Ross E. Lockhart's Blog, page 75
June 15, 2011
My tweets
June 13, 2011
My tweets
June 12, 2011
Adult Beverage: Coney Island Sword Swallower
I've know a few people who ran off to join a sideshow, and I once flirted with learning how to breathe fire, but I've never quite understood the distinction between "circus folk" and "carnies," even though Tod Browning's Freaks and Wim Winders's Wings of Desire are two of my all-time favorite flicks. Which brings me to Shmaltz Brewing Company's Coney Island Sword Swallower, "A Dry-Hopped IPA Style Recipe Brewed with Lager Yeast." I love their labels, with their vintage Coney Island sideshow poster charm, but am not typically a fan of lagers. So, did Sword Swallower make me want to join a freakshow, or did it catch in my throat?
Sword Swallower pours pale copper with a quick-falling fluffy head. Grassy and bready on the nose, with hints of lemon and an oily hop character. Hoppy and sour/sweet on the tongue, but brassy and bitter in the mouth. Sickly-sweet, cloying against the palate. Dry finish. Sat a bit uncomfortable in my stomach. Disappointing, since it's much more of a flowery lager than an IPA. I'll be skipping this one in the future.
June 11, 2011
Adult Beverage: Green Lakes Organic Ale
Jennifer's brother Farb just passed through Petaluma, and we had a great time visiting and attending a Giants game with him and his wife. They left behind a six pack of Deschutes Brewery's Green Lakes Organic Ale. Can't let good beer go to waste...
Green Lakes pours a cloudy dark amber with a fluffy off-white head with outstanding retention. Sweet malt and citrus fruit on the nose. A little cloying, but smells fresh. Spicy on the tongue, brown sugar and an aggressive pine resin hop character. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Creamy. Some degree of bitterness, and hints of toffee and berries, but sweet malt and citrus are the dominant flavors. Well balanced. Dry finish. Organic should always be this good.
