Notes on beers brewed by
One of my favorite styles from a brewery that I have a checkered history with (some things I absolutely LOVE, some I hate, and I absolutely feel that they have lost their way of late). Anyway, happy to report that this is a lovely experience. Excellent pour with all the attributes I am looking for; deep, chestnut/red brown pour with a great head, some (not great) lace and decent retention. Nose has lots of lightly cheesy malt, and a slightly acidic "tang". On warmer that nose gets BIG - all...
I have a pretty complicated relationship with Westbrook. Having met Ed Westbrook via a mutual acquaintance in a garage in Charleston, SC just prior to him opening Westbrook Brewing Co. back in 2010 (ish), As such, I have a soft spot. I also love a couple of their beers (White Thai and Mexican Cake), but I also feel they have lost their way somewhat (pandering to bullshit recent trends, and for example, a really underwhelming experience with the 11th anniversary). Long story with more to add,...
I love me a Maibock, and I love some Westbrook beers, so there's a lot of hope here. 16 oz can from Blue Ridge Beer Hub in Waynesville, NC. While I like the presentation, I'd like it better in a bottle. Humbug. Pour is a surprisingly, light=orange hazed body. Maibocks can take on all sorts of hues, but this one seems especially orange. Large, fluffy white head, some decent lace. Nose is a little hopper than I was anticipating. There's also a little more hop bite up front than I was hoping for....
If the truth be known, I’ve been influenced by Westbrook’s Mexican Cake - a lot. I really love that beer, and as a result, a special release of something (probably) not dissimilar is likely to get my attention. 11th Anniversary did. Whenever I see a Westbrook Anniversary beer I am reminded of meeting Ed Westbrook in a suburban garage, with a few other Charleston, SC beer geeks just a little bit before he opened the brewery. I suppose that must be about 12 years ago now. On that day he brought...
22oz bottle, Gose with Yuzu juice added. Bottled 12/18/13. First to greet the senses is an extremely odd smell. I guess that's the juice?! Clouded yellow body. Nice frothy head. An obvious light ethanoic acid note in the nose as well. This tastes odd. There's a fruit element coupled with a weird earthy taste that I cannot place. Unique? Yep. Does that mean good? Errr ... not really. Unadulterated gose would be better for my money. There's a funny, lemony, bizarre sourness (expected), but the...
Westbrook? Märzen? Yes, you have my attention. Handwritten bottling date onthe label 9/17/13 The first thing that strikes me is that odd, slightly grassy, stinky malt aroma that comes with a genuine Märzen style. Nice and light in the mouth with plenty of simplistic drinkability. A chill-hazed, mid orange/light copper color sits underneath the light, wispy head that hangs out above the beer. This is not as sweet as some of the American märzens, and I suspect this is a little closer to...
$9.99 for the 750 mL from Growlers, HHI, SC, USA. Bottled 03/29/13. Well this beer has been a long time coming. A few years ago, a few months before Westbrook had even opened, I had the pleasure of meeting Ed Westbrook at a party held in Charleston (thanks Brian Z.). Ed brought two beers with him that he was piloting for the new brewery. One I forget (perhaps a Strong Belgian Dark), but the the Berliner Weisse I did not. It was astonishingly good. I was thinking that WWB might be an...
Two separate, approx. (what looked liked) 10-12 oz pours (in undersize Duvel glasses) at The Lodge, Hilton Head Island, SC. I had heard a little about Mexican Cake but would never have sought it out as such. Anyway, strolling into The Lodge at 4.00 PM on a Saturday afternoon I see that they have it on, and since it was one of only three beers on their list that I have never tried, I thought that it made sense - after all, it was right there in front of me, and Westbrook is such a feature for...