Anderson Valley on tap at The Wheaty / Wheatsheaf Hotel
It’s time for another new and exciting range to hit the taps at The Wheaty in Adelaide. This time coming on to the taps is beer from California’s Anderson Valley. Some of their beers have been available in bottle and, surprisingly, in cans for a while now. However there is nothing like trying the beers fresh from the tap to get their real impact. While Anderson Valley may not be as in your face as some US breweries they produce fantastic well rounded and really well made quality beers.
The kick off event is this Friday, 25 November from 1700 at The Wheaty. First to go on tap is the very excellent Hop Ottin’ IPA. The IPA is probably my favourite of their range but that probably isn’t a surprise to anyone. Following will be the Boont Amber, their flagship, Poleeko Gold and the always reliable Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout.
So get down to The Wheaty from 1700. While you are thinking about it you should follow them on twitter here and sign up for their mailing list so you never miss out on what is happening. Hope to see you there on Friday. Get There!
Review – Anderson Valley Brother David’s Double Abbey Style Ale
It’s time for another review of beer from Bier Shop. Another interesting beer that I have wanted to try but haven’t had the opportunity to until now. This time it is Brother David’s Double Abbey Style Ale from Anderson Valley Brewing Company. Everything I have had from Anderson Valley in the past has been sensational so I have been looking forward to trying this one. Anderson Valley is one of the longer standing breweries in the USA craft beer scene. They have been making beer since opening their brew pub in 1987. Since then they have grown into one of the mainstays of craft brewing.
The beer pours with a large fluffy head that drops quickly but leaves some lacing down the sides of the glass. The beer is a redish dark brown with ruby highlights. Despite being very dark you can see through it and it is brilliantly clear and bright. When swirled it produces legs and a oily slick on the sides of the glass that slowly sink back into the beer. It is a very attractive beer and looks great in a nice balloon glass.
The aroma is one of thick chewy malt up front. The malt has a rich caramel and toffee character. This is backed up by warming alcohol aromas that bring sherry, brandy and other fortifieds to mind. The alcohol also gives dark sugar, fig, raisins and other dried fruits. The fermentation characters provides some spiciness with clove and cinnamon evident. This all adds up to give the beer a real fruit cake or Christmas pudding like character. The aroma of this beer just makes me think of Christmas pudding and minced pies. However, there is some tartness that helps to cut the perceived sweetness in the aroma.
The flavour brings much of the same character that is evident in the aroma. The first notable thing on tasting the beer was a lighter body than I had expected and a real smoothness. This is a very malt and fermentation driven beer and is balanced heavily toward sweetness. This is a beer you will probably want to share with someone or sip at over a few hours in the evening. It weighs in at 9% ABV so taking your time with it is not a bad idea anyway. The malt is expressed with the same chewy caramel and and toffee characters as were detected in the aroma. However, there is also some bready characters that come through. There is also great fortified wine and brandy like warming alcohol flavours. These combine with the dark fruit and spiciness to give the beer the same fuit cake and pudding character that was detected in the arom. In the flavour we start to pick up some more of the tartness and spiciness expected from a Belgian style ale. This helps to cut through the sweetness and adds to the drinkability of the beer. This style of beer has very low hopping and bitterness so needs these other flavours to aid drinkability.
Overall this is an interesting and complex beer that is a real treat. It’s not a session beer but something that is worth sipping and savouring it’s complex flavours. If you wanted to match it with some food I think some well cooked pork belly with a rich sause would be an excellent match. If you are looking for a dessert choice something with a rich bitter chocolate character would work well. It is a great example of the style and a really interesting and rewarding beer. Go and get yourself some today.
Review – Anderson Valley Hop Ottin’ IPA
It’s time for another review from my latest BIER SHOP delivery. This time we have Hop Ottin’ IPA from Anderson Valley. Anderson Valley have been around making beer for over twenty years and that experience shines through in this great example of American style India Pale Ale.
The beer is a cloudy copper colour in the glass with a medium fluffy white head that lasts well. The foam laces nicely down the side of the glass. It’s the classic example of an American IPA.
The aroma of the beer hits you as soon as it is poured and jumps up into your nose. The beer displays a wonderful combination of malt, hops and fermentation character in the nose. The hops are the highlight of the aroma. The most prolific aroma in the nose in a fresh floral aroma that is reminiscent of a garden on a spring morning. This is backed up by complex malt aromas including caramel and toffee characters. Also present in the aroma are dried fruit fermentation characters.
The first thing to come through on drinking is the assertive bitterness in the beer. Though assertive the bitterness is not harsh or overpowering. The hop flavour is similar to the aroma with floral and mandarin peel characters. Great balance is provided by a good malt backbone. The malt is expressed in a mild sweetness with toffee and caramel like flavours. The carbonation is high enough to aid drinkability but still soft with no harsh bite. This is aided by some great fruity fermentation characters that add softness with dried fruit flavours.The finish is clean and dry making the beer very drinkable. All these flavours add up to a great complexity and not just a hop and bitterness bomb that some American style IPA can be.
Seems I have scored again. This beer has great complexity if that is what you are looking for. However, it’s also a very well made and extremely drinkable beer. If you are after something that is an easy drinking 7% IPA or a really complex and interesting beer you can find them both here. This is one of the classic American IPAs. Go and get yourself some.
You Need to be at The Wheaty on Friday
From 1600 this Friday at The Wheaty there are a bunch of new beers available. In bottles are a bunch of Rogue’s including the not before seen locally Jon Jon and Double Mocha Porter. Also never before seen locally are beers from Anderson Valley. I have had Anderson Valley beers in the USA and can assure you they are awesome. I know they have at least two IPAs from Anderson Valley so I will be happy.
There are also a bunch of Rogue’s available on tap. For the first time we see Captain Sig’s Northwestern ale on tap. Was a great beer from a bottle so I can only imagine it will be great from the tap. Also on tap on Friday in Chocolate Stout. There are bunch of other kegs but as usual it’s two at a time. I know I’m going to be there. If you like beer you should be too. Get There!