Here’s a guest post by my buddy from St. Louis! He is in San Diego and had an interesting amber…Here goes…

Brewed in San Diego, CA – http://www.karlstrauss.com/

This nice looking amber ale comes in a nice rich dark color that has a great caramel aroma to it.  This beer is a local favorite of the San Diegans, and since I’m in town, I figured I’d give it a shot.  

As I take the first sip, I can’t help but notice the rich full flavor that has a slight coffee taste to it.  The first taste reminds me somewhat of a lighter stout (which I’m admittedly not a huge fan of) with the somewhat overwhelming coffee taste, but it does go down smooth.  The beer definitely has won me over with it’s full flavoredness and the balance of taste and finish.  This beer seems to be a perfect compliment to the Italian sausage and red pepper pasta that I ordered because the beer seems to enhance the spices in the sausage, pulling them to the front of my palate.  

All in all I’d say it’s a good local beer.  If you ever find yourself on the beaches of San Diego craving a Sam Adams, I’d definitely suggest giving this local beer a shot, you won’t be disappointed.

Overall Grade: B…I’d definitely order another.

Immediately upon opening up the bottle, the smell leaks out rather quickly and has so many different layers that make my mouth water. Smells of Molasses, cherries, strawberries hit me immediately up front while a background sweetness of honey, malt, and sweet cream blend well with hoppy bitterness and thick, heavy alcohol. This ale has some really interesting taste characteristics that I didn’t pick up when I initially took in the aroma. A subtle hint of cranberries blends nicely with the upfront characters of figs, raisins and hops. There are some great layers of deep malt, honey and cream that help make it really nice and filling.

I would describe this ale as warm, heavy and satisfying..perfect for a cold night by the fire, or just to sip on after dinner. Anyone else had a chance to try this nice red ale from Lagunitas? How does it compare to some other good ambers like Bell’s Amber?

Grade: A-

The idea behind this limited release is the combination of Bavarian and American brewing tactics, brought on by the admiration that Hans Peter-Drexler (The Brewmaster of Schneider Brewery) and Garrett Oliver (Brewmaster for Brooklyn Brewery) have for each others craftsmanship. The Brooklyn release features Schneider yeast blended with Amarillo and Palisade hops for a very interesting Weizenbock brew!

The beer pours with a great amount of bubbly white head and takes some time to settle in the glass, ending in a rusty, honey-comb colored beer. The first thing I noticed once I uncorked the bottle is that the smell smacks you right in the face whether you are ready or not! This beer is literally exploding with floral aroma, that will fill the entire room and gets you ready to enjoy a deeply sophisticaed beer. Along with the immediate floral presence is heavy notes of peach, banana, grapefruit, caramel and sweet honey. This is definitely one of the nicer beers that I’ve smelled lately, and I’m looking forward to getting into this!

I’m surprised to find that while the fruit aromas dominate my nose when I take the beer in, the first tastes I get are the caramel, sweet cream, honey and devils food cake. The hops in this beer also come out of nowhere and really hit the palate nicely. It’s almost like a hefeweizen that has added hops for an IPA sort of feel. Banana, peach, and orange peel tastes follow with the alcohol lingering pleasantly. This beer does a really nice job of balancing a sweet, delicious taste upfront that immediately gives way to the hops and some amazing bitterness at the end.

I love this combo that Brooklyn and Schneider Brewery have come up with and it’s great to see the sharing of ideas between two breweries who are known for their delicious beer. I hope that more companies go this route and expose us to some really interesting releases, especially as we approach the summer months! What does everyone think? Is this a great idea by both breweries? What would you pair this beer with? Do you taste more of the American influence, or the Bavarian influence? Let’s share some thoughts!

Grade: B+

This ale pours a murky corn color, with what appears to be many of it’s ingredients floating thickly in a very stagnant manner. I can tell right away that there are going to be a lot of flavors incorporated with this most recent release. Saison style ales aren’t necessarily my forte, but I’m looking forward to delving a bit deeper into this style as the hot weather approached.

Floral scents are the first things noticeable as I shove my nose down into the glass, and lemon peel follows up that initial scent. Linen, basil, orange rind, honey and maple syrup smells linger in this beer and make me thirsty just gathering the aromas..Let’s dive in!

This is definitely a summer beer! The honeycomb and lemon peel hit my taste buds up front, and the initial thought in my head is that the beer is lighter than I actually would’ve expected. Fresh cut grass, rose petals, chamomile, basil and sweet tea play their respective roles in developing the refreshing taste of this ale.

Although I tend to be a little biased when it comes to Great Lakes Brewing Company, I can say with a straight face that this is another solid offering from Cleveland’s own. This would be paired well with a light salad or appetizer, while relaxing near the pool…Just don’t get in too quickly after!

What does everyone think? Is this beer up your alley? Would you prefer it was heavier in the mouthfeel, or perhaps you don’t even like it at all? Share your thoughts through a comment…let’s get talking about beers and enjoying hoppy thoughts!

Grade: B+

This pours very similar to your Blue Moon and other witbiers, carrying with it that high carbonation, good head and orangish tint, but this beer definitely has some added auburn color, which I would attribute to the cranberry portion. Not surprisingly the citrus comes right into your nose, but you can definitely detect the additional cranberries in background of the aroma. Grapefruit, fresh grass, sugarcane, and licorice round out the smell.

The taste is WAY different than that of a Blue Moon or any other witbier I’ve had. It is not at all overpowering with orange spice, nor does it deliver the sweetness of most witbiers. Instead, the candy licorice taste comes through, followed by a dull mouthfull of cranberries that doesn’t really do it for me. Orange rind, pink grapefruit, honey, molasses and caramel round out the body of this rather heavy tasting beer.

I typically would grab a wit if I was relaxing on a lawn chair during a hot summer day with some friends, or possibly at a ballgame outside, but for some reason this effort by Samuel Adams doesn’t bring refreshment to mind for me. I love Samuel Adams for what they do as a company , and the quality beer they make on a regular basis, but this particular beer doesn’t quite click. What do you guys have to say about it? Agree? Does this beer rock your world and maybe I’m the dummy who doesn’t know what he’s missing? Leave some comments and lets discuss!!

Grade: C-

This ale from our friends at Sierra Nevada is an American Pale Ale which boasts the fusion of New Zealand hops with North American malt. It smells delicious coming out of the bottle with a sweet hoppy aroma hitting the nose first. Its copper to orange in color and has a great head that sticks around. There are lovely citrus tones with honey, orange peel and sweet bread that I notice as I dig my nose deeper into the beer. It smells as though it’s going to be a nice sweet ale, and I’m pumped to get a taste.

Wow! What a delicious full-bodied American Pale Ale! This beer gives you so many complex flavors when it initially hits the mouth, you get excited after just the first taste! The hops have a different characteristic to them for sure, and I’m guessing that is the New Zealand hops that they appropriately brought my attention to before I even cracked this bad boy bomber. Honey and sweet cream overtones blend nicely with the American Malt, and a delicious bitterness sneaks up for the great aftertaste!

This beer is refreshing, yet finishes rather dry and I love that combination. I’d love this beer on a patio in 80 degree weather with a great plate of cheese, or maybe as a pairing with some light fish and a salad. I suggest picking up this beer immediately and giving it a try! For those who have already tried it, what do you think? Am I raving too much? Do you notice the difference in the New Zealand hops? Rock ‘n roll!

Grade: A

This badass dopplebock pours straight out like a cup of mocha with a decent sized milky, lacy head. You can see a good deal of carbonation in this dopplebock and the combination of the milkiness and carbonation looks delicious and interesting! Damn, the malted milk hits your nose quick and it reminds me of whoppers candy on Halloween. Throw is some caramel, toffee, honey and cream and you’ve got the killer smell of a great dopplebock. I also detect, caramelized sugar, barley, molasses and corn in the background.

An amazing combo of cocoa, coffee and dark chocolate are in the forefront of the taste of this beer. Oddly enough, there is an interesting amount of up-front sourness that balances (surprisingly) well with the sweetness that you get from the sugary tastes of the beer. Something about the milky consistency of this beer makes me think that I could have maybe two of these, but after that I’m done for. Really delicious dopplebock!

What are your hoppy thoughts on this beer? Delicious? Does the sour taste up front do it for you, or does it rub you the wrong way? Let’s discuss people!

Grade: B+

Ahhh…The Imperial IPA, a strong and delicious hoppy favorite of many a beer drinker. I figured there was no better way to start Hoppy Thoughts, than to review a few beers that I think do a really good job of implementing heavy hop taste into a readily drinkable brew!

Maximus pours really nicely, with a big-time copper color, building a decent off-white head as you reach the final stages of your pour. The head definitely sticks around for quite some time. Immediately up front I notice the typical smells I associate with an IPA, most notably the hops, a strong presence of pine and a floral bouquet of rose petals following up nicely. I also detect the scent of orange, sugar and bread. 

I took a good drink of Maximus and my mouth became filled full of warmth and hops! The warmth this beer brings to the plate is pretty awesome, and (to me) a bit unexpected. The pine that I smelled earlier comes on, but not as strong as I would’ve initally thought. The nicest surprise is the subtle hints of sour orange rind, banana, and sweet cream. This beer is definitely smooth going down, as I feel the carbonation is lighter than other IPA’s I’ve tried. I can picture enjoying this beer with a good white fish, a rotisserie chicken, or a sugary desert such as creme brule. 

For those readers out there that have had a chance to get their hands on this beer, do you feel the same way? What differences do you notice? Have I overlooked anything major in my review of this IPA? Enjoy, and think hoppy thoughts!!

Grade: B

Think Hoppy Thoughts! That’s the premise of this blog, dedicated to the average beer consumer and their thirst for greater knowledge of the hoppy brew. I’ve been to the “big sites” and they are excellent at what they do, but I tend to get lost in the over-evaluation of beer. This blog isn’t about IBU’s, ABV’s, confusing lingo and snobby palates. What I’m looking to accomplish here is to share my knowledge (which is still somewhat limited) with others, while we raise a glass and compare some of our favorite nectars. I want to grow along with others, as we all share suggestions, opinions, combinations and stories, of how beer has changed our lives and how our understanding has changed along with it. I want to hear what you, the reader, has to say about certain styles and brands and how you most prefer to enjoy it. Let’s make this site about the celebration of beer, as we toast each others differences and similarities, when it comes to the greatest drink on earth….BEER. Enjoy!

-Hoppy Thoughts