Posts Tagged ‘mystery’

Mystery Homebrew 2nd Edition

Friday, December 12th, 2008

It’s been a while since I tried some mystery homebrew left over from a competition. I had three bottles tonight.

The first one had the letters “BK” on the cap. It poured a somewhat hazy caramel amber with a thick tan – almost golden – head. The aroma was light and fruity, like mangoes and red oranges. The flavor was dry and bitter. Subdued hop flavors (herbal and lemon) play on the tip of my tongue as well as the very back. There is a sweeter fruitiness in the middle. Some caramel malt flavor comes through. This beer is very effervescent: I’m burping alot. The palate is dry and lively, with a big mouthfeel that is almost thick. This beer is clearly quite alcoholic. Probably an IPA.

+Mystery Beer #4

RateBeer: 3.4 (4-6-7-4-13)

The second beer was bottled in a recycled Sam Adams bottle. It is a golden yellow, barely hazy, with an extremely active carbonation. The head is thick, creamy, and straw. A playful, lightly fruity and herbal nose probably of Glacier hops. I smell lemons, kiwis, and orange blossoms. The flavor is very bitter, unpleasantly so. There is a thick herbal character as well. This one’s much too carbonated, and probably also an IPA.

+/-Mystery Beer #5

RateBeer: 3.0 (4-8-5-2-11)

The last homebrew tonight poured an opal straw with some white head. The nose was some sweet corn and lots of cardboard. The flavor is also corny and cardboardy, with some mustiness as well. It is very cloying.

-Mystery Beer #6

RateBeer: 2.1 (3-3-5-2-8)

Mystery Homebrew

Monday, October 20th, 2008

Tonight I am playing Russian roulette.

I recently got a half case of homebrew left over from a competition a few weeks ago. Since all the bottles are unlabeled and many of the beers were (apparently) not that great, I am taking a great chance drinking it. Well, if I must I must.

The first one is a little hazy, a dark mahogany with a bit of ochre head. The nose is subtle, with a nuttiness as well as a little biscuit. The flavor is light, somewhat nutty with a light lingering burnt character. The palate is quite refreshing. Probably a porter. Reminds me of Hub City’s.

+Mystery Beer #1

RateBeer: 3.4 (3-6-7-4-14)

This one is a very hazy tawny amber. Almost no head. The nose is caramel sweet with a strong banana air. The flavor is mostly banana, with some caramel and a little toast. Something of a graininess. Very strongly effervescent, but still cloying. Must be a dunkelweiss.

+/-Mystery Beer #2

RateBeer: 2.5 (3-4-6-2-10)

The last for tonight. An almost clear deep copper with some tan head. A strange white wine like aroma with some cideriness. The flavor is cidery, with mangoes, and a little sweet. This beer tastes like it’s got Brett (that is to say it has been infected, intentionally or unintentionally, with Brettanomyces wild yeast). No acidity but a general funkiness, and a little dusty. A prevalent sweetness as well. Reminds me somewhat of Duchesse without the punch.

I wonder what the brewer intended. I suspect they didn’t mean to brew this decent Flanders brown.

+/-Mystery Beer #3

RateBeer: 2.9 (3-5-6-2-13)