Ocean's 9.5

Beer #329 Malus / Kane Brewing Company, Ocean Township, NJ

Busy morning filled with yoga and getting things done before the afternoon devolves into watching football and drinking beer.  Penn State takes the field at 3:30 against a Jekyll and Hyde sort of Purdue team.  I have no idea what to expect, so no predictions here.  Well, me drinking a beer is a safe prediction, if you're looking to make any bets today.

Fall is rapidly starting to turn into winter around here, just in case anyone was wondering.  Therefore, it makes sense to review Malus, a Belgian strong dark ale from Kane Brewing Company in New Jersey.  This beer was part of an elaborate beer trade/exchange with a friend and fellow beer geek a few weeks back.  It pours a dark, chocolate brown hue with a sparse off white head.  The aroma is tart, with apples, sweet malt, and yeast.  The taste has a ton of candi sugar, malt, apples, clove, and stone fruits.  Malus sports a hefty 9.5% ABV, but it doesn't taste boozy.  In my notes, I included a comment, "With malice toward none, with charity toward all."  Wait, that's actually an Abraham Lincoln quote, not one of mine.  I actually wrote, "Tastes like Belgium."  Very much liked this beer, and very much appreciate having generous beer geek friends willing to share!

Kane is able.

Kane Brewing opened their doors in the summer of 2001, and almost a week after Hurricane Sandy came ashore the brewery is still without power.  From their Facebook page, there was no significant damage at the brewery, which is good to hear.  If they need help drinking any extra beer, they should feel free to call me.

Thing to Think About Today:
With Kane Brewing as the beer of the day, is there ANY chance I'm putting anything in this space other than famous 80's rapper Big Daddy Kane?  Nope.  I'm just sad there isn't a video for Pimpin' Ain't Easy, thus making me switch to Smooth Operator for a Plan B video choice.  Enjoy your Saturday, peoples.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-E7G6yEjSQ

"Transforming on stage like a Decepticon..."

Beer 323: Kane Brewing Company Malus

In honor of the imminent arrival of Hurricane Sandy, I'm reviewing a beer that is handcrafted in Ocean, New Jersey. Kane Brewing Company's Malus is an ale brewed with local apple cider and spices. It's also a limited release.

It smells awesome...like spiced cider and a sour ale. It falls in the Belgian strong dark ale category and has an ABV of 9.5%.


From the bottle: inspired by a traditional Belgian style but redefined by locally sourced ingredients. Belgian candi sugar was replaced by local apple cider that is reduced in the brewery's kettle over several days. It's their inaugural bottling.

From what I can tell they launched in the summer 2011. If they keep making brews like this one, they'll be around for awhile.

The Malus poured a hazy, warm brown color with a tan head. The first sip is quite good. I will warn you that the higher ABV is very present. The flavor has a lot going on. It starts off sour apple. Then there's leather and spice. Then overripe fruit and bread. It finishes with just a little bit of bitterness. It also leaves a tartness at the back of my tongue. Not really dry but tangy.

It's very bubbly and champagne-like in its carbonation. This is a decidedly unusual beer, but I rate it great. Cheers!