Beer review: Left Hand Brewing Company Oktoberfest Marzen

I selected Left Hand Oktoberfest Marzen Lager this week for my beer review and photography project because Oktoberfest is just around the corner and I really enjoy Left Hand beers.  When the new packaging caught my eye, I couldn't walk away without taking one home to try.

Beer: Marzen Oktoberfest
Brewer: Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont, CO.
Style: Marzenbeir Oktoberfest Lager

Tasting Beer can be a bit like tasting wine in that there are different ways to experience and describe beer, but it does not need to be complex, too serious or intimidating. Here is one idea of how to approach a beer tasting and reviewing.

Appearance: This beer pours a gorgeous clear copper hue with a rather shy buttery roasted almond colored head that settled quickly leaving only the faintest ring of foam around the glass.
Smell: I smell roasted caramel malts, light molasses, tart red cherries, clove, orange peel with very little hop aroma.
Taste: Bready and roasted malts are what I taste first, followed by slightly sweet orange peel undertones and spicy clove with a crisp clean yet subtle, dry, hop finish.
Mouthfeel: This beer has a light to medium body with a clean, dry finish. I thought that the carbonation was a little lacking, but would love to taste this beer on tap.
Drinkability: I found this beer is rather drinkable. I could see a full day of Oktoberfest celebrations, traditional German food and an armful of this Oktoberfest Marzen.
Rating: I enjoyed this beer, but expected just slightly more body and carbonation. Overall, I was pleased with this beer and would easily recommend it to a beer lover, especially in the late summer.
Final Words: Descent beer, great brewery.

*Welcome to week 38 of my beer examination, I hope that you take the opportunity to try this beer and share your opinions here. If you are new here, please see what 52/52 is all about. Click on the links throughout the article for an opportunity to learn more about beer and beer tasting. PROST!

Article and photography by Ryan Conklin 

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Beer Review: St. Bernardus Abt 12 Belgian Abbey Ale

This week I selected Abt 12 from Brouwerij St. Bernardus for my beer review and photography project because I have been waiting to try this beer for far too long.  I have a growing love of Belgian beer and am stoked to learn more about their unique style and share my photography and ideas about this beer.  Please be invited to follow this project and blog as well as share your opinions of the beer or beer review in the comments below.

Beer: St. Bernardus Abt 12 Belgian Abbey Ale 10.5%ABV
Brewer: Brouwerij St. Bernardus
Style: Belgian Duppel Ale

Tasting Beer can be a bit like tasting wine in that there are different ways to experience and describe beer, but it does not need to be complex, too serious or intimidating. Here is one idea of how to approach a beer tasting and reviewing.

Appearance: This beer pours a hazy, dark toasted, apricot brown color with a lofty, light tan head that receded to leave moderate, patchy lacing.
Smell: Spicy and fruity yeast, light molasses, ripe peaches, a modest piney perfume and a hint of young raisins and clove round out the bouquet of this Quad Ale.
Taste: This beer tastes of bright and slightly sweet flavors of fig, brown sugar, sweet and spicy belgian yeast as well as a hint of white pepper and delicious dark roasted malts with a long bittersweet finish.
Mouthfeel: This Quad is a medium to full bodied beer with a deliciously cream mouthfeel.  The adequate carbonation displays this precariously balanced beer beautiful.
Drinkability: Despite the alcohol, this beer is remarkably drinkable. This could quite possibly be the perfect 'rant' beer. Just enough to get you going yet drinkable enough to keep you going.
Rating: Awesome. I am looking forward to buying a few more large format bottles of this delicious Quad, a few for late summer back yard bbq's and a few for aging as this is a perfect cellar beer.
Final Words: If you see this, grab it. At $12 for 25.4 oz, this is a value at twice the price. Either to age or share with friends and enjoy with food, this is a great beer.

*Welcome to week 37 of my beer examination, I hope that you take the opportunity to try this beer and share your opinions here. If you are new here, please see what 52/52 is all about. Click on the links throughout the article for an opportunity to learn more about beer and beer tasting. CHEERS!

Article and photography by Ryan Conklin

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Beer vs. Wine Dinner at TAG photos and review

Craft Beer and Wine went head to head, for rights at the 'Head of the Table.'  Round two of TAG's Beer vs. Wine Dinner last night was an incredible matchup.

The creatives at TAG invited Doug Krenik, Master Sommelier, and Bryan Baltzell, beer expert at Great Divide, to pair their respective beverages with carefully crafted cuisine by Executive Chef Troy Guard and his team at TAG, and allow the pairings to be judged by the audience.  What was the outcome of the second Beer vs. Wine dinner?  This year's dinner ended with a complex result.  If the votes where tallied by courses, it would be a straight tie, 2-2, but, if the votes where tallied in total, Beer would have won with 70-68 votes. 

Both Master Sommelier Doug Krenik and Bryan Baltzell from Great Divide Brewery came to the throw down prepared to present fantastic pairings and put them to the test.  Both were incredibly knowledgeable, and each argued for their pairings while enjoying their competitors offerings.  In the end, there was a lot of synergy with both of the wine and the beer and how each was uniquely paired and enjoyed side by side.  I think that the vote shows that both wine and beer lovers' knowledge and understanding are growing with each of these unique dinners and guest are leaving with new found appreciations for both beer and wine. 

Rather than answer the question of Beer or Wine, this dinner may have raised a question of its own, Can you enjoy Beer and Wine side by side?  Maybe next year's Beer vs. Wine dinner will take pairings to the next level and answer my question, and can we pair wine, food and beer all together for the ultimate pairing?

Please click on the slideshow link to see food and beverage images from the dinner.

Article and photography by Ryan Conklin