Wamp’s Wisdom

Red Seal Ale from North Coast Brewing Co. in Fort Bragg, Calif., is billed as an American amber ale.

It pours a deep copper with a sticky white head. Aroma is mild with a faint waft of hoppy goodness. The flavor is reminiscent of an ESB with nice hoppy bitterness rounding out a significant malt punch. The finish is clean and roasty.

This is yet another great ale from a great west coast brewery that has already dazzled us with Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, Acme Pale Ale and Pranqster Belgian Ale.
This ale will pair nicely with anything from pizza to herbed lamb.

Rico’s Reaction

Here’s what I admire about North Coast’s Red Seal Ale: It’s very clean and simple.
You can tell the brewery is really striving to make a pure beer without additives or bullshit. Red Seal is extremely consistent and balanced between malt and hops from beginning to the last sip. It puts me in mind of Goose Island Honker’s Ale, which we reviewed previously.

Here’s what I didn’t like about Red Seal: It’s so simple, it makes for a very average experience. Yes, it’s a decent all-around ale and would work with just about anything you care to eat with it — whether it’s a bag of Corn Nuts or a medium rare filet mignon.
On its own, however, well, this is a beer that’s very hard for me to get excited about. If you’re normally a consumer of mass-produced beers, though, this might be a good brew to ease yourself into the craft beer market.

I’m arbitrarily knocking off half a cap on the rating just because Red Seal nearly put my taste buds to sleep.

Wamp’s Wisdom

Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City offers Double Wide India Pale Ale (IPA) at 8.5 percent alcohol as one of their Smokestack Series beers. It pours a rosey amber with a substantial head. Aroma is mild with a slight hop kick. A blast of grapefruity hops hits the palette and lingers leaving a coating of bitter on the tongue. The aftertaste is bitter and lasts a bit too long. This is a big IPA that will satisfy the hop lover with it’s bold, overly bitter finish. It’s a bit too much for me as I enjoy a more balanced IPA with less grapefruit flavors.
Pair with apple pie or Barbecue.

Rico’s Reaction

Double Wide is no trailer trash. Boulevard has proven once again its ability to step up its brewing game with its Smokestack Series version of an India pale ale.
I’ve mentioned before — probably too many times — my admiration for the Kansas City brewery. That admiration has grown as the brewery has expanded its attempts, and it took a big leap forward with the Smokestack Series, which Tank 7 ale, Dark Truth stout and Double Wide to its lineup.
The DW IPA has a potent one-two punch of hops mellowed just enough with richly roasted malts that add a tinge of sweet caramel to the mix. Every draw is potent and delicious, from the beginning of the glass to the bottom swallow.
This will definitely be in the rotation of brews for me while I’m cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs during the Church of the NFL this year. I’d already eaten a dinner of boneless pork chops and green beans, so I paired this tasting with a nerdtastic viewing of “Stargate Universe.”

Beer O’ The Week: Firestone Walker Double Jack IPA

A one-two punch of delicious, dangerous

Wamp’s Wisdom

(PHOTO: J.T. WAMPLER) Double Jack double India pale ale from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Double Jack IPA is an imperial India pale ale from Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, Calif. The brewery ferments in the Firestone Union oak barrel system that utilizes 65-gallon American oak barrels that impart a unique flavor.
This 9.5 percent alcohol double IPA pours a bright honey color with a substantial white head. Grapefruit aroma assails the nose. Taste is robust fruity hops with a slight alcohol tickle. Finish is clean and hoppy with a slight lingering bitterness. For such a big beer it is surprisingly well balanced. It could be dangerous on a hot day.
Firestone Walker beers are not yet available in Northwest Arkansas. Luckily Missouri is close, and Macadoodles has many good beers to choose from.
Rating: 5 caps

Rico’s Reaction

This is another one of those very delicious, potent beers that should be drunk with care — precisely because it is delicious and potent.
Firestone Walker is a brewer that clearly takes its beers seriously, crafting some excellent examples of barley pop. Their Double Jack India pale ale comes across every bit as good as the Walker’s Reserve ale we reviewed earlier. With two such fine beers sampled, I’d really like to take a crack at the rest of their lineup as it becomes available in the area … or even better, take a tour of their brewery.
The problem/wonderful thing about Double Jack is you can’t taste the alcohol in it. It’s so well made that the high alcohol content — 9.5 percent — is completely hidden within the luscious ambrosia of hops and malts. This makes this particular IPA a very dangerous drink indeed because it’s just so easy to quaff.
So, give it a try, but have a mattress fluffed up and ready to go for a nice snooze.
Pair with 40 winks in a hammock or lying slack-jawed and drooling face down on the couch while a marathon of “The Bachelorette” plays on the television you forgot to turn off.
Rating: 5 caps

Beer O’ The Week: White Rascal

Avery’s wit ale a devilish delight

Wamp’s Wisdom

(PHOTO: J.T. WAMPLER) White Rascal from Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, Colo.

White Rascal from Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, Colo., is a Belgian-style wheat or “wit” ale.
It pours bright golden color with little or no head. Aroma is spicy and fruity which is a characteristic of the yeast used to ferment Belgian wit beers. Taste is sharp and almost tart with hints on orange and lemon. The finish is clean and crisp.
Once again, my dislike for Belgian wheat beers is shaken by a nice, well made example from a great Colorado brewery. Remember to swirl the last little bit in the bottle before finishing the pour. That is what gives it the light color sought after in the style.
Pair with mild cheese, clam chowder or fresh fruit.
Rating: 5 caps

Rico’s Reaction

This is the kind of beer that Coor’s mass-produced Blue Moon wants to be and wishes it was.
I genuinely love this type of wheat beer, the Belgian-style white ale, and Avery’s brewed up an excellent one with it’s White Rascal. There’s some nice citrus action going on here backed with a potent peppery punch of coriander. Plus it doesn’t hurt that the bottle has a sweet white devil chilling on the label.
The only thing that mystifies me about White Rascal is that when I really sniffed it — really forced my schnozz inside the glass — the scent I got was of burnt rubber tires. Weird. I take it as further evidence that my nose and sense of smell may be fatally flawed. That or I have a brain tumor.
And wouldn’t you know it, I forgot to do the swirl before finishing the pour. Some expert I am. Doh!
Rating: 4 caps