Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale

Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale.

6.7 % ABV, Elysian Brewing, Seattle, WA. 

One more out of season seasonal. Maybe it's the last? We'll see. 

Hazy, muddy, murky, small head. 

In the nose: all pumpkin-y, accompanied by appropriate spice, allspice, nutmeg, etc. Cinnamon? Maybe. 

In the mouth: Smooth, medium-bodied, malt forward, little hop bitterness. All pumpkinny. Spices play lightly on the palate. Just a little juicy. Here comes a bit of bitterness to balance the spice. Not too shabby  of a pumpkin ale. Not too shabby at all. 

Night Owl Pumpkin Ale :: Our Original Pumpkin Ale.

Night Owl is brewed with over 7 lbs. of pumpkin per barrel and includes seven different malt varieties, green and roasted pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin in the mash, boil and fermenter. Bittered with Magnum hops and spiced in conditioning with nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, ginger and allspice. 5.9% ABV.

Elysian Full Contact Imperial Hazy IPA

Elysian Full Contact Imperial Hazy IPA.

8.8% ABV, 60  IBU, Elysian Brewing, Seattle, WA. (Subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch)

I picked up a 6-pack of this one because I wanted an affordable Double or Imperial IPA, and I'd be willing to bet that it wouldn't be that hazy, you know, not like the ones I hate. Oh, but hate is such a strong word. Greatly disdain, how about that?

Not that hazy, at all. Quite clear. More marketing lies. Bright orange coloring, slim white head. 

In the nose: Intensely hoppy from the start. Big citrus and pine with a hefty helping of stone fruit. Orange slices meet candied apricots. 

In the mouth: There it is, big, bold, bright, fruity, dank, resinous, delicious. Powerful. Evil. Rich with hoppy goodness and overflowing with badass bitterness. Medium bodied, long hop barrage on the palate. Truly decadent double IPA. 

Cloaked in a semi-translucent haze, an imposing presence beckons you to come closer. As you do, your nose opens to a tangent of wistful memories — peach season in the orchard, a tangerine tree on a hill, fresh honeydew cold from the fridge, and a vanilla cream soda in your hand. What kind of bittersweet initiation is this?

BODY:Medium-bodied

MALTS: 2-Row, Malted Wheat, and Unmalted Wheat

HOPS:Centennial, Simcoe, Strata, and more

THE BEER: RIch and audacious, this Imperial is not to be trifled with. Unlike it's Hazy and Tart siblings, Full Contact will walk up to you and stop just short of your noses touching. It's lustrous, hoppy flavor profile booms loudly and beckons you toward it. This is one event you won't want to miss. 

Georgetown Brewing Johnny Utah Pale Ale

Georgetown Brewing Johnny Utah Pale Ale.

5.6% ABV. 55 IBU. Brewed and packaged by Georgetown Brewing, Seattle, WA.

Clouded, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: bold citrus, nice and hoppy. 

In the mouth: Splash of citrus on the palate, moderate bitterness, medium bodied. Lemon, orange, and grapefruit at play. Light and refreshing. Juicy, tasty, quite enjoyable. I could go for a couple of these. 

A single hop Pale Ale designed to showcase the profile of Citra hops. Reid used the hop-bursting technique, meaning no dedicated bittering hop is used - bitterness instead comes from late addition aroma hops. With heavy grapefruit, citrus and resin in the nose, this light colored ale has minimal malt interference giving the beer a clean finish without a cloying bitterness. Very pronounced grapefruit and pine flavors with a faint verdant note.

Elysian Contact Haze Hazy IPA

Elysian Contact Haze Hazy IPA. 6.9 % ABV.
Elysian Brewing, Seattle, WA.

Lightly hazed, bright, golden hued, slim white head.

In the nose: light & mellow, slight citrusy notes. Just the bare minimum.

In the mouth: Fresh and zesty, notes of lemon and lime, with a twist of grapefruit. Nicely hopped, but low on bitterness. Meager malt, as well. Doesn't really do it for the "hazy" style, either. Not a terrible IPA, but not much else....

This one had no charms over me, and I was turned off fairly quickly. Ho hum.

Southern Passion, Sabro, El Dorado, Mosaic, Citra, and Sultana hops.

Seattle Cider Co. Dry Hard Cider

Seattle Cider Co. Dry Hard Cider. 6.5 % ABV. Seattle Cider Company, Seattle, WA.

Clear, bright yellow, no head.

In the nose: dry, apple-y.

In the mouth: exceptionally dry. Stripped of all sweetness. Drops right off the palate. Apple flavor remains. Light bodied, tasty, and highly drinkable. Quite nice.

If you're looking for a nice, dry hard cider, can't go wrong with this one.

One of the driest ciders on the market. The golden orange glow of this unique unfiltered cider lends way to notes of lilac, blood orange and green apple on the nose. Dry and pleasantly acidic, flavors of nectarine, under ripe peach and tart cherry hit the palate with no residual sweetness. 0 Brix

Seattle Oaked Maple Hard Cider

What's with the bent can, somebody's probably asking.
Surely you didn't receive it in such a fashion?
Of course not. Lesson learned: If your bag has a little
hole in it, and you fill it with beers, you might have a
big hole, and that, my friends, is a problem.

Seattle Cider Co. Oaked Maple Hard Cider. 6.9 % Alc./Vol. Made with Washington Apples. "Not Your Standard Cider."

Clear, yellow, slim head.

In the nose: Apple-y, oak-y, touch of sweetness. Hint of maple.

In the mouth: Sweetness from the start, big ol maple flavor. Slightly sugary. Just a little oaky.
There's a little apple underneath, holding it down, but the flavor's mostly maple. Light bodied, easy drinking. Good cider and you can drinking...if you can handle all the maple.

Fermented with raisins and oak chips, this semi-dry cider is back-sweetened with pure Vermont maple syrup. Offering notes of vanilla and oak with a hint of maple, this unique cider is the perfect accompaniment to chilly winter weather. Best served chilled (50-55 degrees).

Seattle Cider Co. Berry Rose Hard Cider

Seattle Cider Co. Berry Rose Hard Cider. 6.9 % ABV. Made with Washington Apples. Seattle Cider Co., Seattle, WA.

Clear, bright red, still.

In the nose: Bright and berry-is, rasp., blue- & other.

In the mouth: Very raspberry. Crisp, slightly tart, edging into sweet-land. Ends on a dry note, finishes clean. Not cloyingly sweet, as I worried. Tasty. Refreshing. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Crafted with locally grown raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Slightly tart on the start and softly sweet on the finish. This cider is both accessible and full-flavored.

Seattle Cider Co. Basil Mint Hard Cider

Seattle Cider Co. Basil Mint Hard Cider. Made with Washington Apples.  Alc. 6.9% Vol. Seattle Cider Company, Seattle, Washington.

Clear, yellow, with a short-lived head.

In the nose: spice, heat, and mint aplenty. Nice bit of leafy sweetness.

In the mouth: Mmm. Tangy. More minty, leafy, spicy head, more sweet. Not a lot else. Basil's coming in hot, here. Ends dry on the palate. Smooth and drinkable with a unique flavor. This is nice, but I can't imagine having more than one. Maybe someone who's more into the cider thing would be into it more than I, but I leave that to them.

Fermented with fresh basil and mint, this off-dry cider starts savory and floral, complemented perfectly by a tart, clean finish.

Elysian Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale

Elysian SuperFuzz. Ale brewed with Blood Orange. 6.4% ABV.

Heavy clouds, deeply orange-ish, fluffy white head. Some particulates showing through when seen in the light. Old bottle? Can't find a date anywhere on the label.

In the nose: Bright and citrus-y, bold hops, good balance, not too bitter, not too sweet.

In the mouth: Citrus-spiked pale ale goodness kicks it off fruity and bitter from the start. Medium-bodied, lightish, bitterness compounding on the palate, all the while remaining smooth and mellow.
I like it. Good blood orange pale, and you can drink it.

....Is a mind-bending whirl of the aromas and flavors of blood orange and Northwest hops.

I present this as evidence that my glass was clean, and
there were floaties.

Elysian Space Dust IPA.

Elysian Space Dust IPA. 8.2% ABV, 73 IBU. Seattle, WA and other places, I'm sure.

In the eye: slightly hazy, bright golden color, vast white head, looking good, leaving lace.

In the nose: fresh blasts and citrus and pine, not too fruity, nice and dry.

In the mouth: Bitter bite starts it off and slides all about the palate. Bone dry, this, stripping the tongue, ready for the new swallow. Medium body, light malt presence, holding down the fort just barely. Hops are shining in this one.

My kind of IPA. I can have a few of these and be happy.



TASTING NOTES
The hopping is pure starglow energy, with Chinook to bitter and late and dry additions of Citra and Amarillo.

MALTS
Great Western premium two-row, c-15 and Dextra-pils

HOPS
Chinook, Citra and Amarillo

Elysian The Immortal IPA

Elysian The Immortal IPA. Elysian Brewing, Seattle, WA.  6.3% ABV, 62 IBU.

Clear, bright golden hue, vast ivory head, looking lovely.

In the nose: pine and citrus central. Big orange, lemon, grapefruit, pithy, pungent, beautiful bitter. Gorgeous.

In the mouth: Plentiful hop flavors dazzle the palate. All the bright, shiny citrus hop tastes, with a good dose of bitterness. Nice and malty, easy-drinking, refreshing. Flat out delicious. Tidy finish. Bitterness plays out. Nothing but good.

I paid $11.49 for this 6-pack, a bit dear for my usual budget, but I wanted to try it, so I paid the price. I enjoyed every bottle, but at that price tag, I may not return so soon.

Elysian Dayglow IPA

Elysian Dayglow IPA. Brewed and bottled by Elysian Brewing, Seattle, WA. 7.4% ABV. Hey, it's my first beer from Elysian! Hooray!

Lightly hazed, golden/amber coloring, slim but lasting ivory head.

In the nose: Pungent and palpable right from the start, tropical notes matched with powerful pine. Citrus doesn’t shy away, either: pineapple, tangerine, lemon, papaya. Gorgeous.

In the mouth: Mmm, juicy. Sweet matched by a bounty of bitterness with the second sip and swallow. Lean body in this, with the hop bitterness taking center stage. Hop flavor never flags here, it’s a constant reward. Expertly drinking. An exceptional India Pale Ale.

What the word from the label? “Dayglow crashes the party with the bitter heat of hops—dripping with tropical, sunshiney Mosaic and sparkling with touches of El Dorado and Centennial. CONTAINS WHEAT.”

I love the laser-eyed tiger, too. Wonder if Andy Samberg and Bill Hader had any input into it?

Schilling Hard cider Lumberjack Rhubarb

What, another cider? Hold on, there's more after that.

Schilling Hard Cider Lumberjack Rhubarb. 100% Fresh Pressed Apples. 6.0% ABV. Produced and bottled by Schilling Cider, Seattle, Washington.

A lot of gobbledygook on the the label that I cannot read.

Rhubarb? Rhubarb Cider? Sure, of course, why not?

Clear, light pinkish hued, high carbonation.

In the nose: what am I getting? Is it mostly apples? Yep. With some rhubarb mixed in? It's not really coming through, just slightly.

In the mouth: big carbonation, rhubarb coming through sticking it out right next to the apples. Big Tart, lightly sweet. Increasingly tart.

If I were an active enjoyer of ciders, I could see the appeal here.

RedHook Fat Chance Light IPA

In my last entry, I spent a good number of paragraphs describing how and why I came upon this beer (and the last and the next). Go there, to read that scintillating story. And now I proceed with beer #2 from that sampler pack, it's from RedHook of Seattle, Washington, and it's called Fat Chance Light IPA from their Secret Stash Series. Not a promising name for me, or maybe it's their clever way to avoid caving in to the "session IPA" trend. "A hoppy light IPA. Kind of like Slim Chance. If he had done more 12 oz. curls." I don't know who Slim Chance is…should I? 4% ABV. Est. 1981 Seattle.

Before I get to the beer, I'll spend a little time talking about my sentimental association with the RedHook brand. There was a comic book in the 1990's written and drawn by Peter Bagge, and published by Fantagraphics (of Seattle, WA.),  called, for lack of a better title, "Hate", that concerned the adventures of proto-'90's slacker-type Buddy Bradley and his friends in the Seattle sub-cultures of that era. I'm enclosing a portion of page two of issue one from 1990, which had a great impact on me when it was first released, right around when I decided to try and be a cartoonist myself. In fact, a story I wrote and almost finished drawing was based on this stylistic conceit, the point of view interview with the narrator, and it would've been the debut of  my roman a clef character, Lenny, (the title: "Lenny: an Introduction" also smelled of a J.D. Salinger reference. I know, I'm insufferable.) who would be my main character/doppelganger/etc., in my comic book which might have been called "Dateline: The Blues", or maybe it would've been "Argyle Fist." We shall never know.

By the way, Bagge took some shots at Minneapolis in that story, also. Read that here….

It was still a few years before I got into craft beer, and once I did jump into the beer world, I remembered  the beer Buddy B. drank in Hate #1 and simply had to check it out, since IPAs were my thing (and still are). It was all right back then, and is disappointing now. IPAs have certainly changed in the past 20-some years. Ballard Bitter isn't a beer I'm ever going to choose to throw in my shopping cart these days. (Actually, I'm pretty sure it no longer exists.) I'll always have that attachment, though, because memory means a lot. There are a lot of great coffee stouts these days, but Red Hook Double Black was my first. And you never forget your first.

On with the beer:

Appearance: Clear, light golden hue, snowy white head, long-lasting, lace-leaving.

Aroma: Big citrus, lemon, lime and orange, with some pine behind. Beautiful. Manna for the Hop-head.

Taste: Hop bitterness attack at the top, fading softly back. Very mellow malt, clean and crisp. Lean-bodied, light finish, hops cling on, though the bitterness slides off eventually.

Okay, it's 4%, I can drink a few before getting buzzed, but the hop flavor isn't furled back, so that's good. This isn't my normal style, but damn, if you can't drink it. Citrus-y hops hang in there for the long haul, and you never forget this is a nice ol' IPA. Nothin' wrong with it.

Fish Tale Wild Salmon Organic Pale Ale

Years and years ago, I did a ton of trading with beer people around the country to try brews not available here. This was when the local pickin's were very slim, both in locally brewed beers, and was was distributed to us. Nowadays, many of those are available to us easily, although the beer scene has changed so much that there continue to be so many more breweries that have opened, and so large a pool to draw from, we can never get to them all, can we?
So, here I am, drinking a fresh sample of a Washington brewery that is freshly available again, and looking back at my first review from a trade bottle received and reviewed back in July, 2003:


My experience with another Fish Tale Organic was rather pleasant, and I had high hopes for this one as well....
American Pale Ale, 5.5% ABV,

Clear, light amber hue, with a an ample, white head, that drifts swiftly down to size.
Aroma is on the quiet side, to be polite. Alert, awake, fresh, even zesty, but possessing no particular flavorful sensations, nothing I like to detect in an ale, no matter how pale. As time goes on, the nose grows particularly more bitter, and there's an increasing fruitiness flowering, but only a bit.

Once over the lips and on the tongue, disappointment prevails. Very simple, with a some hop presence, but remarkably mild at that, and very scant malt, if any. That hoppiness rides meekly through the finish and it's appreciated well enough, but it's a far cry from what I want.
Light body, slight texture, feeling more like a faint, inoffensive ESB than a fruity, hoppy pale ale. I'm not going to quibble over stylistic designations any longer, just end on the note that it moved me not.

RedHook Nut Brown Ale

RedHook Nut Brown. Seasonal Series. "Takes Nuts as a Compliment." 5.8 % ABV.

Clear, and caramel brown in appearance, slim, dotted, grey-brown head.

Aroma: malty, brown…nuts, yeah, sure. A little caramel-y, not much happening.

Taste: Caramel malt notes, small amounts of bitterness. A little toast. Slight cherry flavor, a little fruit to match the tiny serving of hops. 

Light bodied. Faint finish. Lacking any real strength of character. 

You can drink it. You can sink it. But, eh….bleb,….I'm not liking it.

I keep wanting to give everything a second chance. And I will continue to give RedHook a try, but I won't go back to this one, no sirree. 

RedHook Pilsner

RedHook Pilsner. "May Not Look It, but Has A Dark Side." (What the hell does that mean?) 5.3% Alc./Vol. 

I haven't had any RedHook in ages. They stopped meaning anything to me a long, long time ago. Now, apparently, they have 3 breweries. Did not know that. 

Glad I got some samples from the sample man, this time one with RedHook and Widmer samples. Good thing, I don't think I would have purchased a 6'er of this on my own. 

So let's look at it. Clear and golden, effervescent, snow-white head.

Clean, malty aromatics, some hops, cereal notes. Note perfect pilsner nose.

Taste: crystal clear and clean. Light body. Small hop blitz, gone in no time, revealing a sweet malt profile, ending dry. Dry and ever-s0-slightly bitter. 

They pitched it perfectly. Not so bad.

But, where was that "dark side", again?