Sampler @ the brewpub. When I started drinking this I had no idea what the adjunct to this beer was. Either way I wasn’t too interested. The aroma smells like cheap perfume and artificial all around. Similar in the flavor with a light crappy maltiness. I found out its apparently elderberries, still not doing it for me.

Sampler @ the brewpub. Clear amber color with a sticky lacing. Aroma is clear, bright hops, mostly bubblegum hops (reminds me of Bazooka). Some sweet apricot hops rolled in there as well. Flavor has an unexpected surprise with a medium bitterness, which counteracts the sweet hops. The bitterness sticks around. Good stuff, I could definitely drink this again.

I stopped by the brewpub looking for something quenching. I perused the long list of beers and, taking into account another 3.5 hours I would need to drive, the pils seems most logical. It came to me looking as beautiful as I could want. Dark blond, almost orange in color, The beer was topped off by a small but strong head. Within the body rushing carbonation bubbles brought life and vigor to the beer. In my haste, I give it a quick sniff and fresh hops burst onto my nostrils. Then I give it a quick gulp and a well hopped Pils made me happy. At this point I felt proud to have picked out the right beer. Then I go back for another sip... WHAT THE... what the heck is going on here, what am I tasting. I gather myself and give it another large sniff with the nose... NO, NO... I drink it again, slower this time NOOOOOOO. DIE ASS E TALL, fuckin’ shit. Damn thing is full of it. Otherwise, you got the right strength of carbonation on a well attenuated body, with a nice appearance and well hopped. But then someone had to throw in some butterscotch candy. I was able to drink half the mug before having to go on my not so merry way.
Tall mug @ the brewpub.

Goblet pour @ the brewpub. I just wanted to get a growler on my way through town but their "growler machine" was not working. I wasn’t looking to figure out what the hell they were talking about. Either way, I got some of the anniversary beer because I didn’t want this to be a wasted stop. I asked the bartender about the style of the beer and he told me that it was the brown ale aged in Templeton Rye barrels and then infused with a bunch of stuff, including citrus (I stopped paying attention at that point, but it was a bunch of stuff). If this wasn’t Iowa, this beer would probably be an American Strong Ale. However, since Iowa has a 6.2 abv cap I don’t feel right calling it a Strong Ale of any sort (despite what the British think) and thought that S/H/V worked best but I am open to a few different categories for this. But lets get to the point.

Appearance is rusty, brown, dirt, and mud colored. Extremely murky, cannot see through it but it doesn’t work as far as looking pretty. The beer seems to be full of different stuff and that it comes off as a mish-mash of flavors that do not differentiate. In the end you got a thick, light;y citrusy. amalgamation of flavors where the other flavors are not coming out. Its drinkable, has a cool idea, but its like combining 5 different cereal;, in the end it just doesn’t tastes any better than either cereal alone.

Multiple samples of this at the 2009 Parkville Microbrew Fest. Pour is mostly clear copper reddish with a nice, lasting, off white head. Even in the small tasting glass, there was decent lacing. Aroma of citrus orange and lemon hops, along with pine needles, and a nice complex dose of earthy somewhat sweet Belgian yeastiness in the back of the nose. The Belgian yeast really complimented the fresh hoppiness, and was excellently balanced. The taste is the aforementioned hop flavors, along with a very nice backbone of caramel sweet maltiness, and the Belgian earthy yeastiness. The bitterness showed back up in the finish, which was clean and brief. Palate is medium, though still quite drinkable. This was certainly my favorite beer I had at the fest, and likely my favorite of these Belgian style IPA’s I have had. Who woulda thunk?

Growler. Pours a completely clear golden color with a small head that almost simultaneously fades into nothing. Aroma is grainy with fruity esters and fruity hops spikes. There is a good amount of citrus, possibly coriander. It is a very nice mix of aspects, well balanced. Taste is less complex but with that herbal yeast finish. Otherwise lightly sweet with some bitter light hoppiness. Very nice and highly drinkable.

Pint pour @ brewpub. Color is clear reddish brown color. Has a very white small head which is lightly sticky to the glass. Aroma is a lightly sour cherry syrup, otherwise clean and clear. Taste is strong cherry juice, the sour kind. Not bad, none of the bad aspects of a fruit beer, not strong fake-ness. The brown ale also provides a nice backbone as opposed to crappy wheat beers.

Growler that beastiefan2k grabbed at the brewpub and shared with us. Pour is mostly clear golden with a smallish white head. Aroma of sweet fruit (non-sour cherry), floral, spiciness and some bright resin hoppiness behind that. Taste is the nose, with a honey sweetness in addition to the fruit from the nose off the back. Yeasty spiciness with the floral hops. Palate is medium, grassy and has the bitterness in the back. I enjoyed this one, thanks for sharing Eugene.

Sampled at the Savor DC event. Pours a transparent yellow with a ringing white head. Aroma has lemons, wheat, roses, grass, yeast and perfume. Flavor is fairly weak with perfume, and flowers (roses) dominating. Finish is watery on the tongue.