312 Goose Island Urban Wheat Ale

Time:  upper 40s, low 50s day in March

Food:  Indian

 

Beer: [C-] 312 Goose Island Urban Wheat Ale

DRAFT: NO

I really wanted to like this beer because of the cool bottle, but as they say, never judge a book by its cover.  While not without some merit, the balance of flavors in this beer is all wrong.  Since I'm reviewing this beer way out of date, we'll just leave the conclusion as there's better beer in the world; let this one pass.

Dock Street Brews

Time:  rainy Sunday happy hour in April upper 60s F

Food:  thin crust wood-fired pizza

Beers: (F) Dock Street collection on tap (includes pils, wit, pale ale, IPA, porter)
DRAFT: YES

All the beers suffer from a lack of body and maturation.  The hops is all wrong as well -- for simplicity's sake, it's too hoppy, but actually, the hops is just unbalanced for the brews.  The only palatable beer is the wit, and even it is not anything to talk about.

The pizza, while more palatable, also suffers from a balance issue having a ratio of toppings which burdens the crust and creates sogginess.  The combo of toppings and the ingredients themselves are quite good -- it's just the balance thing.

A final remark: it's places like this that brew awful beer and offer mediocre fare, yet are packed thurs, fri and sat where I realize that we'll eat and drink pretty much anything.

Conclusion: don't waste your time -- better food and beer await elsewhere.

Ommegang Hennepin and Kirkland Signature Lager, Hefeweizen, and Pale Ale

Time: Evening in April, lower 60's F, light rain

Food: Ethiopian cuisine, lamb and beef, eggplant, cabbage/potatoes, medium spice

Beers: A Ommegang Hennepin Saison
A Kirkland Signature Beers by Gordon Biersch
Draft: NO

Regular disclaimer: Food always tempers a beer, so really I haven't met a beer that should be drunk without food.
One might dislike a little about this beer or that beer in the Ommegang arsenal, but overall, there isn't a more solid American brewed Belgian-styled beer around. The Hennepin is an immensely drinkable saison -- it's not too light, not too hoppy, not too earthy. We drank most of it before the food even arrived! But the little we drank with the food paired very well.


Costco has released their own line of beers and at $18 / case, this is the most drinkable beer for the price -- bar none. Each beer is a classic representation of its type. We didn't get around to drinking the Amber (I like ambers less than the other styles so tend to drink all the others first).

UPDATE: East Coast Costco shoppers beware. Costco has switched to an upstate NY brewery which is a HUGE stepdown. I no longer recommend these beers if living in the East.

In conclusion, drink up any of the beers posted in this review. Repeatedly if given the chance. Specifically for the Kirkland, if you're someone who can't drink Bud, but can't afford microbrew all the time, this is your go to beer. Keep it around the house -- you'll drink all of them (even the styles that aren't your favorite).

Southampton Double White Ale

Time:  Spring Afternoon in April, lower 70s F
Food:  Burger, Belgian fries, Sausage sandwich, mixed greens salad

Beer:  A / Southampton Double White Ale (Witbier)
Draft: YES

Regular disclaimer: Food always tempers a beer, so really I haven't met a beer that should be drunk without food.

Before the food, the wit was refreshing with spice notes -- overall a very nice white ale.  The beer only helped clear the palate while eating the burger (which was one of the best I've had in a long time).  


This double white (as it's name suggests) is higher in ABV than your average wit bier.  For those who need a little hop, this beer has none.


In conclusion, this is a brew to try more than once! 

UPDATE:

Purchased a case (reasonably priced for a microbrew), so have had many occasions to try this beer again.  Make sure one pours the yeast into the beer to impart the entire flavor.  Leave an inch of beer in the bottle when pouring, swish the bottle to unsettle the yeast at the bottom, and pour the remaining beer into the glass.


After several revisits, this beer is definitely a "spicy" white.  The spiciness needs food for balance, and my recommendation would be that this is not a beer to drink by itself.  That being said, for the price and quality, I would drink this double white over Hooegarden any day.

The Bruery Saison de Lente and Dogfish Aprilhop IPA

Time:  Spring day in April, upper 60's F

Food:  Pulled pork sandwich, fried mushroom risotto, fries

Beers: A- The Bruery Saison de Lente (seasonal)
       A  Dogfish Head Aprilhop IPA (seasonal)
Draft: YES

Regular disclaimer: Food always tempers a beer, so really I haven't met a beer that should be drunk without food.

Before the food, the saison has a tartness that isn't overbearing, but begs for some food to match.  Unfortunately, I don't think any of the food selection really matched well (not the fault of the beer).  Find the right food, and this solidly built saison will fit right in.  Regardless, it packs a nice punch (I think but since drank with the Aprilcot IPA, hard to tell definitively).

I haven't tasted enough Dogfish Head to determine if I'm a lover of the brewery or not, but so far, this top ranked brew house hasn't let me down.  Dogfish Head can lean on the hops, but this IPA hops mediumly before food, and hops mildly with food.  The Aprilhop smells and tastes like apricots, but I wouldn't say the fruit is overbearing.  Overall worked wonderfully well with the food choices. ABV: 7; IBU: 30.

UPDATE:
Dogfish Aprilhop was subsequently drunk and again stood the test of time + change in food (burger, fries, and wings).  Tested against a Yard's American Extra Special Ale (B) and a Troeg's Sunshine Pilsner (C-).

In conclusion, drink the Dogfish, but sadly, leave the Yard's and Troeg's. 

UPDATE:
Purchased a case (pricey) and after several revisits, the Aprilhop is still good, even for drinking without food.