Ithaca Beer Co. continue to impress, having kicked the doors off with their entirely unique Excelsior! Anniversary Sixteen and a slew of new 5-barrel offerings.
After such a great time at Hopshire, Mel and I figured we'd keep the beer tasting day going and head back down the hill for some great beer, superb hospitality, and a fry flight. Mmm... fries. We also confirmed their next variety 12-pack, Box of Belgians is in the works...
Cranbretty (Sour/Wild) | ABV: 4.9% | Rating: 8.9/10
Aptly named, this brew is fermented with Brettanomyces and cranberries. Initially, I heard some hate on this beer, but I'm all about it and even ordered a half pint after the tasting.
If you see "Cranberries" and think you're ordering a fruit beer, there's the door. Cranbretty kicks off with a sternly tart and mineral nose and a nod of cranberry aroma. Appearance-wise it's a pale, straw yellow with a faint haze and a ring of white head.
Now for the good stuff - this brew is hyper-astringent and for sour fans only. Light body and soft carbonation support bold, puckering flavors of fresh cranberries, green apple, and slightly metalic notes. The finish is arid, but still refreshing like a nice club soda or tonic. A clean, tart, no-nonsense beer.
Blauser (Porter) | ABV: 7.5% | Rating: 8.6/10
Some porters leave me wanting a lot more, but not this bad-boy. Inviting, heavily roasted aromas reel you into this burly porter. Bitter coffee and slight burnt flavors keep pace the whole way through supported by a strong, mid-high carbonation level and a deftly long, earthy coffee finish. A solid, non-blasé Porter.
Highly recommended for porter fans.
Belgian Gold (Golden Ale) | ABV: 10% | Rating: 9.1/10
Ever since White Gold, anything Belgian-style coming out of IB gets my attention and Belgian Gold did not disappoint. It's completely transparent, light-gold color set's the stage for wonderfully smooth and sweet flavors of apricot and butterscotch candy. Soft carbonation effervesces the flavors perfectly, resolving in a smooth, slightly ginger-spice finish. Beautifully warming, sweet Belgian nectar in a glass.
Zuul (Imperial Stout) | ABV: 8.7% | Rating: 9/10
In collaboration with Gimme! Coffee, Zuul is brewed with Java Blawan coffee, cacao and cayenne pepper - keep you moving through the winter months indeed!
Deep coffee and baking chocolate aromas leap from the glass, augmented by pleasant spice heat. Onto the palate, it's straight up chili pepper, right out of the gate. Hot and spicy goodness backed by smooth, deep, dark espresso flavors. Medium bodied and well balanced, but that spice really makes it sizzle. A great, unique warming winter alternative. The spice mellows nicely with food and doesn't wreck your palate either. Well done.
Gozer The Gozerian (Gose) | ABV: 4.2% | Rating: 8.5/10
I'm usually game for any Gose, but incorporate Kaffir lime leaves, mangoes, Goji berries, and Pink Himalayan salt and I'm going to break down your door.
Clear, straw appearance with a slim bit of white head and smooth, salty nose. A deep earthiness hits my palate first, followed by soft notes of lime and mango. Pleasantly tart with a light must and wet hay in the finish breath. No sweetness in this Gose. Further through, soft floral notes, especially rose, appear in the background. Overall, a solid Gose, not quite as rich as I usually like, but highly enjoyable nonetheless.
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