Breakfast Beer Tasting: Crooked Tree IPA

Today’s breakfast treat is Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA. Dark Horse are an American brewery based in Marshall, Michigan.

The basics: No sign (again) of any ABV. Are all American drinkers psychic or is it they just don’t care? Anyway, it’s a standard 12 oz bottle. It poured hazy amber with good carbonation and a very tight off-white head. It had an appealing, quite strong, hop aroma of pine and grapefruit.

Taste: Quite full bodied and hinting at a high ABV. Pine and floral hops strongly dominate upfront to give it a “classic” IPA taste with some grapefruit at the back. Not as astringent as I was expecting.

Finish: Quite short; piny.

Conclusion: More balanced than many American IPAs, but, for me, just lacking that killer punch that would make it stand out more from the competition. One for your uncle.

Update: Ok so it’s 6%. It tastes stronger, so I’m marking it down for lack of ease of drinking.

Comments

Sue said…
It's due to an outdated Federal Law that no-one has successfully challenged as yet. You would think putting the strength on would be a Good Idea, especially for drivers trying to choose a sensible drink, but no.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3469/is_n25_v45/ai_15728737/
21 March 2011 at 12:05
RedNev said…
Sue: interesting that idiot policies relating to drink aren't just confined to dear old Blighty.
21 March 2011 at 19:19
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Kimberley Club

Image
The Kimberley Workingmen’s Club in Stacksteads, Rossendale is the stuff of legend. Few, outside of those interested in such things, have heard of it and fewer still have visited it. Even many locals aren’t aware of its location and yet internet forums are full of people willing to travel across the country to visit a genuine slice of social history. Established in 1897, the KMC started out as an afterhours drinking venue for quarry workers. Legend has it that it was carried down into the valley on poles. There are various theories about its South African connections-there is a Kimberley Street close by, but what we do know is that surprisingly little has changed since those early days.
Once you have got up the steep hill, over the dirt track and through the gate; you are confronted with two very small rooms. There’s probably just enough room to squeeze all 36 members in. This helps to explain why visitation is strictly by invitation only. We were privileged to enjoy a special Sunday ope…
Read more

British Guild Beer Writers Awards & Camden Brewery

Image
London is a strange town. Or so the Jam said way back in 1979. And indeed it is. However, despite the early closing, congestion and lack of decent pizza, there are actually people who work and live there. And everyone from the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers to the British Guild of Beer Writers hold their piss-ups there.

So it was once again that I found myself wandering the lonely, mean streets of the Big Smoky with nothing in my pockets but hope and fortitude. Now, one has to make careful preparation before attending a function such as the BGBW awards. And, being one for correct form, I did my bit by having a little tour of the capital’s watering holes.

Conveniently, the Euston Cider Tap had just opened the previous week and I was the first in on that day. The very helpful barman kept me company until I was joined by some chirpy cockney sparrows newly arrived from Manchester. After sampling sparkling, still and some Normandy cider, the bonding was complete and I…
Read more

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Suke Quto Coffee IPA

Image
This is an unusual beer from the Kernel Brewery that I first tried at the Port St Beer House, Manchester, some weeks ago. That was after a few scoops, so I was looking forward to trying it fresh.

The basics: Kernel are a small brewery based in Druid St, London. This is a 6.5% IPA and is bottle conditioned. It poured a cloudy burnt orange/gold colour with little carbonation and only a slight head. A little like my last sample to the doctor. Thankfully the aroma was much better with definite marmalade, fruit and just a hint of coffee.
Taste: Full bodied and rich. This is not an easy drinking session beer for the uninitiated. Starts with a classic IPA taste of oranges and powerful hops before the coffee kicks in which gives it a fair smack of bitterness.
Finish: You really get the coffee effect in this. A sharp, lingering bitterness that sticks to the back of the throat.
Conclusion: A good attempt at something different. Not for everyone, but I enjoyed the level of bitterness. One to give…
Read more