Sierra Nevada Beer Camp 2012 Series

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp 2012 Series

Limited Release. 12 fl. oz. (x12) / $20.49 USD / VAR% ABV (see below)

I was mildly excited about this and picked it up on sight. Care to read what I thought about these?

Floral IPA (aka Long Stem IPA) - Beer Camp #53 (2012)

12 fl. oz. (x3) / 5.9% ABV

About: "This unique take on the IPA style takes the floral aromas and flavors found in hops, and combines the with actual flowers! This medium-bodied brew was made using actual organic rose petals and rose hips for an unusually aromatic experience. With a complex mix of floral, citrus and pine hop flavors, and a balanced and easy-drinking malt backbone Long Stem IPA is a one-of-a-kind beer.

Bittering Hops: Citra / Aroma Hops: Centennial and Crystal / Torpedo Hops: Centennial, Saphir and Rose Petals / Malt: Golden Promise, Caramel (15L), Special B and Chocolate / Yeast: Ale / Other: Rose Hips."

Thoughts: As I poured this the head got off to a pretty violent start then slowly fell back into a sliver atop the brew. It's got an orange color overall, perhaps a little bit of a cinnamon color to it. When I hold it up to the light I notice that this beer is Grainy as all hell! It looks like someone took a couple hop flowers and took a cheese grater to em.

Smelt pretty pungent during the pour. Well, the scent is certainly more floral than anything else. I'm noticing like a 75% lemon 25% grapefruit citrus hop background under the flowery aroma. It's kind of sweet, like those Lemon-head candies, or those old school sugared lemon candies that your granny would have in a jar for three years straight and when  you tried to pick one up the whole bowl would come up with it! It's like that, and soft flower pedals.

The taste pretty much matches the scent exactly, which isn't a bad thing at all since it smells really cool. It's got a decent bitterness, and a light touch of pine, but it's also a tad sweet too.

Mouth feel is a little heavy. It's a weighted beer that's prickly, very crisp and finishes clean.

This is an OK beer. It's not incredible or mindblowing, and unfortunately not too intresting really. But it tastes good at least, and I guess that matters. Right?

Imperial Red Ale (aka Red-Oric) - Beer Camp #65 (2012)

12 fl. oz. (x3) / 8.1% ABV

About: "This Imperial Red Ale takes the bold hop profile found in a traditional Imperial IPA and turns up the malt. It has big aromatic hop notes of grapefruit, peach and melon, balanced by a very smooth and surprisingly robust malt body. Hops take the lead on this beer, but the malt tames the bitterness and adds a unique drinkability.

Bittering Hops: Magnum and Experimental Variety / Aroma Hops: Chinook, Magnum and Experimental Variety / Dry Hops: Citra and Magnum / Malt: Pale 2-Row, Patagonia, Caramel (45L) and Chocolate / Yeast: Ale."

Thoughts: This beer poured a translucent cherry cool-aid like color, with a huge somewhat pink looking fluff of a head. There's tons of carbonation bubbles going up, the smaller bubbles rising slow and the bigger bubbles zooming right past them. Cool. There are really neat speckles scattered all throughout the brew too. I like the cut of this one's jib, or something...

The scent isn't all too strong. It's hard to pick up, and a little bit strange. A very low droned, malty and sourness to it. I'm getting toasted sesame seeds I think, or like, funky sourdough bread.

Taste is bitter straight off the bat. And smokey. And tart. Well hidden alcohol. A prickling sensation while it's held in the mouth. After the swallow the whole back of the throat is as if I had just chewed a piece of lemon peel. Eventually that dies down a bit, and as the beer warms it become easier drinking. It tastes kind of like a funky, flat, spiced soda. Meh.

Light, airy and fluffy like a bit cotton ball as it expands.

Not really digging this one too much, despite the noticeable quality.

Imperial Pilsner (aka Sticke Pilsner) - Beer Camp #43 (2012)

12 fl. oz. (x3) / 5.6% ABV

About: "Packing a big hop-forward punch and bright crisp finish, this golden pilsner features a hearty dose of "sticky" resinous Crystal and Pacifica dry hops, which balance the light-bodied yet complex malt background.

Bitter Hops: Magnum / Aroma Hops: Crystal and Pacifica / Torpedo Hops: Crystal and Pacifica / Malt: Pale 2-Row, Europils, Munich and Acidulated / Yeast: Lager."

Thoughts: Poured an incredibly clear light yellow. There's a lot of carbonation going on. The head was really crackly at first but didn't die down as fast as I thought it was going to.

Smells of straw. Light, crispy hops. Mild citrus.

Slightly bitter, herbal... quite yeasty, and a there's a bit of twang to it. There's a subtle spicyness to it and a  Lemon kick in the background.  In fact, a lot of this beer is subtle. There's really not a lot going on  at all, other than it tastes OK. Very mild and soapy, aside from that tingling spice that's it's got there. It's a little bit funky. Aftertaste is like ash.

Mouth is light, easy and a little watery.

Yep, nothing I love more than sitting back with an Imperial 5.6% Pilsner after a hard days wor... oh wait, I fuckin' hate pilsners now don't I? Forgot about that. But hey, maybe I'll find an eye-opener pils one of these daze, who knows.

Oatmeal Stout (aka Snowed In Stout) - Beer Camp #45 (2012)

12 fl. oz. (x3) / 9.0% ABV

About: "Brewed in honor of the season's only snow-day in Chico, this big stout was born out of winder, but is perfect any time of the year. This imperial oatmeal stout is inky black in color, with a big milk chocolate, mocha-like aroma. It has a silky body from the use of rolled oats, and a round and lasting finish.

Bittering Hops: Brewer's Gold and UK Challenger / Aroma Hops: Willamette and Styrian Golding / Malt: Pale 2-Row, Caramel (60L), Rolled Oats, Chocolate, Black and Roasted Barley / Yeast: Ale."

Thoughts: The deceptively hidden milk-chocolate colored head on this erupted in a downward fury that nearly overflowed. In its fluffy and giggly wake, it left a pitch black brew that clouded up the sides of the glass.

Sweet and somewhat spicy, an roasted coffee undertone, toasted oats and chocolate milk. This smells... awesome!

Starts off with a gentle sweetness, with kind of a tingle that slowly fades into a slow roasted bitterness that isn't all too powerful. Alcohol must be incredibly well hidden in this one. After a while it becomes bittersweet, and though there's a bit of a burn around the back of the throat once it warms, it's all pretty mellow. There's nothing extreme at all about this one, but that isn't really a bad thing here.

It's a little bit more watery than I thought it would be.

This one is decent enough. Once it gets room temp there's a bit of black licorice that comes out, and that's pretty nice.

Final Thoughts: Overall I think all four of these beers lacked in a special something. I can see why they're pretty much brewpub exclusives and don't imagine that any of these will ever see a full time release on their own. I am interested in trying more beers from their uber-long list of Beer Camp brews though. Hopefully next time they'll keep the original names on the package though. I wasn't fond of the generic titling (and labeling) on these. 

Considering the fact that I didn't totally love at least one of these four beers, the only way I'd buy another Beer Camp 12 Pack for 20$ would be if they were four different brews. Though it goes without saying that all four of these beers are far better than a lot of the mainstream shit out there, they don't really hit me as "labors of love" or whatnot. Quality brews nonetheless, but not nearly Sierra Nevada's best moments.

Southern Tier big red and Farmers Tan

Southern Tier big red - IMPERIAL red ale (2011)

Retired Beer (Last brewed in 2011).

22 fl. oz. / $7.45 USD / 9% ABV

About: "Inspiration can sometimes be found in the strangest of places. This eccentric brew started with a single flower from a hop named Hallertau. The delicate and spicy aroma present in the flower has been responsible for generations of great beers. Hallertau hops are to a brewer what an old tractor is to a farmer: reliable. Big Red expresses the nobility of Hallertau by placing it at the forefront of this Imperial Ale. Pour it into a snifter. A swirl allows the spicy aromas to come forward as a taste to the lips reveals the complex balance between sweet malts and the bitterness of hops. Big Red’s ability to please is as dependable as your grandpa’s old tractor. Please consume wisely."

Thoughts: I really wanted to find this so bad as it had been retired and I didn't have the bottle for my collection. Traveling back from the IMAX cinema I decided to get off the highway and roam through a few towns... no luck with anything for the most part as this is fucking wine and salad country, but I never expected that I'd see this bottle in the fridge of a hole in the wall!

Big Red poured a light amber orange that formed into a deep orange in the glass, with a thick off-white head formed by small bubbles. The beer is incredibly transparent and there seems to be a nice amount of carbonation.

The scent is definitely hop forward and heavy. The hallertau smells very robust and there's a low level malt rumbling underneath.

This is a powerful tasting sweet and savory beer. There's not really much too it ingredient-wise but it really bursts at you. Those sweet caramel and lighter chocolate malts form the foundation, and these hops just pop throughout and add another layer of flavor that is a tad peppery, spicy and just downright excellent. There's a great mix of malts and hops here. While the brew is smooth and sweet, the hops bring out a gentle bitterness that doesn't hit too hard and adds to the flavor and aroma greatly. The balance is about 50/50 I'd say. It's done remarkably well. This is a beer that delivers on the taste from the first sip to the last gulp. One where every time you drink you feel it all over again as if it's the first time you've tried it.

Mouth feel is smooth and gentle.

I'm glad I got the chance to drink this before it disappeared forever. It's not nearly Southern Tier's best beer, but it's a solid one and really hit the spot.

Southern Tier Imperial Farmer's Tan - Pale Lager (2011)

Summer Seasonal (Limited Yearly Release - May)

22 fl. oz. / $8.99 USD / 8.6% ABV

About: "The hallmark of hard work. Neolithic humans evolved from nomadic hunters into a more settled agricultural society, changing life forever. The "founder" crops they raised included wheat and barley. It is little surprise that the first examples of brewing appeared during this age. Brewers owe much to that epoch. Similarly, we thank our farmer friends of today for cultivating the ingredients that are responsible for the beers we now enjoy. Their laborious days spent outdoors under the hot sun earn them respect, as well as a mark of distinction: the farmer’s tan. So, roll up your sleeves and turn the soil. Just be sure to chill a bottle of Farmer’s Tan to enjoy after work. Malts: 2-Row Pale, European Pilsner, White Wheat / Kettle Hops: Magnum, Mount Hood / Dry Hops: Santium, Sterling and Mount Hood."

Thoughts: Poured a very light straw yellow that has now become the most transparent beer I've ever witnessed, with a huge two finger fluffy white head. No carbonation bubbles rising up. Kinda looks like the color of the sun in the light, though not as blinding.

Smells strong. Wheat and hops that are ready to blast off. It's got a somewhat fruity tone. Spicy with a touch of moldy honey, and a little flowery as well. Slightly pungent, but at the same time you get a hint of candy.

Wow. First gulp was like a roller coaster ride. This is one tasty pils! Grassy, wheaty hops with a gentle malt backup that slowly rises and evens things out before retreating. Peppery, musty hops after breathing in. This beer goes through some really cool circling of flavor stages. High alcohol is laying low tonight, probably behind the little bit of funk. Or maybe I'm just used to it. Despite that, this brew is relentlessly strong! So watch out.

This is one thick feeling brew. Seriously full bodied... which is absolutely nuts considering it's the clearest beer I've ever seen. Then again, it's got artwork of a rooster with a farmer's tan which implies that it had been wearing a short-sleeve shirt and that's pretty weird too. Kinda funny though.

Aftertaste is a bit of sweet grass and strong grapefruit on the back of the tongue. If this had just a bit more of a malt presence it would be perfect. After a short while it gets a bit chalky, like earthy minerals. Little bit drying. Not my favorite Southern Tier by far, but it's different from their others and that's what really matters. They don't make the same beer over and over and just name it something else. All that said, you gotta have a strong will (and tongue) to get down with the farmer's tan. It's pretty brutal, but in a very good way.

Rinkuškiai Werewolf Bier

Rinkuškiai Werewolf Bier (2011)
Brewed and Bottled by Rinkuškiai, in Biržai, Lithuania.

Year Round (Standard Release)
16.9 fl. oz. / $2.79 USD / 8.2% ABV

About: "Werewolf is based on the recipe of the best Biržai beers. No pees, rice and other non-malt products are used for Rinkuškiai beer production." Good to know. I prefer my beer without both pee and peas.

Thoughts: Poured a pretty standard amber color with a slight dark orange tint and just a sliver of a white head that quickly moved around and bubbled away.

Little bit malty at first. Some spicy hops come flowing through after a couple minutes. It smells pretty sweet and spicy, little bit like alcoholic cherries. There's something diabolic about it though.

Well, this beer actually tastes pretty damn good! I didn't know what to expect at all, but it's very well done. Balance of malts and hops is stupendous. It's like a spicy bread. Taste doesn't change. It's not really a one note beer, it's just very consistent in the stages it goes through. The same stages each time around. All very nice.

It a heavy medium. Tinging. Goes down smooth, and a little bit slow. Mouth coating.

This is a pretty straightforward brew. It starts off spicy and robust, slowly calms after the swallow and leaves a sweet soothing feel. Low bitterness. Not much of a bite for this 8.2%, no pun. Overall this is an enjoyable brew, that leaves a nice taste in your mouth and a mini-fire in yer belly.

Southern Tier Imperial Krampus Helles Lager

Southern Tier Imperial Krampus Helles Lager (2011)

Winter Seasonal  (Limited Release)

22 fl. oz. / $7.29 / 9.0% ABV (Their website states 9/3%)

 About: "Santa Claus is a magical figure, the bringer of gifts and an icon of holiday spirit. Forgotten by most is his evil side kick and enforcer of ‘the list’. European tradition says while St. Nick is busy delivering presents to good little boys and girls, Krampus hands out punishments to the bad. A fanged, goat-horned bully, the Christmas Devil uses sticks and chains to beat the naughty children. Dark malts and aromatic hops create the diabolical spirit of this brew. It is finished with lager yeast and aged cold for no less than 30 days. This Imperial Helles Lager will warm even the darkest hearts. This season, replace the cookies with a bottle of Krampus. If he happens to pay a visit, toast to him with this devilish brew. Merry Kramp-mas to all, and to all a good pint!"

Thoughts: Poured a dark hazy amber orange that ended up looking blood orange in the mug. The frosty head was like a cheesecake off-white.

Smells of sweet and spicy hops, and melted caramel.

Warm, malty caramel flows. Getting dark fruits like plum and a little blackberry mixed with dried sugared apricots. Pretty spicy with a zing of alcohol fume. There's some very slight piney hops coming through at the end and on the back of the tongue. The main way to describe this brew though? Sweet Sweet malts! Total liquid candy. How's it taste once it warms? I couldn't tell ya. I downed this like Krampus beats down an evil little girl: fast and with abusive glee.

Very tingly, frothy, thick and prickly. Coating, syrupy and not easily forgotten.

The great taste of this doesn't fade away man, it just stays with you for a while. That's one of the things I really like about Southern Tier, they coat the mouth and linger. Aftertaste is like a chocolate oatmeal. A little woodsy, and once the glass was empty I could really smell the hops. Oh, hi hops.