Welcome to another edition of the Brew Review, where Freedom Rolling takes a look at craft beers from across the country. Today we head into the Green Mountain State of Vermont for what they have to offer. As with all of the Brew Reviews, please ensure that these, or any beers, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
We start over at the small city of Bridgewater Corners, Vermont, home of The Shed Brewery and their offering, the Mountain Hazy IPA. This particular brew starts off with the familiar scent of hops and a lighter yellow color, however the taste does not bring the powerful taste of hops that people would expect from the India Pale Ale. This one is a bit more subtle when tasting, though there are certain ways you can pick out the hops. It isn't the most exciting thing to drink, but it is an average brew that can be tolerated if it's one of the few available.
Off we head to the Champlain Valley in Burlington, Vermont and the Foam Brewers for the India Pale Ale known as Dead Flowers. The drinker will first be adorned with a light, lime-like color. Although marked as an IPA, this particular brew has only a moderate hop taste, masked by a very strong citrus taste that seems to come from a lime flavor. This balanced offering is a perfect choice for a summer day on the lake, whether just fishing or having a gathering, as everyone permitted will enjoy this beer.
Time to head deep into the Green Mountains, where Lawson's Finest Liquids awaits in the community of Waitsfield, Vermont for a Sip of Sunshine. Although originally brewed at their main location, production of this beer has been moved to Stratford, Connecticut. If you're a connoisseur that likes your hops, then this brew is certainly for you. Apart from the golden color that will remind the drinker of sunshine, a very strong amount of hops and an 8% ABV makes this a hop lover's dream. Although it may just be a sip, you'll feel like you're walking on sunshine with this offering.
As you continue to Follow Your Internal Compass around the country, hopefully you are able to find these, as well as many other craft beers to enjoy.
Once again, Freedom Rolling presents another Brew Review. The choice to "Live Free or Die" is upon us as we take a trip to the Granite State of New Hampshire for a few of their selections. As with all of the Brew Reviews, please ensure that these, or any beers, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
We start down at the state's most populous city of Manchester, New Hampshire, as we visit Great North Aleworks and their Robust Vanilla Porter. This is presented with a nice light brown color that would be expected from a porter. One sip of this brew, and it's not evident why this one is a vanilla porter, as the taste is overwhelmed with coffee. The brewers claim that the vanilla comes towards the end, but it just doesn't seem to be there. For a run-of-the-mill average porter, it isn't so bad, but it's certainly not what's advertised by the title.
Take a trip up to Plymouth, New Hampshire for the Last Chair Brewery and the Powder Bear Hazy IPA. First presented is a golden color and the scent of hops that drinkers of this particular type have come to know to love. As you sip this particular brew, the hops are mellow at first, but then begin to come through along with an acidic taste coming from citrus hops. On a hot summer day, this choice will certainly be a nice way to cool off and enjoy the White Mountains region.
Returning to Manchester, New Hampshire and Great North Aleworks, this time for the Tie Dyed dry-hopped Pale Ale. As the light golden color is presented to the drinker, a hint of banana from the scent is also given. However, with one sip of this brew, there is a hop taste, but it is much more subdued than the India variety, making for a more balanced and refreshing experience. Any summer picnicker would be proud to have this choice in their cooler, and if you're one to just start getting into hops, this brew is for you.
So until the next time we review more beers in the country, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
Once again, another Brew Review brought to you by Freedom Rolling, but this time a little something different. Shenandoah National Park in Virginia has reached out to some of the local brewers to contract a few selections that are exclusive to the park, and today, we'll be looking at some that will be available within the various visitors' centers. As with all of the Brew Reviews, please ensure that these, or any beers, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws, whether you enjoy these at the park, or take them to another location.
Our first trip takes us over to Waynesboro, Virginia and the Basic City Beer Company for the Limberlost Lager. This brewery is proud to be able to use the spring water from the park as a base. This light colored brew, upon first taste, gives the drinker an experience light to the palette. Without any sort of taste of hops or the heavy presence of a malt, this is a neutral beer that would seem well with just about anything, even by itself, during a summer day.
Welcome to Harrisonburg, Virginia; home of James Madison University, and the Brothers Craft Brewing Company for their offering of the Skyline Falls Hazy IPA. A beautiful golden color greets the drinker along with the very familiar scent of hops that one would come to expect with this type of brew. However, the sip shows the hops to very controlled, as the tip of the tongue doesn't give that forcefulness of the hops; it isn't until the beer hits the roof of the mouth that the bitterness will come. Although the name is inspired from the park, this brew is regularly available at the brewery, and for good reason, as it is one to certainly enjoy during or after spending time with nature.
We return once again to Waynesboro, Virginia and the Basic City Brewing Company, this time to be able to try out their White Oak Canyon Wit. Once again, the local spring water is used as a base for this particular brew. The first sip had a hard bitter taste hit the palette, but further sips reduce that initial hit making for an enjoyable experience, and is typical of what a good witbier should be. The drinker would very much enjoy this during the summer months.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you to Shenandoah, stop by the visitors' center to enjoy a couple of local craft beers.
Welcome back to Freedom Rolling's Brew Review, as we sample three different beers from across this great nation and give our take on what they have to offer. As with all of the Brew Reviews, please ensure that these, or any beers, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
Take a trip with us to the Three Notch'd Brewing Company in Charlottesville, Virginia for their 40 Mile IPA. Brought to you in a wonderful golden color, the immediate scent and first sip of this particular brew is the American-grown hops we've all come to know and love with the West Coast version of this style. The amount of hops isn't as heavy as some other IPAs, whether single, double, or imperial, as this beer is given a refreshing balance to relax the palette between sips. This was recommended to us by a local connoisseur, and we can understand why it's so popular, as it's one of the better IPAs we have had in the Brew Review series.
Shooting down to Charleston, South Carolina, we go to the Cooper River Brewing Company for their orange-infused blonde ale. The first scent makes the oranges very clear, as the entire fruit is used in the creation. However, the lack of a foam head coupled with the fruit would make someone think it was a cider. Aside from the overpowering taste of oranges, there really isn't much of anything else to this particular brew. Although it isn't so bad for a foray into outdoor grilling, there are plenty of other better choices to enjoy.
We head back to Charlottesville and the Three Notch'd Brewing Company for another one of their IPAs, this time the "Minute Man". This particular brew a little more of an orange-ish color, along with the scent of hops, you also smell what seems to be the zest of an orange. Upon first sip, the flavor of the orange, which seems more like the powdered drink style than the juice, seems to overpower the taste of hops that you would expect from an India Pale Ale. Hops lovers will find themselves disappointed, but the drinker that is just starting to get themselves into this style will find it to be an appropriate education, as they'll be eased into the familiar after-taste of the hops so they know what to expect when experiencing other IPAs.
So until the next time we review more beers in the country, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
Freedom Rolling is back with yet another brew review! This time, we're looking at some beers in South Carolina. As always, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with not only local laws wherever you may be, or any regulations from the campground where you may be staying.
Come down to the Atlantic Cost of Charleston, South Carolina, home of Edmund's Oast Brewing Company. One of their popular popular offerings is a dark brown Dopplebock known as "Wolves at the Door". As with many beers of this type, this particular one is a bit on the heavy side, so it's probably not one you'll want to enjoy in the summer by the lake. Save this brew for the winter season, as the sweet and smooth taste will help you to curl up by the fire on a colder night.
Take a quick trip northwest to Greer, South Carolina, and the Southern Growl Beer Company. While there, perhaps you'll want to sample their "Garde Dog", a French-style bière de garde offering known for its lovely golden color. Although this particular brew goes down smoothly, there is that slight hint of hops that is able to keep the drinker's palette excited. This is a good brew for those who seem to like a little of everything in their taste buds, and is suitable for all seasons.
Heading a little south, we look to the Good Times Brewing Company in Greenwood, South Carolina. First founded as a pizza restaurant known as The Mill House, they would later expand to also include a brewery. One of their offerings is the Irish Whip red ale. One sip of this particular brew, and it is everything that a red ale can and should be. From the lovely amber color to just that subtle bitter hop taste behind the smooth malts, drinkers will want to enjoy this concoction for a long time to come at almost any point in the year. Consider having poured from a nitrogen cask instead of through carbonation, and it's a possible contender for one of the best beers in the country.
Before closing this one out, just a quick announcement about the beers of South Carolina: Most of the brews that we review come from micro-brews, farm brewers, and similar classifications. Unfortunately, a number of states have been placing stringent and sometimes excessive regulations on brewery-bars, more specifically "establishments that sell and serve alcohol", requiring expenses that these companies cannot reasonably handle. More information can be found at this link.
So as your Internal Compass takes you across the country, try some of the local craft beers as able, and see how they fare for you.
Welcome to another review of craft beers brought to you by Freedom Rolling. Today, we look at three different breweries previously visited across South Dakota and what else they have to offer. As with every review, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
Welcome to Sturgis, South Dakota. Aside from motorcycles, this city offers the Sturgis Brewing Company's Black Hills Blonde Ale. Although the first scent may have the drinker wondering if this brew is somewhere between a blonde and a wheat, the smooth taste will make you remember not to judge a beer by its cover. Anyone looking to spend some time in the summer at one of western South Dakota's man-made lakes will not want to pass up an opportunity to enjoy this brew, especially with a little trout fishing on the side.
Take a trip to Sioux Falls and the Remedy Brewing Company for their regular wheat offering, the Hefe Metal. First founded in 2013 like many other small breweries across the country, Remedy has been offering many different options to discerning drinkers in the upper midwest. Hefe Metal is, as the name would suggest, their hefeweizen being offered. The wheat taste is much more powerful than any of the wheat beers previously encountered. A drinker will be able to balance it out with some food at meal time, but someone who is looking for a beer by the lake should probably try something a little more mellow and enjoyable.
Heading back to the Black Hills, we turn to Rapid City, South Dakota and the Lost Cabin Beer Company for their American Pale Ale, the "Bruce Banner". For the uninitiated, Bruce Banner is a superhero series character that would transform into "The Incredible Hulk". One sip of this particular brew, and the drinker would certainly agree that this "packs a punch". Right away, a strong taste of hops hits the palette that makes you think Bruce Banner is bordering on the verge of an IPA. Not much of any other taste comes to the drinker as it's hops on top of hops. Some really like that taste, and if they do, the Bruce Banner is going to be for them. Those enjoying a smoother taste will want to look elsewhere.
So as your Internal Compass takes you across the country, try some of the local craft beers as able, and see how they fare for you.
Welcome to another review of craft beers brought to you by Freedom Rolling. Today, we look at three different breweries across the country and what they have to offer. As with every review, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
We start in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the Fernson Brewing Company for one of their signature offerings, the Lion's Paw Lager. This particular brew comes in a delightful reddish amber color, and is a staple across bars offering craft brews in the Mount Rushmore state. Be prepared for a slightly sour taste when you first sip on this beer, but like with any good lager, the hops will come in later to give a more rounded taste. This may be a decent choice if you are in the area, and could be worth a shower if you happen to be staying for an extended period, but there are better brews to actively seek out when traveling the country.
Heading down south to Fort Worth, Texas, and the Martin House Brewing Company, we turn to the "Best Maid" sour pickle beer. Sours have started to find their place on many taproom lists, although this is one of the weirdest brews to ever try. The scent of pickles is very prevalent when first presented with the beer. The first taste is almost as if one took the liquid contents of a pickle jar and ran it through carbon dioxide pressure. Although we'll freely admit to not yet being to the point of enjoying sour beers, and the beer itself did not foam when poured which could lead to an adverse review, it doesn't seem like one to try again.
Heading back to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, we finally head to the Remedy Brewing Company, and one of their regular offerings, the Queen Bee Imperial Honey Cream Ale. As a lighter colored summer beer, Remedy advertises "a subtle honey sweetness", but there is nothing subtle about this one. The first smell and sip brings an overpowering sensation of honey to this particular brew. Once getting over that hurdle, it will not only leave the same powerful taste in your mouth, but the later stages of the brew will almost taste like cough syrup. Certain connoisseurs will enjoy the higher alcoholic content of 7.3% when compared to other beers of this type, but when looking for cream ales, there are many better choices even in this part of the country alone.
So as your Internal Compass takes you across the country, try some of the local craft beers as able, and see how they fare for you.
Welcome to another review of craft beers brought to you by Freedom Rolling. Today, we look at three different breweries in South Dakota and what they have to offer. As with every review, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
Welcome to Sturgis South Dakota: Home of America's most famous August motorcycle rally, and right off the highway is the Sturgis Brewing Company, with one of their offerings being their Red Cut Red Amber ale. This particular brew has the smooth taste one would expect from the typical American Amber, with just a hint of hops to keep the taste buds excited. There were a couple of points during the tasting of this beer where it flirted with the line between smoothness and flatness, and although there have been plenty of other red and ambers we've come to enjoy more, Red Cut does pass as something drinkable.
Staying in the Black Hills of South Dakota, take a trip down to Rapid City and the Lost Cabin Beer Company. First starting in 2016, Lost Cabin has been brewing at both their primary city location, along with their new Beer Garden in Hill City. One of their most popular signature beers is the SoDank IPA. This moderately colored brew will give the strong taste of hops that you would expect from a typical IPA, but they have been able to balance it with a smoother taste that would allow someone in the middle of acquiring the taste for this type of beer to enjoy. Although perhaps not the best value for money, it isn't a bad choice for a special occasion in the area.
When one thinks of South Dakota, they may think of Mount Rushmore. Found in the city of Custer is the so-aptly named Mount Rushmore Brewing Company, with one of their regular beers being the Buffalo Snot stout. This particular brew brings a strong smell and taste of coffee to the drinker. However, as one would continue to enjoy this smooth, dark offering, the first impression may be deceiving as the coffee taste will diminish after the first sip, allowing even the connoisseur that does not enjoy coffee to want to have this beer again.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you to Western South Dakota, try some of the local brews around you, but be cautious in what you choose.
Freedom Rolling once again brings you their famous Brew Review, this time looking at three different locations for a particular beer they offer. As always, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
Starting in Fort Worth, Texas, just off the west fork of the Trinity River, one can find the Martin House Brewing Company. While in Texas, if you want a bit of a change from one of the most popular brewed bock beers in the state, then try on for size the "Bockslider". Bocks are sometimes also referred to as a "dark lager", giving a darker color for those with the preference, though not quite as dark as a porter or stout. A slight amount of bitterness will reach your palette from the light hops, but otherwise a smooth taste the experienced drinker will be able to enjoy, possibly in their Bock-yard.
We head northwest to our next stop in Sheridan Wyoming, home of the Black Tooth Brewing Company. Black Tooth brings to the table the Bomber Mountain Amber Ale, named after a peak at over two and a half miles of elevation where a famous aviation accident happened during World War II. The first pour of this selection for home distribution suffers from over-carbonation. Once you get past that, the body of this amber is what one would delightfully expect from this brew and more. The beer has won several awards from various festivals, and we can certainly understand why. The brewery has opened two other locations in Cheyenne and Casper, and it may just be a good place to visit.
Going back towards the Black Hills of South Dakota, we visit Spearfish and the Crow Peak Brewing Company to try their Canyon Cream Ale. Crow Peak has been brewing in-house since 2007, undergoing several expansions to keep up with demand in the northern mid- and mountain west. Although the beer doesn't necessarily look creamy when first pouring, the creamy taste is certainly there as it goes down smoothly. The subtle sweetness comes from locally procured honey, but does not overpower the taste. As a blonde, this is a wonderful addition to any summer gathering, and is one to enjoy again and again.
So as your Internal Compass takes you across the country, try some of the local craft beers as able, and see how they fare for you.
As we continue our mini-series on Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling in San Antonio, Texas, we look at the rest of the beers offered at the time this is being published, along with an idea for a cocktail using their bourbon. Please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be. In addition, one other brew that may pique your fancy is the Love Struck Hefe, a hefeweizen previously reviewed in the main brew review series.
When tasting a flight of beers, it is best for the taste buds to go from the lightest to the darkest in color. What better place to start at Ranger Creek than with the Laguna Madre Belgian White Ale. Like many Witbiers before it, Laguna Madre brings that light, clean taste to be able to enjoy on a hot day, while this particular brew has that slight bit of sweetness that will first hit the tip of your tongue to give it that extra special experience. Whether you're out having a wonderful time on the Laguna Madre itself, or out trying to catch a Guadalupe Bass on the rivers of Texas, you cannot go wrong with this choice.
Many breweries will take their signature beer and add another dimension to please even more discerning palettes. Enter, the San Antonio Salt and Lime Lager. Beer salts are a Mexican tradition that has been in existence for last century. It's not a typical "salt" you'd put on your food, but rather a flavoring used to accentuate a beer, such as a lime flavor that Ranger Creek incorporates into this particular brew. There is a hint of a salty taste as one would expect from the name, but the flavoring is able to subdue the "hop taste" from the signature San Antonio Lager. Those that don't regularly enjoy beer will find this to be a good "ice breaker", so give this one a try if your friends bring you along to the brewery.
One of the dark beers available from Ranger Creek is the Sunday Morning Coming Down coffee ale. As with typical stouts and porters, this one comes in at a higher ABV level and a dark brown color. Enjoyment of this brew is really going to depend on your enjoyment of coffee, as from the time you receive this off the tap or out of the can, to the time it's finished, the senses will be overloaded with coffee, coffee, and more coffee. Sunday Morning is produced using coffee from a locally sourced roasting company, while a hint of lactose sugar adds a milky texture to this already smooth beer. If you're one that likes to finish your meal with a slightly alcoholic coffee, then Sunday Morning Coming Down may just be the ticket for you.
Ranger Creek is known not only for being a brewery, but also a distillery, thanks to a grandfathered process in their production. Their bourbon and whiskey is aged for at least two years in their Texas bourbon oak barrels before being bottled and made available to the consumer. Along with several varieties including single malt and rye, if you wish to skip the oak barrel maturity process altogether, there is a white bourbon. Try this clear variety with ginger beer, simple syrup, and lime juice; a drink they call the "Texas Mule". The slightly peppery taste of the bourbon works in perfect harmony with the bite of the ginger beer and the fruitiness of the lime. Whiskey and bourbon lovers will want to flock to Ranger Creek to try their award winning spirits.
So whether your Internal Compass takes you to beers or liquors, Ranger Creek is going to have something for you.
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