Limited Releases

[MGZ]

In the interest of sharing some ‘houndly experiences with fellow beer geeks and with the ultimate purpose of permitting wise choices when it comes to spending 10 bucks on a single bottle of beer, I propose this forum as a place to share notes on the myriad limited release brews available. I wish I had thought of this sooner, as many tastings have been lost to the vagaries of a memory clouded by time and drink. Nevertheless, I am willing to begin today. Ideally, some of you will join me and collectively create some points of reference.

Harpoon has a 100 bottle series. I have tried and enjoyed the Single Hop ESB and the Pott’s Landbier. The former is made with only Delta hops and I found it to be quite enjoyable. There was an earthiness to the bouquet that balanced the floral qualities of the hops. Moreover, the maltiness was rich enough to produce a beer that is worth drinking, not simply tasting.

The Pott’s Landbier may have been the most enjoyable limited release I have sampled. It’s a wonderfully smooth beer, deep with savory flavors and a mild bitterness. Harpoon’s website describes it effectively as “a traditional session lager with a decidedly malty backbone made up of a blend of German and North American malts. The smooth malt character is tempered by the German bittering hop Magnum, which lends a clean, crisp balance.” Simply put, I really liked it.

Last night, I tried the Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA. This brew was a fine taste and worth a try if only to see what’s possible when you want a hoppy taste. Good god, though, the “kick you in the balls” quality of the one dimensional nose was potent. I have never chewed on a supermarket daisy, but somehow I'd imagine it's flavor would be similar to that of this beer. While I hesitate to use the word "gimmick," I can't say that I'd like to see this IPA put into regular production. Nevertheless, I do feel like I learned something about beer and hops from the experiment.

Anyway, I hope that there was something of value to be taken from what I have submitted. Even more so, I hope that you may contribute your own thoughts about these or other Limited Releases.

[JessKidden]

"I can't say that I'd like to see this IPA put into regular production."

"Double Simcoe is available year-round," according to Weyerbacher's website, one of only 5 of their beers they so designate. http://weyerbacher.com/blog/2010/02/double-simcoe-ipa/ Perhaps you're talking about the "Unfiltered Double Simcoe IPA", available in a corked 750ml bottle, which is on a rotating schedule, twice a year?

http://weyerbacher.com/about/2010-rel...

[MGZ]

Thanks - the Unfiltered is indeed what I tasted.

[deepsouth]

if the beer is unfiltered, you should be careful when decanting and try to leave the dregs in the bottle.

in my experience with ipa's, few like them right off the bat, but once you become a hophead, it's hard to get too much hops.

cheers.

[Jim Dorsch]

I like to decant and then slosh around the dregs and drink the healthy yeast at the bottom of the bottle.

[Tripeler]

Also a quick fix for mild constipation if you have a few bottles with yeasty dregs.

[deepsouth]

i've always heard that the dregs were full of the vitamins that the beer depletes, so i always kill the dregs.

[LStaff]

If it's (unfiltered double simcoe) sold at Costco is really all that limited? ;-)