22 oz bottle from Brusin' Ales from the Jan 2009 release (I think). Pour is a standard jet black but it provides a very fizzy tan head. Short lived head and not much retention. Nose and tastes give a LOT of sweetness and some bitterness that is characterized by some chicory. Definitely reminds me of the old Camp Coffee! The sweetness is noticeable as it rings up some lactose sweetness as well. Perhaps even feels a touch infected, as if the sweetness is just about to go sour. these competing...
Notes on beers brewed by
Pisgah Brewing Co.
Endless Summer Ale
64 oz growler from Bruisn' Ales. Thanks J & J. Opens with an encouraging release of gas with a loud "pphhtt"! Crystal clear, light golden pour with a very nice head. Some decent lace as well. Carbonation is on the high side, but completely in line with the style. Nose reveals a touch of grassy herbal hops. Tastes are quite bitter. Almost a Saaz like pils finish as well. Finishes dry and bitter too. This is a surprisingly bitter beer which is not necessarily a bad thing. It has more character...
Pisgah American Style Pale Ale
22 oz bomber purchased at the brewery. Into the Terrapin snifter it goes. Pour is a turbid, browm murky one with a very large, rocky head. Retention and lace are both good. Very organic feel about this beer with elements of grassy hay, green hops and freshly mown fields. In that respect the color is darker than I was expecting. Hops to the front as is the way with the American version of the style. Crisp, easy drinking and refreshing, I found the beer a touch dry but in the grand scheme of...
Pisgah Pub Ale
Drunk at the brewery on 4/3/09. Very difficult to categorize this, nor am I sure what Pisgah is trying to do here, but here we go. This is described as a "Pub Ale" but I have no idea what that really means. My suspicion is that they have drawn inspiration from the nasty, cream-flow, pseudo English bitters that we get in cans in the US. Seems like an unlikely source of inspiration for Pisgah, but hey, whatever. The beer is presented on nitro pour with a Hefe-like, clouded yellow body and a...
Solstice
$11.75 for the corked and caged affair via mail from Bruisin' Ales, Asheville, NC, USA. Bottle says 9.5% ABV and has the text, "January 2009 +". Possibly the most tightly wound cage that I have ever come across, a bit of a pain to get off. Follow this by perhaps the most tightly inserted cork ever, and you get the picture. BIG effort yields a very small pop and a tiny whiff of gunmoke. Pour is a light orange/golden color with some good head and lace. The head lacks density somewhat but it is...
Pisgah Valdez
Thanks to Rustydiamond, via mikesgroove, for the chance to have a crack at this one. 64oz growler. Attractive design on the glass. Pour shows a great, jet black pour (as expected), but a rather too fizzy a head. Carbonation seems high for the style. Head dies quickly with almost no lace. Aroma IS exceptional - pure coffee, no more, no less. Tastes do not reflect the huge aroma. I guess I was expecting a big gulp of coffee, but instead I got a rather reserved, porter, mildly roasted flavor. The...