of sweet malt and an ever so faint smell of over- ripe fruit.
It's not very malty for the style, although this brew is slightly heavier than the HB lager. A taste of bread dough and a mild herbal quality add a rounded flavor and mouthfeel.
A Euro-hop metallic tang and weak citrus bitterness are more upfront than is normally expected for the style.
Not a bad brew, just a different, less malt-driven, with a more alcoholic punch representation of the style.

Hacker Pschorr - Oktoberfest

12oz bottle - Munich, Germany - 5.8% abv
IMHO, one of the very best representations of the true Oktoberfest beers. Deep Gold/Amber with orange hues in color with a sweet off-white lasting head and sticky, clingy lace. Lightly caramel sweet aroma with a hint of citrus. Slightly citrus, lightly tea-like and a touch of metallic hop bitterness. Rounded malt and hop balance. Honey and fresh fruit notes. Really velvety smooth. Rich, Bold, Tasty! Wow!

Samuel Adams - Stock Ale

Sam Adams Boston Ale/Stock Ale from Boston Beer Company 5.2% abv
This is my favorite "everyday" ale. Always has been...at least since I first tried it. When researching and rating a vast array of ales and lagers, from delicate pilsners to over-whelming imperial stouts and barleywines, it's good to find an ale with which to refresh the palette or to simply enjoy without research in mind (yes, at times we need a break from the daily grind). This ale has a deep copper color with reddish hues, nice malty body and is amply hopped. The separation between the distinct malt and hops flavors, smooth out and become more balanced after a few gulps. The fresh finishing hop aroma lingers. There's a clean fruity finish and nice long lasting head. Now I’ve gone and made myself thirsty for one!