A Couple New Beers...

But before that, a word on an old favorite. A few weeks back, at Zeno's of all places, I had my first taste of casked Troegs Hopback Amber Ale (5.6 % abv.). As a long-time lover of all things Troegs (a Nugget Nectar review is in the works - Phil), I was thrilled.

(For those unfamiliar with the term, cask-conditioned ale is unfiltered, unpasteurized and poured without CO2 or nitrogen. Thus, the final result is nothing short of spectacular: mildly carbonated, creamy with a lively, fresh nose. Real ale it's sometimes called, though I don't totally buy the usage.)

There's something about waiting for that beer engine to be properly pumped that really gets the saliva flowing. And my tastebuds weren't disappointed, nor were my other senses. Poured a deep, rich amber with a creamy 3/4 inch head. Great looking beer. Huge amount of sweet citrus upfront, with a piney background. The taste is nothing spectacular, a little more subdued than when served from a bottle. All in all, a pretty solid beer. I've been back for a few more.

Now to the new stuff:
1. Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra Pale Ale (7.2% abv.)
Poured a golden copper from a 12 oz. stubby bottle into a pint glass, about 1 inch of off-white head. Lacing stuck around nicely, in smallish clumps. Not much aroma: a little pineapply citrus and pine needle. First taste: a big burst of flavor up front, astringent hop bitterness. This followed by a hint of malty sweetness, then -- boom -- back for more hops, which fade into a nice lingering bitterness and a touch of alchohol. Feels a bit chewy in the mouth, with moderate carbonation. There's enough bready malt for good balance, making for a drinkable IPA. Crisp, not overly assertive but still with a nice hop punch: Torpedo's about what I expected from Sierra Nevada.


2. Otto's Slab Cabin IPA (6.0% abv.)
As late, I've been trudging through Otto's portfolio with rapidity -- Spruce Creek Lager, Black Mo last week. I saw this listed on Zeno's menu Tuesday and figured, Why not another? Poured a light copper with a thick 1 inch head from a 22 oz. bomber -- minimal lacing stuck around. Smells of pine, caramel and faint citrus. First taste: nicely balanced. Some bittnerness, though not too much, is followed by a nice caramel maltiness. The finish is quite mild, with a lingering resiny bitterness. This a really nicely balanced brew with enough hops to pique my interest and enough toasted malt to keep me coming back for another sip -- exactly what I look for in a sessionable IPA. Plus, it's brewed right down the street from where I live. What could be better than that?

(Well, one thing might be: beer-battered bacon strips. Be on the lookout for the vid. and recipe tomorrow.)