On a whim I decided to pick up Mysterium from DuClaw Brewing during a beer run, and I have to admit that I am glad that I did. For one the beer itself is a limited release offering so it’s a matter of getting it when once can. But away from that, the beer itself did provide some great aroma and flavors that were unexpected. While the appearance was decent enough even with a reduced head, everything else delivered pretty well on this beer that has an ABV of 5% and IBU level of a smooth 21. The beer just blended together very nicely and while I had no idea of what is cardamom, I didn’t care. By the end it was like cranberries and gingerbread, and provided an overall good experience. My Untappd rating on this one was a 3.5 and check out my YouTube video to see more.
Brewer Notes:
This mystical, medium-bodied, 5% ABV, light amber Belgian Spiced Ale features subtle malt and hop profiles that compliment its complex and spicy blend of flavors. Chamomile, grains of paradise, cardamom and phenols (fruit flavors) produced by a special strain of Belgian yeast combine to make this ale a mystery, and a bottle, you’ll never want to get to the bottom of.
STYLE: Belgian Spiced Ale
COLOR: Light Amber
HOP VARIETY: Hallertau
GRAINS: Pale Malt, Dark Munich Malt and Flaked Rye
From Germany with love well actually from my buddy Gary, but either way the Weihenstephaner 1516 from Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan is a beer that I recently had the pleasure to enjoy as the subject of this latest beerventure. The Kellerbier itself has an ABV of 5.6% and an IBU of 25. As far as appearance this beer proved to pour a brilliant golden color, as far as aroma it offered great notes of fruit and as for taste, just a pure delight in my opinion as it was as smooth as could be. My Untappd rating for this one was an easy 4.5 and one that I will drink again at some point for sure. Check out my video here though to see my other thoughts.
Brewer Notes:
The Weihenstephaner 1516 is a bright amber colored cellar beer with a fruity-fresh hop flower, a full-bodied body and a pleasant caramel. In the brewing process of the 1516, the Braumeister have considered the traditional way of producing a marten beer. For example, the beer of dark Munich and bright Pilsner malt, combined with traditional Hallertauer hop varieties, such as the rare variety Hallertauer Record, matures long and cold in the historic vaulted cellars on the Weihenstephaner mountain and is not filtered before bottling. Due to the long storage, the bottom fermented yeast naturally settles on the ground and the beer thus obtains an opal opacity and a balanced taste.
Fits with grilled meats and fish, roasts, cheese as well as other hearty dishes.
The Weihenstephaner in 1516 was honored in honor of the 500-year Bavarian purity and is offered only seasonally, at the spring time.
Brewed with the centuries-long beer experience at the Weihenstephaner mountain.
I decided to take a beerventure off the craft beer path to return to an old faithful, Guinness and take a look at their Irish Wheat. This Witbier style beer has an ABV of 5.3% and poured a nice golden color with a white head that dissipated pretty quickly. The taste was pleasing though and it did deliver good flavor with a nice duration. Overall, a pretty decent beer that led to me to provide an Untappd rating of 3.75. You can check out my video here to see more of my thoughts on this one.
Brewer Notes:
Welcome to Ireland’s sunny side. Far away from the salty sea coastline, the Irish Midlands were the prime spot to grow the wheat for the first ever beer to use 100% Irish wheat malt. Golden in color, with a hint of spicy clove and citrus, Irish Wheat is a clean and lively wheat beer that’s perfect for any occasion.
Our recipe starts with Irish-grown, Irish-malted wheat. A long fermentation with the classic Guinness yeast strain brings out subtle banana, clove and citrus notes—flavors we hold back in our stouts but let loose in our perfectly balanced Irish Wheat. The result is a golden and hazy wheat beer with a clean, crisp, refreshing zesty citrus taste.
Aroma: Cloves with a hint of banana and citrus
Flavor: Clean, low bitterness with a subtle clove and banana flavor and a hint of zesty citrus
Palate: Clean, refreshing taste with full body
ABV: 5.3%
Appearance: Light, golden with a typical wheat haze
Hops: Mount Hood & Amarillo
This is a quick minute look at the Simcoe Hop which is a dual purpose hop that is used to add both bittering and aroma to beer. It is mainly used for India Pale Ales and American Pale Ales, although you can find it sprinkled in with some other styles as well. If you are looking to add a hop that can bring fruity, earthy and pine notes to your brew then this is the hop you are looking for.
Starburst Wheat is American Pale Ale from Saugatuck Brewing Company out of Michigan; it has an IBU level of 25 and an ABV of 5.1%. The style of Pale Wheat Ale is one that I have started to really enjoy as it adds additional hoppiness, and this one does a nice job of doing so. The ale is not overly bitter and delivers good flavor as well aroma due to the dry hopping used. If you like hoppy wheat ales then this is definitely one to try. My Untappd rating given for this one was 3.75 and check out my video review to see my other thoughts.
Brewer notes:
An explosion of tart, fruity flavors will erupt in your senses as you take your first sip of this perfectly balanced wheat beer. The sensation can only be matched by the brilliant aroma from dry hopping with massive amounts of Amarillo and Motueka hops.
