365 different beers from 365 different breweries in 365 days with random musings on beer, food, music, sports, dogs and anything else interesting along the way
I wanted to love The Love, but I don't. I wanted to love The Love for so many reasons--it was part of the one-sided beer exchange; it's called The Love; it's a hefeweizen. But alas, poor reader, it was not meant to be.
The Love poured a bright golden color with a thin white head. It had a tangy, wheat aroma. The flavor was lemon-tart with undertones of wheat bread. It's very effervescent. But I'm not getting the typical hefeweizen flavors of banana. There's no hints of bubblegum. No apple. Nothing typical of the style. Perhaps there's clove hidden in the spiciness that I noted in my scribblings. Overall The Love is The Dud.
Beer stats
Style: German hefeweizen
ABV: 4.6%
IBUs: 9
Rating: Average
Previously reviewed from Starr Hill
Mr. Blog Named Brew's thoughts on The Love Shake Ya Ass and a Cryptical
Proof that I shouldn't make Godfather references and a Cryptical reviewfrom me
Day 465 The Love / Starr Hill Brewery, Charlottesville, VA
Previously from this brewery: Crypitcal, and Cryptical (with Mystikal)
Back in the saddle for another blog post! Worked from home this morning, which is always a hit or miss option for me. On one hand, I'm not running to meeting after meeting after meeting (my typical day), so I can actually sit at my laptop and get some work done. On the other hand, it's super easy for me to get distracted and not actually do any work. I did refrain from watching The Price is Right today, but only because I'm an old school Bob Barker guy. I like what I like, and Drew Carey doesn't do it for me. So, good news for my productivity, I suppose.
Today's review is The Love, a wheat beer from Starr Hill Brewery in Virginia. This beer has a hazy light gold color, with virtually no head. There's a light aroma with grain and lemony citrus, and the taste has some sweetness and lemon, along with notes of grain and grass. Not the greatest wheat beer in the world, but I suppose it's suitable if you happen to find one in front of you. I think if you name your beer The Love, I expect it to be... I don't know... better? Sexier? More.... committed? Something.
Could be more lovely.
Thing to Think About Today:
While I didn't love this beer, if you name your beer The Love, we're going to get something love related. Specifically, the wonderfully talented Florence Welch (+ the Machine) singing You've Got the Love. I'm not certain, but I think she when she references the love, she means the deep, passionate, emotional state of being, and not the beer I just reviewed. Hey, it still works. Enjoy, my friends, and hopefully you have a good evening!
Beer #318 Cryptical / Starr Hill Brewery, Crozet, VA
Another basketball game tonight, another loss. Hey, at least I'm burning calories, right? I think I need to make up for all that over-exertion by eating all of the food in the fridge for dinner. OH WAIT, THAT'S RIGHT. Courtesy of some recent beer/brewery stockpiling, there's legitimately no room in the fridge for food. I mean, there's some food, if we're counting condiments, pickles (homemade!), and cheese as food - which I often do. If not.... yeah. I'm occasionally a terrible grown up. I admit this freely.
I'll punish myself for my lack of positive adult role modeling by reviewing Cryptical, an Imperial Stout from Starr Hill Brewery. This one has a dark black hue, with a thick tan head. Your nose finds a smoky, toasted malt aroma, and the taste is bitter, with burnt malt and tons of smoky flavor. Clean and dry finish, and brings a 7.5% ABV to the party. If you're looking for a potent stout with tons of smoky, toasty malt, look no further. If you're not looking for that, why on Earth are you considering ordering an Imperial Stout?
Looks like it tastes.
This brewery has been a player in the Charlottesville, VA since 1999, and moved to a larger facility just outside of town in 2005. Check it out next time you're in the neighborhood.
Thing to Think About Today:
Seeing how Halloween is nearly upon us, I thought I might tie in a Tales from the Crypt reference in here, but I'm really not a big fan of the horror genre. So... if we're talking Cryptical.... yeah... it's time for Mystikal! See what I did there? I highly don't encourage you hitting this video at work, unless your employer really, truly likes it when you Shake Ya Ass.
I mention TJ's Restaurant pretty often on this blog. But I don't benefit from my mentions - I just love the place. The food is good. The selection of beer is mind blowing. Their social media skills are outstanding. I know what's on and what's kicked pretty much up-to-the-minute. When you're on the hunt for new breweries - not just new beer - this is mission critical information. Now if the fine folks over at TJ's were to offer some benefit for singing their praises, I probably wouldn't and really couldn't refuse. (Typed using my best Godfather impersonation.)
Take for example the Starr Hill Brewing Company. I never heard of this brewery until I picked up a tweet that it was tapped at TJ's. Off to the bar we go and I get to check another brewery off the list. As an aside, I'm now seeing Starr Hill everywhere. Based on this beer, I'll definitely be trying other varieties.
The Cryptical imperial stout has an ABV of 7.5%. It poured a deep chocolate brown...almost black and had a thick tan head that didn't stick around for very long. While the head didn't last, it did leave plenty of impressive lacing behind. It smells roasted and malty. Exactly what I expected to encounter. The taste is smokey and kind of reminds me of bacon. Keep in mind that the writer of that statement hasn't had bacon since 1985 so she may be completely off her rocker on that particular assessment. It has a smooth consistency which makes it eminently drinkable. This is a nicely balanced stout and I'll give it a good rating.
Sourfest at Devil's Den rolled right into late afternoon/early evening beers at The Farmers' Cabinet. It was at The Farmers Cabinet that I found today's beer. Brewed by their own brewers at Cabinet Artisinal Brewhouse in the burbs of Washington, D.C., the Layover in Berlin was delightful and well worth a trip into Philadelphia to experience.
First I will apologize for this photo, but I was about four beers -- four strong beers -- in and picture taking always suffers at that point.
The color was a hazy gold and it had a minimal white head. The smell was sweet and funky. The flavor is amazing...lime and brine with farmhouse yeasty funk, wheat. It was satisfying but refreshing. Crisp and clean but with a lingering acidity. Honestly it was the perfect beer to follow all the bigger, bolder and tarter beers that I had earlier in the day. But those are another story for another day!
In case you were curious, Cabinet Artisanal Brewhouse is a tiny operation and is currently only supplying The Farmers' Cabinet. They brew beer utilizing a unique strain of saison yeast and rely on nature and the elements. They have no control over fermentation temperature and brew seasonally, in a more natural setting, creating interesting challenges and ultimately more unique ales of distinction. They also do some barrel aging and have quite a few interesting ones in the pipeline right now.
Beer #167 White Ale / Williamsburg AleWerks, Williamsburg, VA
And we come to the end of the week, at long last. I'm mildly embarrassed by how little work I did today, but sometimes you need a day like that on the schedule. Good for the soul. I did book the last hotel rooms for our upcoming West Coast beer/oyster/beer/fish tacos/wine/beer vacation. I guess I did some "work" after all!
The beer to kick off the holiday weekend is the White Ale from Williamsburg AleWerks. In the glass, you get a clear pale gold, with a barely there white head. The aroma is very light, but you get a hint of fruit. When you drink it, you get a spicy note, along with wheat and grass. Finishes very dry. While the spice gave it some character, this wasn't the best witbier I've ever come across.
In business since 2006, this brewery claims to be the only craft brewery in Williamsburg. Craft brewery, as opposed to that other guy who brews in Williamsburg. Enough typing and words, as the sun is shining and it's time to unwind. I also just remembered that Teresa's added some outdoor seating. To the bar!
Thing to Think About Today:
It's Friday, and quite frankly I don't need to say much more than that. However, I'll let Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and the Roots (plus some special guests) tell you a bit more about Friday (skip ahead 40 seconds. Just do it):
I got nothing for you today. I seriously need this long weekend to recharge, find my creativity and get back in it. I haven't been feeling it lately. That probably partly due to my impending vacation but I also think I'm a little burnt out. Big things are afoot at work and I've got to pull my shit together.
***
The Williamsburg Alewerks White Ale poured a bright straw color and no head. I couldn't pinpoint anything discernible about its smell. The taste was floral, mineral and wheat...not too much citrus. I'm not wild about it.
Happy long weekend! Here's to good weather and even better beer!
