Lubiere (24459) reviewed Shed Agathe from The Shed Brewery 19 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Golden amber ale with a thin white head. Light horseblanket in aroma, and ground cherries. Light sweet malt, with some phenolic/solvent notes, and light cherries. Smooth in mouth, medium bodied. At EBF 2006.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed West Branch Golden Ale from The Shed Brewery 19 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Draught pint at the Shed on 3/11/06
Clear, golden-to-clover honey-yellow body has a frothy, one-finger high white head atop, that is well retained and even laces lightly. Some bubbles in the liquid, but not bursting with visible carbonation.
The nose is flowery, with easygoing, clean hops, some minerals from the water or yeast and plenty of grainy malt (some type of lightly husky, dry, yet pale colored malt), perhaps just two-row. There seem to be no off-notes, just a clean, grainy malt bill that fills the nostrils sufficiently, backed by the light hoppiness.
The flavor has a light edge to it, just a minor crisp, citric hoppiness, but otherwise gentle and flowery, with some light hay, sweat, papery/grainy malt and a touch of dough on the very finish. For being low in alcohol, it is very well-attenuated, no wortiness and yet not thin, or loose in texture. Quenching and drinkable, with a very slight sourness (almost Kolsch-like, but fleeting) and the typical hard-water mineral thing that the Shed has going on. Carbonation is moderate for the style, though perhaps a bit too bubbly.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Wee Hefty from The Shed Brewery 19 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Draught tulip at the Shed on 3/11/06
The beer quickly settles out to a medium-dark, amber-bronze, actually rather clear, though still a slight haze to it. Beige head rapidly fizzles to nothing, with no lacing. Rather still-looking, though swirling produces a fleeting ring of bubbles.
The nose has a sharp, almost band-aid/medicinal peat note, with ripe red and black berries, some sticky toffee and light minerals. Sweet toffee really sticks to the nose as it warms, but there is plenty room for the light peat dryness, with some vanilla and salty buttercream notes. Rather rough though, even with the passing sweet toffee, and seems to foretell a very dry flavor.
And indeed the flavor is dry, but just well attenuated, with a sticky texture of well-extracted malt residues, dry, toasty grains, caramel and toffee suggestions and a drying peat note on the end. No indication of alcohol at all. Dry berry skins continue to provide dryness on the palate, but as it warms, aided by the lightly sticky texture, it just proves quite drinkable, with no thought given to it needing more sweetness. Dusty, mineralic note is again present, but as a house character, I really don’t mind. Low carbonation, but not too low, with plenty of toasty malt, and lightly sweet toffee/caramel.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Silent Illumination from The Shed Brewery 19 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Two draught tulips at the brewery on 3/11/2006
Inky, near-black pour is completely opaque with only a trickle of beige head that fizzles away to bubbles and then nothing, no lacing. Some deep brown-violet tinges are all that can be discerned, on the edges, when holding it to the light.
The nose packs in a sharp punch of dark, sour concord grapes, very light roasted barley, giving almost a coffee/composty sort of feel, and further deepening/sharpening the nose. But a subtle and lightly sweet chocolate? malt note, with some soft honey and other light sugars begin to balance. Soured plums, a light mineralic quality and very little hops that I can discern finish the complex and puzzling nose.
The flavor begins with a mix of chocolate tipped cigars, lightly sweet raisins (special b malt buffeted by chocolate malt???) and a nearly lactic note of acidity on the finish. Comforting malt body, however, softens the blow, and it really isnt sour, just tart and fruity (purple fruits). As it breathes and warms, light chocolate and honey malts emerge, with a little bit of grittiness thanks to the extremely unfiltered nature. Still can’t find any hops, in bitterness or flavor (maybe just the faintest bit of green, leafy hops). Alcohol marvelously masked, and the carbonation very low.
A little muddled and rough around the edges, not as clean and well-executed as McKenzie’s Dark saison, but what it loses against that one, (I think) it gains in just a pure unadulterated weirdness.
If you are curious to know what the saison-heads I travel with would think about it, I bet they all generally dislike it and give it a 2.5-3.0 range of scores.
But I thought it was unique and, excusing the mineralic quality inherent in their beers, a charming little drinker. Maybe not much of a saison, but then, I’ve never been one to rate much to style.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Draught sample at EBF ’06 on 2/11/06. Chill-hazed to lightly cloudy ripe peachskin colored beer, with some softer brass tones, large bubbles in the liquid and a small, off-white head that is only moderately retained, and leaves a thick film in its absence. The nose boasts a sugary pale maltiness backed by floral/herbal hops, unripe oranges and even a bit of dry pearskin. White grapefruit takes hold soon thereafter and dosent let go. I get some notes of wintergreen, almost or hickory nuts, with a very leafy, lightly resinous stickiness. The flavor strikes me as very gritty, almost like sugar granules are in the liquid, with floral, leafy hop flavors, high amounts of bitterness and only moderate amounts of caramel sweetness on the end. More of that tangy/tart hickory nut like flavor, with a low amount of carbonation, some bits of perfume rising as it warms and a light amount of alcohol dryness. Very green, very bitter, but didnt blow me away with acidity build-up on the palate. Woodsy, floral and with less grapefruit and resin that I could find than everyone else seems to mention. Bit of wateriness on the very end. I think the hop bitterness/flavor is already on the decline. The earliest review, being the freshest sample and the most highly rated, is no coincidence, IMHO.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Wild Illumination from The Shed Brewery 19 years ago
Appearance - 2 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 2 | Overall - 4
2006 draught sample at EBF ’06. Watery, very low carbonation levels in this fairly cloudy golden-apricot-tangerine colored beer. No head. The nose begins with a dried apricot and chardonnay wine-like feel to it. Thoroughly drying wheatiness, plenty of soft honey grains and an emerging marmalade like tartness. Some mossy, musty yeastiness and some poignant sourish notes of cider, green apples and barnyard. The flavor begins with a brief glimpse of honey and challenging, Belgian character yeast, but quickly goes South with a heavily sour, spoiled fruit flavor and tons of lactic dryness. Palate deadening minerals on the end incite pictures of licking a cold, hard-water, steel, water fountain. Incredibly watery, with much too low carbonation levels. Hops are soggy and the brief bitterness seems at odds with this texture.
It begins to become apparent that there is something that is not allowing Shaun’s beers to age properly. An infection at brewing, or as many seem to think, problems with the water. I hope he can get it resolved, because boy can he brew!
Lubiere (24459) reviewed Not Quite Red Ale from The Shed Brewery 19 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Orange amber ale with light malt aroma, and smooth hops notes. In mouth, good floral hops, medium bodied. Enjoyed this one most....On tap, Feb.10, 2006.
Lubiere (24459) reviewed Mountain Ale from The Shed Brewery 19 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Red amber ale with a light sweet malt aroma. Crisp malt, honest hopping, medium bodied. A decent session ale. On tap, Feb.10, 2006.
Lubiere (24459) reviewed Sir Portly's Porter from The Shed Brewery 19 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Dark clear black with a thin moka head. Light toffee aroma, and in mout, a nice chocolate bitterness with oily mouthfeel. On tap, Feb.10, 2006.
Lubiere (24459) reviewed India Pale Ale from The Shed Brewery 19 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5
Darker golden ale with no head, Ligh malt and hops in aroma. Diacetyl laced IPA without much character, uninspiring. Medium bodied. On tap, Feb.10, 2006.