Archive for the 'Sand Creek' category
Sand Creek English Style Special Ale
Gotta love Beer of the Month Club time! Honestly, we found ourselves a bit underwhelmed by this shipment, perhaps just due to the fact that only one of the beers this month could be considered ‘dark’. While this may be a little strange for a Christmas shipment, I don’t suppose we should complain – it’s still a diverse package, and we’ve gotten our fair share of dark brews the past few months. At any rate, the first from the pack is this Sand Creek brew that was reviewed previously. So, you’ll find us being lazy on this one – see the original review below…
OK I’ve got to review this because it has been sitting my beer fridge since August and I am never terribly motivated to drink it. I bought this in Wisconsin because we don’t get Sand Creek brews here in NC, but for no other reason than that. Thus this will most likely be a short review.
It has a dusky brown color and very little head. It smells nuty and bready. Actually it smells pretty good. This beer follows the Allagash Fluxus which was extremely complex and spicy and I am liking the deep mellowness of this brew right now. The malty taste is sweet with a smokey undertone. It’s as if someone roasted peanuts then sprinkled them with a touch of brown sugar. Not overly sweet; just the right amount of deliciousness. The smokiness hangs around to create an aftertaste that is light but noticeable. I am actually very surprised that I am enjoying this as much as I am and sad that I haven’t reached for it earlier. It’s a flavorful, drinkable brew that is gentle on the palate. I will certainly buy more next time I am in the great state of Wisconsin.
Sand Creek Groovy Brew
This comes to us from a microbrewery in Black River Falls, WI. It is a Kolsch lager, a genre we typically; well to be honest almost never, review. According to the 2008 World Beer Competition criteria a kolsch is fermented at warm temperatures and aged at cooler ones. Apparently these cooler temperatures result in a “mellowing” of the fruitiness produced during the ferementing process, as well as creating the crisp, clean lager characteristics. Here ends the history lesson…
This is a pale, golden lager and it looks like it is unfiltered. There isn’t any sediment but it isn’t as translucent as say a pilsner or golden ale. This beer doens’t have any outstanding aromatic characteristics, instead it smells fresh, clean and crisp. If you try REALLY hard you might get a little wiff of orange but you will probably collapse a lung in the process. The taste is rather benign with little hop presence and no defining flavor. There is a slight citrus/banana flavor but mostly it’s just malty bitterness. I should note that this isn’t “skunky beer” bitter, it’s just typical metallic bitter. It tasty and refreshing but nothing to write home about. Given its anticlimactic qualities I’m not sure why Sand Creek decided to name this Groovy Brew. I would have named it the Humdrum or Lackluster Brew.
Editor’s note: I did a little more research on beeradvocate.com and they put the Kolsch in the German Ale category so now I am completely confused and utterly disinterested in this style. If anyone has any insight feel free to enlighten me and the rest of the beer-loving public.
Sand Creek Woody’s Wheat
I chose this beer tonight because I wanted a break from the heavy stuff. That and because it was sitting in my fridge like a beacon calling me back to my roots. Hefeweizens are what brought me into the world of beer reviewing and as such I have so very strong feelings about what I like and dislike. It is a little difficult to be totally objective given that it isn’t the hefe season and there’s nothing better than a winter lager on a cold december night but I’ll give it a shot, after all I am a professional amateur…
The beer pours a beautiful hazy golden yellow. I smell of clove and corriander are enticing to the nostrils and instantly I wish I was on a beach or lounging on a pontoon boat. The initial taste is cool and refreshing with a hint of citrus. At this moment I could see myself driking quite a few of these on a hot summer’s day. And then the American-style wheat characteristics reared its ugly head. The aftertaste is bitter and slightly metallic. The tasty citrus and malt flavors are overshadowed by a musty thickness. It’s not a bad beer, in fact I wouldn’t be opposed to drinking more, but when compared to other hefeweizens I’m sad to say this is a mediocre brew.
