I went to the Groundhog Day festivities at the Grey Lodge today, one of my favorite beer events. And I was going to write some notes on a session beer. And I had six beers in the course of the day (two two-hour visits, 9 hours apart). I thought at least two of them would be session beers: Victory Sunrise Weiss, a Bavarian hefe, and Appalachian's Zoigl Star Lager, a Czech lager. Nope. Sunrise is 5.7, Zoigl is 5.9. Damn. Sure seems a bit high, those beers. So...why have more than one? On to something different.
Like Middle Ages Apricot Ale. Yeah, a fruit beer. But I really really like the guys at Middle Ages -- and not just because they brew curst good beer, but because they are solid dudes, real mensches. So I tried one. Good call, Lew. It's 4.4%, and the apricot tastes like ripe apricot, not the half-green, "Pat-the-Bunny"-whiskery-Dad-sandpaper-face-fuzzy apricot nastiness you find in some other apricot beers. The first sip was weird after the Nodding Head Sled Wrecker I'd had earlier -- a big spicy ale -- but the second cleared it, and was simply pleasant. I wandered about the bar, sipping at my fruit-shrub, and just relaxing with it. Not a lot of beer, not heavy, not hopped all to bejayzus, not BIG!!!!!, just pleasant and well-made. Thanks, Marc and Tim: nice job.
Like Middle Ages Apricot Ale. Yeah, a fruit beer. But I really really like the guys at Middle Ages -- and not just because they brew curst good beer, but because they are solid dudes, real mensches. So I tried one. Good call, Lew. It's 4.4%, and the apricot tastes like ripe apricot, not the half-green, "Pat-the-Bunny"-whiskery-Dad-sandpaper-face-fuzzy apricot nastiness you find in some other apricot beers. The first sip was weird after the Nodding Head Sled Wrecker I'd had earlier -- a big spicy ale -- but the second cleared it, and was simply pleasant. I wandered about the bar, sipping at my fruit-shrub, and just relaxing with it. Not a lot of beer, not heavy, not hopped all to bejayzus, not BIG!!!!!, just pleasant and well-made. Thanks, Marc and Tim: nice job.
The only apricot beer I've had is Magic Hat #9, which I did not like at all. Are there better examples of the style? I'm not wild about "fruit beers" but occasionally I find one I enjoy, like Lancaster Strawberry Wheat.
ReplyDeleteI do like some, Harry. I was actually referring to the Pyramid Apricot, which I don't care for. I'm okay with 9, but this was a LOT more to my liking. Weyerbacher's Raz Imperial Stout is a winner, I agree with the Lanco Strawberry, and I love the Dogfish Aprihop. You can almost tell when something's gonna be nasty...the labeling screams "beer for folks what don't like beer!"
ReplyDeleteI like this one too. Had this on draught in Syracuse, at Dinosaur BBQ. Its a house brew at Dinosaur, and they call it Ape Hanger Ale. The apricot is a nice addition to this one, and a natural with BBQ.
ReplyDeleteThe Melbourn Bros. in Stamford (actually owned by Sam Smith's) brew an apricot beer I rather enjoyed. Very sessionable at 3.4%abv. Others have said that it doesn't taste like beer - I disagree. http://www.merchantduvin.com/pages/5_breweries/melbourn_beers.html#apricot
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